By Christopher Marshall | September 29, 2025
Washington is grappling with a complex and volatile security landscape as of September 29, 2025. A series of disturbing domestic incidents, coupled with significant shifts in military intelligence operations and information control, paint a picture of a nation under increasing strain. This briefing provides a comprehensive overview of the key developments shaping the U.S. national security environment.
Domestic Security Under Strain: Twin Tragedies and Rising Tensions
The nation is reeling from two separate mass shootings carried out by Marine veterans over the weekend, raising urgent questions about veteran mental health and domestic security. In Grand Blanc, Michigan, a 40-year-old former Marine sergeant killed four and wounded eight at a Mormon church before being neutralized by police [1]. The attacker, who served in Iraq, had no prior police record. Hours later, another 40-year-old former Marine sergeant, who also served in Iraq and reportedly suffered from PTSD, killed three and wounded five at a dockside bar in Southport, North Carolina [1]. These tragic events have brought the number of mass shootings in the U.S. to over 324 in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive [2].
“These incidents highlight a critic
