Mike Brest

Mike Brest is a defense reporter at the Washington Examiner. Prior to joining the defense beat, he spent two years covering breaking news for the Washington Examiner, and he worked at the Daily Caller in a similar capacity before that. Mike graduated from American University and is originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Evana, an oil tanker, is docked at El Palito Port in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.

US seizes Venezuelan oil tanker as relations improve with new president

Brady Knox · January 15, 2026 11:00 am

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks during a roundtable with President Donald Trump on farm subsidies in the Cabinet Room of the White House.

Rollins makes a cost-effective dinner suggestion

Molly Parks · January 15, 2026 10:52 am

President Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins listen as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

RFK Jr. calls Trump’s diet ‘unhinged’: ‘I don’t know how he’s alive’

David Zimmermann · January 15, 2026 10:38 am

President Donald Trump ordered the Treasury Department Thursday to sanction dozens of Iranian individuals and entities responsible for the Islamic Republic's deadly crackdown on protesters and skirting of international sanctions on the country's oil output. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump orders new sanctions on Iranian officials coordinating deadly crackdown on protesters

Christian Datoc · January 15, 2026 10:34 am

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduces Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard, during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on the nomination Lunday for commandant of the Coast Guard.

Graham insists Iran death toll is ‘mounting’ after uncertainty over potential strikes

Brady Knox · January 15, 2026 9:23 am

Attorney General Pam Bondi was pressed about President Donald Trump's Insurrection Act comments Wednesday morning.

What is the Insurrection Act, the law at the center of the debate over Trump deploying the National Guard?

Molly Parks · January 15, 2026 9:09 am

Tear gas is deployed amid protesters near the scene where Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis.

Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act after second federal shooting reignites protesters

Emily Hallas · January 15, 2026 9:01 am

Tricia McLaughlin and JB Pritzker

Beltway Confidential

Pritzker’s insults of DHS’s Tricia McLaughlin are typical, baseless left-wing propaganda

Christopher Tremoglie · January 15, 2026 8:50 am

Demonstrators protest outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

America’s ICE-protester idiocy

Tom Rogan · January 15, 2026 8:00 am

Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, left, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON shortly after having landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, California

NASA astronauts land after medical emergency caused early end to mission

Brady Knox · January 15, 2026 7:53 am

Daily on Defense

Daily on Defense

Trump’s main argument for seeking Greenland suggests the U.S. would shirk its NATO responsibilities

Jamie McIntyre · January 15, 2026 7:15 am

New $1 bills are cut and stacked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington.

February Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in 15 days

Asher Notheis · January 15, 2026 7:00 am