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.
MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER at 68th Emmy Awards, September 18, 2016 MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER at 68th Emmy Awards, September 18, 2016

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 1970-2025

The actor best known for his role on “The Cosby Show” has died at 54.

Rubber Stamp Congress

Things are not operating as Madison intended.

photo of iphone, light, night, camera, sunlight, reflection, phone, color, darkness, yellow, lighting, cell phone, shape, atmosphere of earth, computer wallpaper , taken with an unknown camera 12/26 2016 photo of iphone, light, night, camera, sunlight, reflection, phone, color, darkness, yellow, lighting, cell phone, shape, atmosphere of earth, computer wallpaper , taken with an unknown camera 12/26 2016

Why is This News?

A minor scandal involving randos is everywhere.

Debating to Lose

Preaching to the choir only works if the choir is in the audience.

The free high-resolution photo of machine learning, book, algorithm, artificial intelligence, robot, robotics, machine, brain, technology, data, information, automation, idea, digital, system, education, intelligent, reading, innovation, learn, analysis, knowledge, cyborg, toy, gesture, font, electric blue, lego, mecha, fictional character, illustration, art, action figure, figurine, animation, graphics @Mohamed Hassan , taken with an unknown camera 06/01 2023 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of machine learning, book, algorithm, artificial intelligence, robot, robotics, machine, brain, technology, data, information, automation, idea, digital, system, education, intelligent, reading, innovation, learn, analysis, knowledge, cyborg, toy, gesture, font, electric blue, lego, mecha, fictional character, illustration, art, action figure, figurine, animation, graphics @Mohamed Hassan , taken with an unknown camera 06/01 2023 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

AI is Killing the Web as We Know It

The incentives for creating quality content are diminishing by the day.

NLDA image under Creative Commons license NLDA image under Creative Commons license

No, Congress Didn’t Give Up Its Spending Power

Spinelessness isn’t permanent.

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Canceled

The end of an era.

PEPFAR Funding Restored

A major unforced error has apparently been reversed.

MAGA Meltdown Over Epstein

Because of course.

Registration Requirement Enabled

As promised.

[Updated x2] Comment Policy Change

A warning of impending change.

A picture of a file with hiv aids treatment written on the spine together with capsules, blood samples, syringe and an ECG chart. A picture of a file with hiv aids treatment written on the spine together with capsules, blood samples, syringe and an ECG chart.

Millions Will Die Unless US Aid Money is Replaced

A dire warning from the UN.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room. President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Did Netanyahu Prolong the Gaza War To Save Himself?

A long exposé misses the mark.

photo of writing, hand, number, love, finger, pink, note, brand, text, message, organ, list, emotion, embassy, sense, arguments, on the other hand photo of writing, hand, number, love, finger, pink, note, brand, text, message, organ, list, emotion, embassy, sense, arguments, on the other hand

In Defense of Throat Clearing

It’s bad writing, but a necessary evil.

President Donald Trump thanks the crowd after remarks at the Salute to America Celebration, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. President Donald Trump thanks the crowd after remarks at the Salute to America Celebration, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trump Applies Madman Theory For Real

An unusual diplomatic approach.

SCOTUS Allows Mass Firings, For Now

An odd, impactful ruling.

Musk Announces America Party

An unserious idea from an unserious man.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Congressional Republicans Always Cave

They may whine and bluster, but Trump always gets their votes.

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.