Going hypersonic with the Mako missile: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team goes hypersonic. Host Ryan Robertson talked with one of the decision-makers behind Lockheed Martin’s entry into the race: the Mako Multi-Mission Hypersonic Missile, a stand-off hypersonic weapon designed to fit the F-35A/C and F-22A.
Also featured in this episode:
The secretary of defense heads to Germany for a meeting with allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
DOD withholds $5,000,000 on each new F-35.
Take a ride in a U-2 chase car.
Weapon of the Week: Operation Hard Kill and the focus on anti-drone defensive systems.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
Israel says Houthis will pay ‘heavy price’ after attack on Tel Aviv
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation after a missile fired by Houthi rebels reached central Israel for the first time. A Houthi spokesman said the hypersonic ballistic missile, fired from Yemen, traveled more than 1,200 miles in just over 10 minutes Sunday, Sept. 15.
The Israeli Defense Forces said there were repeated attempts to shoot down the missile mid-air, but it most likely fragmented as it approached Tel Aviv. Israel said there were no direct casualties from the missile, but at least nine people suffered minor injuries.
Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’ at his golf club: FBI
For the second time in just over two months, authorities say former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent “attempted assassination.” We have the latest on the investigation. And the red carpet was rolled out for TV’s biggest stars Sunday night. We recap who won at the 76th Emmy Awards. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.
FBI: Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’
The FBI is investigating what it said “appears to be an attempted assassination” of former President Donald Trump near his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday, Sept. 15. Authorities said Trump was playing a round of golf when Secret Service agents spotted the gunman a few hundred yards away pointing a weapon through the bushes.
The agents fired five to six shots at the gunman. The suspect dropped his weapon, described as an AK-47-style rifle, and fled in his vehicle. It was not clear if the suspect had fired any shots.
The suspect was soon taken into custody during a traffic stop in a nearby county.
Authorities said the rifle with a scope was found in the shrubbery along with two backpacks, ceramic plates, and a GoPro camera.
Shortly after the incident, a spokesperson for the Republican presidential nominee said Trump was safe. Trump later sent out a letter to supporters saying, “Nothing will slow me down! I will never surrender.”
Law enforcement sources have told multiple news outlets the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii. Authorities are said to be looking into Routh’s possible motives, including his reported grievances about the war in Ukraine. The New York Times reported the paper interviewed Routh last year about recruiting Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban to fight in Ukraine.
During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw spoke about the Secret Service’s presence protecting Trump at the time of the assassination attempt.
“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have this entire golf course surrounded,” Bradshaw said. “Well, because he’s not, the security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible. So, I would imagine the next time he comes to the golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done.”
Biden said he has directed his team to ensure the Secret Service “has every resource” necessary for Trump’s “continued safety.” Harris said, “We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”
Late Sunday night, Trump posted a message on Truth Social thanking law enforcement for “an incredible job done” and saying, “It was certainly an interesting day.”
I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible… pic.twitter.com/mV15rJygOR
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 16, 2024
Israel says Houthis will pay ‘heavy price’ after attack on Tel Aviv
Israel’s Prime Minister has vowed retaliation after a missile fired by Houthi rebels reached central Israel for the first time. A Houthi spokesman said the hypersonic ballistic missile, fired from Yemen, traveled more than 1,200 miles in just over 10 minutes Sunday.
Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing into central Israel from Yemen and fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces said there were repeated attempts to shoot down the missile mid-air, but it most likely fragmented as it approached Tel Aviv. Israel said there were no direct casualties from the missile, but at least nine people suffered minor injuries.
This is just the latest attack by the Houthis, in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, in support of Hamas.
At least 8 dead as torrential rain triggers flooding in central Europe
At least eight people are confirmed dead as torrential rain continues to pound central Europe, causing widespread flooding. Thousands of people evacuated their homes in the Czech Republic Sunday as rivers overflowed their banks in various parts of the country.
A storm system named Boris has caused heavy downpours from Austria to Romania, leading to the worst flooding the Czech Republic and Poland have seen in nearly 30 years.
The relentless rain is expected to last at least through Monday.
US Coast Guard hearing into deadly Titan submersible implosion begins
Former employees of OceanGate are expected to testify. The company was behind the experimental submersible that imploded while on its way to the wreckage of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023, killing all five people on board.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the Coast Guard released a statement saying the hearing “aims to uncover the facts surrounding the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
The hearing will take place in Charleston County, South Carolina and is expected to last about two weeks. Witnesses scheduled to appear include one of OceanGate’s co-founders and the company’s former engineering, operations, and scientific directors.
