Politics today was defined by strategic uncertainty and personal upheaval. In Washington, the acting Navy secretary said a major $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan has been paused while the Pentagon checks munitions stockpiles needed for operations tied to the Iran conflict, a move likely to unsettle Taipei and please Beijing. At the same time, NATO allies were left scrambling for answers after President Trump reversed course and approved sending 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland, despite earlier signals of a drawdown in Europe. Inside the administration, Tulsi Gabbard announced she is stepping down as director of national intelligence, saying she needs to care for her husband after his diagnosis with a rare bone cancer. North of the border, Canada’s unity also came under strain: Alberta will hold an October vote on whether to pursue constitutional steps toward a future secession referendum, prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney to insist the province remains essential to Canada’s future.