AFBytes Quarter Rundown — Thursday, August 13, 1:00 PM ET

Here are today's top stories from around the world. A federal lawsuit aims to halt a paid service giving early access to posts on Truth Social. The suit targets monetization of presidential content. The case tests limits on elected officials profiting from official communications platforms. America-first: Rules on official communications affect transparency standards for U.S. political leadership. Household: The dispute does not directly change household costs or services. Nat-sec: No national security implications are evident from the access model. China controls the processing of rare earth elements required for advanced military hardware. The United States military relies on these materials for guidance systems, lasers, and other technologies. Disruptions in this supply chain would directly affect readiness and procurement timelines. America-first: The dependence highlights the need to rebuild domestic industrial capacity and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries for strategic materials. Household: Higher defense spending to secure alternative supplies could influence federal budgets and indirectly affect tax burdens or other domestic policies. Nat-sec: The dominance of one adversary in critical materials creates a single point of vulnerability. Israel's departing ambassador to Ukraine highlighted shared interests with Kyiv in countering Iranian influence. The comments came during ongoing Russian military operations in the region. America-first: Closer Israel-Ukraine ties may support U.S. goals of containing Iranian expansion without direct American troop commitments. Household: U.S. involvement in Middle East security can influence energy prices that affect household budgets through gasoline and heating costs. Nat-sec: The cooperation could strengthen supply-chain resilience for defense equipment shared among U.S. partners. That's the day from where we sit — thanks for spending part of it with us. Stay with us at AFBytes for what's next.