Apple’s AI-powered operating system to launch Monday
Apple’s latest operating system, featuring the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities, is set to go live Monday. iOS 18 will come with changes for all compatible iPhone models, but Apple Intelligence will be the highlight of the update for iPhone 15 Pro and later models.
Some tech experts say this is Apple’s biggest update since it originally launched the iPhone.
Apple usually releases its updates at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.
‘Shogun,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘The Bear’ win at the 76th Emmy Awards
History was made at the 76th Emmy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles. The big winner was the historical drama Shogun.
“Shogun” became the first non-English language series to win best drama. It claimed a total of 18 wins, including lead actor, actress, and directing.
Putin threatens war with NATO if Ukraine strikes deep into Russia
Vladimir Putin says Russia would be “at war” with the United States and its allies if they allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles to strike deep inside Russia. Putin described such a move as “an act of war.”
This warning comes just hours before a crucial meeting in Washington between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden. The discussion will focus on whether Ukraine should be permitted to use long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russia.
In an interview with reporters Thursday, Sept. 12, Putin emphasized that allowing Ukraine to use these advanced Western weapons would imply direct NATO involvement in the conflict.
“We are talking about deciding whether NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not,” Putin said. “This will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia. And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.”
Putin also added that Ukrainian forces lack the capability to operate these missiles independently, relying instead on NATO personnel for targeting and satellite data.
The U.S. military already provides intelligence to Ukraine and has previously assisted in targeting, but it says it has not helped with any long-range systems currently being considered.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced the seriousness of Putin’s message, stating that it was “extremely clear, unambiguous and does not allow for any double readings.”
This latest threat is part of a broader Kremlin strategy that frames the conflict as a clash with the West and NATO. The specifics of Moscow’s potential counteractions remain uncertain.
This is not the only major escalation this week. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced that Russia has received new ballistic missiles from Iran, which the U.S. believes could be used against Ukraine.
Currently, Western allies are only allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to target areas along the Russian border, and only in retaliation for Russian attacks. Kyiv has been pushing for a policy change to allow strikes on deeper military targets inside Russia. This issue will take center stage as President Biden meets with the British prime minister to discuss their options.
Russian missile strike on Ukrainian military college leaves 41 dead
At least 41 people were killed and over 180 wounded on Tuesday, Sept. 3, after Russian forces launched a missile attack on a military training facility and a nearby hospital in the city of Poltava, Ukrainian officials said. The strike, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “barbaric,” is the deadliest single attack in Ukraine so far this year.
The Russian assault targeted the Poltava Military Institute of Communications, where the missiles caused significant damage, partially destroying one of its buildings. Rescue teams responded quickly, successfully pulling 25 people from the rubble, authorities said.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that the time between the air raid sirens and the missile strike was so brief that many people were caught trying to reach bomb shelters. The attack left debris scattered across the area, and ongoing rescue operations were launched to find survivors.
Zelenskyy ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. He reiterated his calls for Western allies to provide Ukraine with more advanced air defense systems and long-range strike capabilities to counter Russia’s ongoing aggression.
The strike on Poltava comes amid a significant escalation in the conflict, with Russian forces intensifying their missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. Just last week, Ukraine endured one of its heaviest bombardments to date, and on Monday, ballistic and cruise missiles targeted the capital, Kyiv.
In response, Ukraine has increased its own offensive operations, targeting Russian infrastructure with over 158 drones in recent days. These attacks have damaged an oil refinery near Moscow and a power station as part of Ukraine’s efforts to weaken Russia’s military and economic capabilities.
Local authorities in Poltava have declared three days of mourning in honor of the victims. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy continues to press Ukraine’s allies to lift restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons for strikes deeper into Russian territory, arguing that every day of delay results in more lives lost.
Correction: Ukrainian pilot killed as F-16 crashes during Russian missile attack
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet crashed on Monday, Aug. 26, while responding to a large-scale Russian missile attack, marking the first crash of the U.S.-made planes. The jet, piloted by Oleksiy Mes, was reportedly on a mission to intercept Russian missiles when contact was lost as it approached its next target.
Mes was killed in the crash. He was one of the six Ukrainian pilots trained to fly F-16s.
The incident occurred just weeks after the initial delivery of the American-made F-16s to Ukraine. It was a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to bolster its air defense capabilities against the Russian invasion. These advanced jets had been a key component of Ukraine’s strategy to counter Russian air superiority and to defend against missile and drone attacks.
The Ukrainian military confirmed that the F-16s had already demonstrated their effectiveness, successfully intercepting and downing multiple Russian missiles during the intense barrage. However, the loss of one of these jets and its pilot is a major setback for Ukraine, which has only a limited number of the aircraft available.
