The Senate has voted to confirm the next chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, ending months of gridlock caused by one senator. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy seemed hopeful after presenting a new GOP plan to avoid a government shutdown to members of his party. The Pentagon is launching a new outreach campaign to LGBTQ+ service members affected by “don’t ask, don’t tell.” After months of entertainment strikes, economists say the financial impact has now passed $5 billion. Lastly, Elon Musk’s Neuralink is now recruiting for its first human clinical trial.