Luke Vargas

And I know you said there that elements of DHS aren't being funded here.

Which ones?

How is that going over with Democratic leaders and the rank and file?

Like what, Siobhan?

Is that likely?

Siobhan, thanks so much for the update.

Get some rest.

The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 more ground troops to the Middle East as President Trump weighs his next steps in the Iran war.

We report that it's unclear exactly where the troops would go, but that they'd likely be within striking distance of Iran and Karg Island, its crucial oil export hub.

Iran's U.N.

ambassador in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, said his country was prepared for any next moves from the U.S.,

A spokesman for U.S.

Central Command declined to comment, while a White House press secretary said that troop deployment announcements would come from the Pentagon and that President Trump always had all military options at his disposal.

Meanwhile, Journal of Politics reporter Sabrina Rodriguez says some misgivings about the war in Iran were on display yesterday as the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, kicked off its annual gathering in Texas.

Sabrina says that President Trump's decision not to attend CPAC for the first time in a decade has lowered the excitement level at the gathering, but that among Republicans vying for higher office in November's midterms, his presence was still felt.

CPAC runs through Saturday.

Coming up, Anthropic wins an injunction in its court battle with the Trump administration.

And we'll explore the potential drinks industry tie up between the makers of Absolute and Jack Daniels after the break.

Anthropic has scored an early victory in its legal fight with the Pentagon after a federal judge issued an injunction against the Trump administration's designation of the AI company as a supply chain risk and its ban on government use of its AI models.

Judge Rita Lynn of the Northern District of California said the measures appeared designed to punish Anthropic in its standoff over military use of AI, describing them as, quote, classic illegal First Amendment retaliation.