According to U.S. officials, initial assessments suggest that the crash was not caused by Russian fire. The exact cause is still under investigation. The incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with deploying these advanced yet complex aircraft in active combat zones, especially as Ukrainian pilots are still relatively new to operating them.
Ukraine has been pushing for the delivery of modern fighter jets since the beginning of the Russian invasion. It aims to replace its aging Soviet-era fleet. The arrival of the F-16s was seen as a critical step in leveling the playing field in the skies, providing Ukraine with more advanced tools to defend its airspace.
The limited number of the jets and the steep learning curve have been a challenge for Ukrainian pilots. Their effective deployment could halt Russia’s air superiority.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this video incorrectly stated that the crashed F-16 was U.S.-supplied when the aircraft was actually U.S.-made. Straight Arrow News deeply regrets the error and has since corrected the video.
Russia spent $1.3 billion on Monday’s strike against Ukraine: Report
Russia’s missile and drone barrage on Ukraine on Monday, Aug. 26, wasn’t just one of the largest since the war began — it came with a hefty price tag. Ukrainian estimates put the cost of the attack at around $1.3 billion, highlighting the enormous financial toll of Russia’s ongoing military campaign. The assault, which targeted critical energy infrastructure, involved 236 missiles and drones.
Ukraine successfully intercepted 102 missiles and 99 drones during the attack, but the barrage still caused significant damage. The most expensive component of the operation was the 77 Kh-101 cruise missiles, which cost an estimated $1 billion. The attack also included 28 Kalibr cruise missiles, launched from submarines and surface ships, adding another $182 million.
Despite Ukraine’s defensive success, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet remains a significant threat. Although Ukraine claims to have destroyed or damaged a third of the fleet using naval drones and anti-ship missiles, the fleet still plays a central role in Russia’s military strategy. It has adapted by relocating to the eastern Black Sea, launching missile strikes from a safer distance.
This shift allows Russia to continue inflicting damage with its submarines and surface vessels, despite growing logistical and financial challenges.
Russia’s financial burden extends beyond this attack. U.S. defense officials estimated in February that Moscow had spent $211 billion on military operations since the war began. The Russian economy is also projected to lose $1.3 trillion in potential growth by 2026 due to sanctions and reduced trade.
Despite these setbacks, Russia’s defense industry has ramped up production at an unexpected pace. The defense budget has tripled, now making up about 6% of the country’s GDP, and the workforce in the defense sector has grown to nearly 3 million people. This increased production capacity has allowed Russia to replenish its military faster than analysts expected.
In addition to its domestic efforts, Russia has received military support from allies like Iran and North Korea. Iran has supplied drones, while North Korea has sent artillery rounds, both of which have helped Russia maintain its operations. Recent reports suggest Russia plans to build 6,000 drones by next summer and is on track to produce at least 3 million artillery rounds or rockets annually.
While the financial toll is severe, Russia’s economy has increasingly focused on building war machines, bombs and ammunition, allowing it to sustain its military campaign as the war grinds on.
Russia launches largest air assault on Ukraine since start of war
Russia launches its largest air assault against Ukraine since the war began, targeting critical infrastructure in the country. And the Department of Justice is appealing a judge’s decision last month to toss out former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.
Russia launches largest air assault on Ukraine since start of war
At one point the entirety of Ukraine was under air raid alerts and residents were warned to take cover. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there were more than 200 drones and missiles launched at Ukraine’s “critical civilian infrastructure.”
The main target appears to have been Ukraine’s power grid. While one missile missed, another one hit a dam that was providing electricity to Kyiv, causing widespread power outages. The strike also puts millions at risk of devastating flooding.
Civilians’ homes were also hit. At least seven people were said to have been killed in the attack.
While Ukraine says its forces have advanced nearly two miles into the area and seized two more villages, Russia is also making gains in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow’s air assault on Ukraine was the largest seen in more than two and a half years since the war began.
Federal judge temporarily blocks Biden admin’s new ‘parole in place’ policy
A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s new “parole in place” policy. The ruling sides with 16 Republican-led states that challenged the policy.
Parole in place allows unauthorized immigrants to apply for temporary work permits and deportation protections under an immigration benefit known as “parole” if they’re married to U.S. citizens, have lived in the country for at least 10 years, and pass background checks. The policy also offers a path to citizenship for up to half a million undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens.
The judge said the Republican states’ complaint raised legitimate questions about the authority of the president to bypass Congress and set immigration policy.
