Quick Hit:

The Chair of the House Intelligence Committee issued a shock warning Wednesday about a "serious national security threat" related to Russia's attempts to develop nuclear weapons in space. This news comes as House Democrats quietly consider using a discharge petition to force a vote on the Senate-passed foreign aid bill with never-ending Ukraine funding.

Key Details:

• In a cryptic statement posted to X Wednesday, Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Turner said, “Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat," adding, "I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.”
• Turner's statement prompted widespread speculation, with sources telling POLITICO Turner's statement refers to Russian attempts to build space-faring nuclear weapons.
• The timing of Turner's surprise statement is intriguing as House Democrats consider a discharge petition to force a vote on the Senate's $95.3 billion foreign aid bill. A bill that could open the door to a future Trump impeachment should the former President, seek to end funding to Ukraine as president.

Diving Deeper:

The warning by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) is related to Russia's attempts to develop an antisatellite nuclear weapon for use in space, according to two people familiar with the matter. The U.S. has been concerned about this potential threat for over a year, as such a weapon would be difficult for the U.S. and other countries to defend against. Turner has called on the administration to declassify the intelligence so that officials and lawmakers can discuss the matter with allies.

It is unclear why Turner chose to issue the statement now, as the intelligence has been available to leaders of the House intelligence committee and their top aides for over a week. The Senate intelligence committee has also had access to the information. House intelligence committee members voted on Tuesday to open the intelligence for viewing by all members, and all Senate members now have access as well.

Due to the circumstances, many are speculating that Turner's warning may be an attempt to underscore the need for additional aid to Ukraine. The Senate has already passed a supplemental bill including $60 billion in aid for Kyiv, and provisions that Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance speculated in sum as never-ending, with House Democrats considering the use of a discharge petition to force a vote on that aid.

U.S. officials have been increasingly concerned about missiles launched from Earth's surface that can destroy satellites in orbit. In 2021, Russia conducted an anti-satellite missile test on one of its own satellites, creating over 1,500 pieces of debris that pose a serious threat to other objects in orbit. The administration has also been concerned about Russia's 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, which can fly at speeds between Mach 6 and Mach 8 and is designed to strike land and naval targets.