Outside the Beltway

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.

Genocide, War Crimes, and Gaza

· Wednesday, August 13, 2025 · 45 comments

There are no satisfying answers.

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.

Bloodshed, Bedlam, Squalor and Worse

· Tuesday, August 12, 2025 · 30 comments

Authoritarianism is popular.

A Very Good Week For Putin

· Sunday, August 10, 2025 · 17 comments

The Russian autocrat may be on the verge of getting what he wants.

Two Americas, Redux

· Saturday, August 9, 2025 · 21 comments

Are Red and Blue states even part of the same country anymore?

(12 Nov. 1966) --- Astronaut James A. Lovell is photographed inside his Gemini spacecraft during the Gemini-12 mission. Astronaut Edwin Aldrin is seen in the background and to the left (12 Nov. 1966) --- Astronaut James A. Lovell is photographed inside his Gemini spacecraft during the Gemini-12 mission. Astronaut Edwin Aldrin is seen in the background and to the left

Jim Lovell, 1928-2025

· Saturday, August 9, 2025 · 4 comments

The pioneering astronaut is gone at 97.

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.

Israel To Retake Gaza City

· Friday, August 8, 2025 · 12 comments

The seemingly inevitable next step.

Federal Grants Must ‘Demonstrably Advance President’s Policy Priorities’

· Friday, August 8, 2025 · 27 comments

Politicizing scientific inquiry is a bad idea.

Hiroshima Bombing’s 80th Anniversary

· Thursday, August 7, 2025 · 15 comments

The last survivors want us to remember the horrors of nuclear war.

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Ohio River Raised for Veep Kayaking Trip

· Thursday, August 7, 2025 · 21 comments

The optics are not good.

Thursday’s Forum

· Thursday, August 7, 2025 · 26 comments

Donald Trump als Pinocchio bei Pressekonferenz mit langer Nase politik, politiker, nase, lang, reporter, presse, journalist, medien, comedy, auftritt, karikatur, mikrofon, usa, märchen, trump, cnn, show, politics, journalism, media, microphone, stage, satire, fox, performance, lüge, lie, press, humor, nose, komödie, konferenz, conference, puppenspiel, pressekonferenz, politician, caricature, fairytale, long, jester, satirebild, fakenews, zölle, ovaloffice, satirekunst, revealed, pinocchio, bbc, pressebild, pressevertreter, presseclown, lügenbild, pressekarikatur, narr, pressegesicht, pinocchiotrump, aufgedeckt, pressewitz, presseevent, pressconference, pressimage, pressclown, lieimage, satirephoto, pressface, puppetry, satiricalart, pressevent, pressjoke Donald Trump als Pinocchio bei Pressekonferenz mit langer Nase politik, politiker, nase, lang, reporter, presse, journalist, medien, comedy, auftritt, karikatur, mikrofon, usa, märchen, trump, cnn, show, politics, journalism, media, microphone, stage, satire, fox, performance, lüge, lie, press, humor, nose, komödie, konferenz, conference, puppenspiel, pressekonferenz, politician, caricature, fairytale, long, jester, satirebild, fakenews, zölle, ovaloffice, satirekunst, revealed, pinocchio, bbc, pressebild, pressevertreter, presseclown, lügenbild, pressekarikatur, narr, pressegesicht, pinocchiotrump, aufgedeckt, pressewitz, presseevent, pressconference, pressimage, pressclown, lieimage, satirephoto, pressface, puppetry, satiricalart, pressevent, pressjoke

Fact Checking in an Era of Bullshit

· Sunday, August 3, 2025 · 36 comments

One of the big ones has given up.

The free high-resolution photo of person, photography, money, child, business, singing, euro, merit, businessman, finance, wealth, profit, performing arts, stock exchange, revenue, investments, speculate, stock broker, speculation, share price, capital market , taken with an NIKON D3200 02/10 2017 The picture taken with 250.0mm, f/7.1s, 10/400s, ISO 400 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of person, photography, money, child, business, singing, euro, merit, businessman, finance, wealth, profit, performing arts, stock exchange, revenue, investments, speculate, stock broker, speculation, share price, capital market , taken with an NIKON D3200 02/10 2017 The picture taken with 250.0mm, f/7.1s, 10/400s, ISO 400 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

Being A Millionaire Ain’t What It Used to Be

· Tuesday, July 29, 2025 · 12 comments

Times have changed!