The Biden administration can keep accepting applications for the program, but it can’t approve them, under the judge’s order. That order is set to remain in place for 14 days while both sides submit arguments in the case, but it could be extended.
DOJ appeals to revive Trump’s classified docs case tossed by judge last month
Special Counsel Jack Smith is pushing to revive the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. This comes after judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case last month.
Smith is now arguing that Cannon’s decision was flawed and lacked merit.
In a new court filing, Smith contends that Cannon’s ruling — which claimed the prosecutors’ office did not have the constitutional authority to pursue the case — was incorrect. Judge Cannon had ruled that the Justice Department couldn’t appoint or fund special counsels like Smith without congressional approval.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is now reviewing this decision.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has responded to the DOJ’s appeal, calling for all charges against Trump in different cases to also be dismissed.
1 killed in Alaska landslide; authorities concerned more landslides to come
So far, we know four homes were critically damaged, but homes next to where the landslide went through are still being assessed.
The National Weather Service said Ketchikan got more than 2.5 inches of rain in about 36 hours over the weekend, but rainfall totals at higher elevations ranged from 5 to 9 inches.
Australian airline accidentally sells first-class tickets 85% off
An airline accidentally sold hundreds of first-class tickets for about 85% cheaper than usual — and it wasn’t some sort of sale. A coding error that caused a glitch in its system and customers took advantage of it while they could.
Here’s how that happened: on June 26, Danny Jansen was on the Toronto Blue Jays and up to bat in their game against the Boston Red Sox when the game had to be suspended because of bad weather. On July 27, Jansen was traded from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox.
The unfinished June game finally picked up Monday after a two-month delay, with Jansen behind home plate playing catcher for the Red Sox. So, while it was months apart, it was technically still the same game, earning Jansen a spot in the MLB history books.
N. Korea condemns US-S. Korean military drills as ‘prelude to a nuclear war’
U.S. and South Korean forces have kicked off their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, a massive military drill designed to boost their defense capabilities against North Korea’s ever-growing nuclear threat. The drills, which feature around 19,000 South Korean troops and a series of land, air and sea exercises, are meant to prepare both nations for threats like weapons of mass destruction, cyberattacks and GPS jamming.
The timing couldn’t be more critical, with tensions on the Korean Peninsula hitting new heights. North Korea wasted no time condemning the exercises, calling them a “beheading operation” and a “prelude to nuclear war.”
Pyongyang’s state-run media accused the U.S. and South Korea of pushing aggressive military actions, while the North’s Foreign Ministry justified its nuclear ambitions as necessary to maintain peace and prevent war by building up its own deterrent.
The U.S. and South Korea have stressed that these drills are strictly defensive, but there are lingering concerns about how North Korea might respond. In 2023, just before the end of a similar set of exercises, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles, claiming they were in retaliation for allied air force drills.
Now, there’s a real chance that North Korea could launch another belligerent response. In early August, Kim Jong Un presided over a massive ceremony in Pyongyang, celebrating the deployment of 250 nuclear-capable missile launchers to the country’s frontline military units.
Kim has made it clear that he is ready to expand North Korea’s nuclear program and has even hinted at the possibility of preemptive strikes if his leadership feels threatened.
North Korea has also ramped up its psychological warfare, sending balloons filled with trash across the border into South Korea. These stunts are deepening tensions between the two Koreas.
These drills coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Camp David Summit, where U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed to strengthening regional security in response to North Korean threats. The U.S. has since stepped up its strategic presence in the region, deploying bombers, submarines and aircraft carriers in a show of force.
US sending submarine to Middle East amid new developments
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East. And Tom Cruise gives the Paris Olympics a Hollywood ending as we look toward the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
U.S. sending submarine to Middle East amid new developments
The U.S. ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia, a “nuclear-powered submarine with cruise missiles,” to the Middle East. The movement of U.S. missile submarines is rarely revealed publicly — typically operating in near-complete secrecy — but the move comes as Israel is anticipating a potentially “large scale attack” by Iran in the next few days.
According to Axios, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, Aug. 11, that Iran was making preparations for the attack on Israel. On Monday, Aug. 12 morning, Reuters reported Gallant’s ministry has confirmed a call between the two took place overnight.
The Israeli military has ordered more evacuations from part of a humanitarian safe zone it had set up in southwestern Gaza, saying they now plan to expand fighting. The IDF said there have been indications Hamas terrorists have a significant presence there now living among civilians.
These orders come a day after Israel struck a school-turned-shelter that the Hamas-run health ministry said killed at least 80 people. Israel claims Hamas fighters were hiding at the school compound.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ new leader said Sunday, Aug. 11, there would be no new negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza this week unless mediators from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt revert to a plan that would see a truce in the war.
