[Up First] Poor Conditions on USS Lincoln, Economic Warfare on Iran, Ukraine’s Drone Campaign

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea for more than 250 consecutive days — a record surpassing even COVID-era deployments — with over 5,000 sailors aboard. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, are demanding a Pentagon investigation into reported food shortages, broken toilets, and inadequate mental health support. There are unconfirmed reports that sailors have attempted to jump overboard, and concerns are mounting that the Navy is not following the mental health policies it established after a rash of suicides on another carrier in 2022.

The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment stems directly from the ongoing war with Iran. After Iran struck the Navy’s main regional hub in Bahrain shortly after hostilities began in late February, the military lost access to its traditional logistics infrastructure.

Navy Sealift Command had to rapidly adapt its resupply strategy, leading to slow mail deliveries and early depletion of fresh food. After a few weeks at sea, fresh fruit and vegetables — called “freshies” — are the first supplies to run out, and morale deteriorates quickly.

The Associated Press reports that the Navy is considering moving the USS Washington into the region to relieve the Lincoln, though officials confirm the Washington remains in the Pacific for now. Military planners had reportedly discussed a carrier swap even before the latest wave of damaging public reports. The Navy maintains it has seen no increase in suicidal ideation aboard the ship and that mental health professionals are present.

Weeks of direct military strikes failed to bring Iran’s government to its knees, and negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz remain at an impasse.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the administration intends to impose economic measures “like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country,” signaling a dramatic escalation of financial pressure on Tehran.

Ordinary Iranians are already bearing the brunt of the economic pain.

Prices are rising sharply: a tray of thirty eggs now costs double what it did a month ago, and cooking oil has jumped around 30% in the same period. Reporting from Van, Turkey — a border city popular with Iranian visitors — reveals that people are stressed and constantly monitoring news about military targets and currency fluctuations.

Many Iranians traveling to Van describe it as a temporary escape: a place to shop freely, socialize, and decompress from the uncertainty at home. Yet even there, the weight of economic hardship follows them. One visitor described the city as a “pill” — a brief dose of relief — underscoring how deeply the crisis has penetrated everyday Iranian life. Civil liberties also remain tightly restricted inside Iran, with authorities continuing to police social media and personal expression.

Ukraine has been intensifying drone strikes targeting Russian military assets in Crimea, the peninsula Russia annexed in 2014.

The campaign aims to erode Russia’s grip on the strategically vital peninsula and signal that Kyiv has not abandoned hopes of reclaiming lost territory.

Ukrainian drone technology has advanced considerably since the early stages of the war, allowing strikes deeper into Russian-controlled territory with greater precision. Crimea’s military infrastructure — including naval facilities and air defense systems — has become a primary target, as its capture or neutralization would significantly weaken Russia’s southern flank and its ability to project power into the Black Sea.

The central question analysts are asking is whether sustained drone pressure can translate into genuine territorial gains. Recapturing Crimea would require far more than aerial strikes; it would demand a ground offensive against heavily fortified positions. Still, Ukraine’s campaign represents a clear strategic message: more than a decade after losing the peninsula, Kyiv continues to contest Russia’s claim to it.