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’s Job Approval

· Monday, July 28, 2025 · 15 comments

It’s down, but relatively steady.

Tom Lehrer, 1928-2025

· Monday, July 28, 2025 · 21 comments

The mathematician best known for his satirical songs is gone at 97.

Texas Gerrymandering Could Set Off Game of Tit for Tat

· Sunday, July 27, 2025 · 14 comments

Here we go again.

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.

A Bullish View of AI That’s Not So Bullish

· Saturday, July 26, 2025 · 37 comments

It’s likely to be great for the economy, but not for most of the people in it.

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France Recognizes Palestine

· Friday, July 25, 2025 · 42 comments

Responding to tragedy with farce.

Locking Up The Homeless

· Friday, July 25, 2025 · 34 comments

A simple solution to a complex problem.

Columbia’s $200 Million ‘Deal’ with Trump Administration

· Thursday, July 24, 2025 · 23 comments

A breaking of the social contract.

Ozzy Osbourne, 1948-2025

· Tuesday, July 22, 2025 · 13 comments

The heavy metal legend has passed at 76.

Records of FBI MLK Investigation Released

· Tuesday, July 22, 2025 · 9 comments

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

· Tuesday, July 22, 2025 · 3 comments

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

Trump Demands Return of Redskins, Indians Names

· Monday, July 21, 2025 · 32 comments

A strange fixaton.

Rubber Stamp Congress

· Sunday, July 20, 2025 · 14 comments

Things are not operating as Madison intended.

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Why is This News?

· Sunday, July 20, 2025 · 11 comments

A minor scandal involving randos is everywhere.

Debating to Lose

· Saturday, July 19, 2025 · 16 comments

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

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AI is Killing the Web as We Know It

· Saturday, July 19, 2025 · 28 comments

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

· Friday, July 18, 2025 · 6 comments

Spinelessness isn’t permanent.

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Canceled

· Friday, July 18, 2025 · 24 comments

The end of an era.

PEPFAR Funding Restored

· Wednesday, July 16, 2025 · 4 comments

A major unforced error has apparently been reversed.

MAGA Meltdown Over Epstein

· Monday, July 14, 2025 · 27 comments

Because of course.

Registration Requirement Enabled

· Monday, July 14, 2025 · 23 comments

As promised.

[Updated x2] Comment Policy Change

· Saturday, July 12, 2025 · 149 comments

A warning of impending change.

David R. Gergen, Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA speaks during the session 'Will Washington Work?' at the Annual Meeting 2013 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 25, 2013 David R. Gergen, Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA speaks during the session 'Will Washington Work?' at the Annual Meeting 2013 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 25, 2013

David Gergen, 1942-2025

· Saturday, July 12, 2025 · 3 comments

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

· Saturday, July 12, 2025 · 21 comments

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?

· Friday, July 11, 2025 · 26 comments

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

· Wednesday, July 9, 2025 · 31 comments

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

· Wednesday, July 9, 2025 · 34 comments

An unusual diplomatic approach.

SCOTUS Allows Mass Firings, For Now

· Wednesday, July 9, 2025 · 18 comments

An odd, impactful ruling.

Musk Announces America Party

· Sunday, July 6, 2025 · 27 comments

An unserious idea from an unserious man.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Congressional Republicans Always Cave

· Saturday, July 5, 2025 · 14 comments

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

Senate Passes BBB. Will House Go Along?

· Wednesday, July 2, 2025 · 24 comments

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

Musk Threats Over Big Beautiful Bill

· Tuesday, July 1, 2025 · 29 comments

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

· Monday, June 30, 2025 · 54 comments

This ain’t 1976.

Supreme Court Limits Nation-wide Injunctions

· Saturday, June 28, 2025 · 36 comments

A correct but disturbing ruling.

America’s Declining Prison Population

· Thursday, June 26, 2025 · 23 comments

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

Big Beautiful Bill in Trouble?

· Thursday, June 26, 2025 · 13 comments

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

· Thursday, June 26, 2025 · 45 comments

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

Generational Turnover Coming for Democrats?

· Wednesday, June 25, 2025 · 38 comments

Over-reading the NYC mayoral primary.

US Attack Likely Set Iran Nuke Program Back Mere Months

· Wednesday, June 25, 2025 · 31 comments

The preliminary DIA assessment has been leaked.

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