In a “CBS Sunday Morning,” President Joe Biden said he believes a cease-fire deal is still possible before he leaves office.
Biden gives first interview since dropping out of 2024 race
The CBS interview on Sunday was President Biden’s first interview since pulling out of the 2024 race. Biden explained a major reason why he made that decision was so the Democratic Party could focus on what he says is the real issue: defeating former President Donald Trump.
“Polls we had showed that it was neck and neck race, would’ve been down to the wire,” Biden said. “But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races, and I was concerned if I stayed in the race that would be the topic. You’d be interviewing me about ‘Why did Nancy Pelosi say, why did so-and-so say?’ and I thought it would be a distraction.”
He added, “Although it’s a great honor being president, I think I have an obligation to the country to do the most important thing you can do, and that is we must, we must defeat Trump.”
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, had multiple one-on-one interviews air on Sunday, Aug. 11. In the interviews, he spoke with CNN’s Dana Bash, CBS’ Margaret Brennan and ABC’s Jonathan Karl about former President Trump’s plans should he be elected again in 2024.
On CBS, Vance defended recent comments by the former president indicating he may be willing to roll back access to the abortion pill. He said Trump “wants abortion related decisions to be left to the states.”
On CNN, Vance commented on Vice President Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, saying he’s the one being “weird” after that term has been used by the Democratic Party to describe the Republican ticket.
“I think that you take a sequential approach to it,” Vance said. “You are going to have to deport some people. If you’re not willing to deport a lot of people, you’re not willing to have a border when there are 20 million illegal aliens in our country.”
“You start with what’s achievable, you do that, and then you go on to what’s achievable from there,” Vance added. “I think if you deport a lot of violent criminals, and frankly, if you make it harder to hire illegal labor — which undercuts the wages of American workers — I think you go a lot of the way to solving the illegal immigration problem. But look, President Trump is absolutely right; you cannot have a border unless you’re willing to deport some people. I think it’s interesting that people focus on, ‘Well, how do you deport 18 million people?’ Let’s start with one million, that’s where Kamala Harris has failed, and then we can go from there.”
Vance will be on the campaign trail on Wednesday, Aug. 14, making a stop in Michigan, a key swing state, while Trump is set address the economy in North Carolina.
Trump will be sitting down for an interview with Elon Musk on Monday night, Aug. 12.
Trump campaign says it was hacked by Iran
There are new concerns over foreign interference in the U.S. election after the Trump campaign said over the weekend it was hacked by Iran.
Both Politico and The Washington Post reported receiving internal Trump documents including research on Trump’s running mate, Sen. Vance, “from an anonymous email account.”
News of a campaign hack comes just as Microsoft said on Friday, Aug. 9, it discovered “evidence that Iranian hackers targeted an email account of a campaign official” back in June. While Microsoft didn’t specify what campaign was impacted in their announcement, a person familiar to the talks told The Washington Post it was Trump’s campaign.
The extent of any sort of hack is not currently known, but the Post said they received hundreds of pages labeled as “confidential.”
USA Gymnastics: Video shows Jordan Chiles should not be stripped of medal
There’s some controversy as the Summer Olympics in Paris reach their end. USA Gymnastics is challenging the ruling of Olympic officials that called for Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal.
Chiles won the medal after the individual floor exercise final last week, after her coach submitted a review of the judges’ scores.
However, the decision this weekend by the court of arbitration for sport said Chiles’ coach had asked for the review four seconds after a one-minute deadline to submit such a request had expired per competition rules, meaning Romania won the bronze.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, USA gymnastics fired back at that ruling, saying it has submitted time-stamped video evidence showing the request was made within the one minute window. Olympic officials have yet to respond to the latest twist in this gymnastics saga.
Tom Cruise closes Paris Olympics with Hollywood ending
Team USA led the way at the 2024 Olympics with the most total medals: 126. It also tied with China for most gold medals, with 40 each.
As Paris marked the conclusion of its Olympics, it was up to the next host city, Los Angeles, to close out the show in style and L.A. brought a Hollywood ending.
Actor Tom Cruise channeled his “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible” roles by jumping off the stadium’s roof in Paris.
He was then handed the Olympic flag by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Olympic great Simone Biles to take back to L.A.
The closing ceremony also saw the musician H.E.R. singing the national anthem, as well as performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Billie Eilish.
Coincidentally, Team USA taking home 126 medals is the most since the U.S. won 174 in 1984 — the last time the Olympics were played in Los Angeles.