Posts by James Joyner

James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is a Professor of Security Studies. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Declaration of Independence: A Fisking

A conservative blogger’s perspective on the Declaration of Independence.

Senate Passes BBB. Will House Go Along?

They’re talking a big game now, but they’ll likely bend a knee. Again.

Musk Threats Over Big Beautiful Bill

Of course you realize this means war.

The free high-resolution photo of light, night, texture, sparkler, firework, celebration, sign, symbol, flag, usa, holiday, fire, freedom, black, festive, celebrate, explode, memorial, july, american, fun, patriot, gold, illustration, happy, year, stars, party, new, day, united, labor, 4th, independence, fourth, states, patriotic, sparkles , taken with an Canon EOS 5D Mark II 03/10 2017 The picture taken with 35.0mm, f/1.6s, 1/30s, ISO 400 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of light, night, texture, sparkler, firework, celebration, sign, symbol, flag, usa, holiday, fire, freedom, black, festive, celebrate, explode, memorial, july, american, fun, patriot, gold, illustration, happy, year, stars, party, new, day, united, labor, 4th, independence, fourth, states, patriotic, sparkles , taken with an Canon EOS 5D Mark II 03/10 2017 The picture taken with 35.0mm, f/1.6s, 1/30s, ISO 400 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

American Patriotism at 250

This ain’t 1976.

Supreme Court Limits Nation-wide Injunctions

A correct but disturbing ruling.

America’s Declining Prison Population

We’ve seen a massive fall from the 2009 peak.

Big Beautiful Bill in Trouble?

Senate Republicans are balking at several measures, but fixing those would make passage in the House impossible.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a recorded message. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a recorded message.

Khameini Declares Victory

Iran came “this close” to ending the Zionist regime.

Generational Turnover Coming for Democrats?

Over-reading the NYC mayoral primary.

US Attack Likely Set Iran Nuke Program Back Mere Months

The preliminary DIA assessment has been leaked.

Was Bombing Iran Legal, Redux

For all practical purposes, the Constitutional war powers have been stood on their head.

Ceasefire in Iran War

This phase seems to be over. [Or maybe not!]

Headline of the Day

I don’t question the timing.

How Effective Were U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

Maximalist claims are almost surely overstated.

The Domestic Politics of the Iran Strike

Democrats are mostly condemning it and Republicans are divided.

Was Bombing Iran Legal?

No. But it won’t matter.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites.

U.S. Bombs Three Iranian Nuke Sites

The war is on.

Israel-Iran War: What’s the End State?

Thinking about possible outcomes.

Trump Has Approved Iran War Plans

Whatever that means.

Virginia 2025 a 2026 Bellweather?

The Commonwealth’s off-off year contests will be seen as a referendum on Trump.

Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023 Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023

Iranian Leadership in Turmoil

The loss of many key leaders in short order is a serious problem.

Regime Change in Iran

Trump and Netanyahu do not see eye to eye on the matter.

Scenes outside the Supreme Court and Dirksen as the Judiciary Committee hearings begin for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett Scenes outside the Supreme Court and Dirksen as the Judiciary Committee hearings begin for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett

Amy Comey Barrett Defying Expectation

She’s making no one happy.

Israel May Attack Iran Soon

A major escalation in Middle East tensions is forecast.

Brian Wilson during a performance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, 10 January 2007 Brian Wilson during a performance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, 10 January 2007

Brian Wilson, 1942-2025

The Beach Boy legend is gone at 82.

Trump Restores Confederate Names to Army Bases

But Not Really (Wink Wink)

newspaper newspaper

Where Americans Get Their News

The information bubble is real.

Governor Gavin Newsom speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. Governor Gavin Newsom speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California.

Newsom 2028?

He’s clearly using the standoff with the White House to elevate his national stature.

Autocracy is Popular

While critics warn of fascism, the public is thus far backing Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Great Realignment

Half the counties in America have moved more Republican in each of the last three elections.

photo of landscape, sand, horizon, sun, road, field, prairie, desert, shadow, usa, america, soil, dust, street sign, plain, world, trace, arrival, grassland, hot, shield, plateau, weird, by, alien, not, warning, ufo, nevada, this, habitat, aperture, risk, away, reptilian, threat, steppe, warnschild, area 51, reprint, alie, natural environment, aeolian landform, grass family photo of landscape, sand, horizon, sun, road, field, prairie, desert, shadow, usa, america, soil, dust, street sign, plain, world, trace, arrival, grassland, hot, shield, plateau, weird, by, alien, not, warning, ufo, nevada, this, habitat, aperture, risk, away, reptilian, threat, steppe, warnschild, area 51, reprint, alie, natural environment, aeolian landform, grass family

Pentagon Fueled Area 51 Conspiracy

An Air Force colonel spread misinformation to hide the stealth program.

President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office. President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office.

The Trump-Musk Breakup

The bromance is apparently over.

By U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joseph R. Vincent - This image was released by the United States Navy with the ID 240328-N-IM823-1076 (next). By U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joseph R. Vincent - This image was released by the United States Navy with the ID 240328-N-IM823-1076 (next).

Crying Over Spilt Milk

You can’t take the politics out of politics.

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Trump DOE Attacks Columbia Accreditation

The administration’s war on higher ed has escalated.

Musk Calls BBB a ‘Disgusting Abomination’

Maybe they weren’t serious about fiscal discipline after all?

Loyalty Tests For Government Hiring

It was inevitable.

Trump Lashes Out At Federalist Society

Will no one rid me of these meddlesome judges?

DLC 2.0?

Is it time for the Democrats to move to the center?

Trump’s West Point Graduation Speech

It was rather unusual.

Musk Has Left the Building

Is the worst of the idiocy over?

Rubio Guts National Security Council

A massive purge ahead of the long weekend.

Oncologist: Biden Has Had Cancer For Years

Zeke Emanuel minced no words.

Trump Not Enforcing the Law

Presidents have wide latitude in this area but many say 47 is exceeding his authority.

Mending the Brexit Catastrophe

Five years after their divorce, the UK and EU are rebuilding ties.