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.

The Identity Politics of Identity Politics

Who gets to claim Latino heritage?

Two Years After George Floyd

Very little progress has been made towards racial justice.

Michael Langley to be 1st Black Marine 4-Star General

A long-overdue milestone has been reached.

Queer Couples, Divorce, and Custody Rights

An ugly divorce exposes a gap in our legal structure.

Disinformation Governance Board Killed by Disinformation Campaign

The combination of a horrendous rollout and a social media onslaught was disastrous.

Finland and Sweden Apply to NATO, Turkey an Obstacle

A diplomatic nightmare brewing since last week is now upon us.

Maximal Angst Despite Minimal Cause

Quite often, political fights are about attitudes rather than issues and polices.

Mass Shootings, Ideology, and Mental Illness

We know a lot less about the motives of spree killers than the public discourse suggests.

When Mass Murder Becomes Commonplace

Tragedy has played out so often that it has become a statistic.

Star Trek Goes Woke!

Has a franchise that’s always been political gone too far?

Over a Million Americans Dead from COVID

Another grim—and substantially avoidable—milestone.

Ukraine War Adding to Global Food Insecurity

Supply chain disruptions are contributing to crisis for 300 million people.

Crypto Crash

The bubble may have burst.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

January 6 Committee Subpoenas Republican Leaders

An unprecedented manuever in response to unprecedented obstruction.

Democrats Don’t Control the Senate

Another day, another disappointment for the party’s legislative agenda.

Shown is a portion of a wall that is covered with policemen's patches donated by visitors from all over the world, especially the USA & Europe. Shown is a portion of a wall that is covered with policemen's patches donated by visitors from all over the world, especially the USA & Europe.

Pretextual Searches on the Interstate

Assumptions of racial animus are overshadowing a story that’s outrageous enough on its own.

COVID’s Silver Lining?

The pandemic forced the spread of useful technology.

Vegan Upcharge!

PETA has launched a weird protest against Starbucks.

Justices Didn’t Lie About Abortion in Hearings

Susan Collins and other Senators claiming otherwise are just wrong.

Protesting at Officials’ Homes

Is harassing judges, mayors, Senators, and the like in their private lives just free speech?

Loose Lips About Sinking Ships

The Biden Administration is constantly bragging about its actions against Russia. Is that wise?

Clarence Thomas Worries Respect for Institutions Fading

In other news, there’s gambling going on at Casablanca.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addresses his remarks at a roundtable on donating plasma Thursday, July 30, 2020, at the American Red Cross-National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour) Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addresses his remarks at a roundtable on donating plasma Thursday, July 30, 2020, at the American Red Cross-National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

Fauci Shocked Americans Think Pandemic Over

We’re mostly back to “normal” while yet another new strain is surging.

No, Congress Won’t Create an Abortion Right

At least not right away. But it’s quite possible by 2040.

Trump Pondered Mexico Missile Attack, Shooting BLM Protesters

The 45th President was a psychopath.

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Just Move If You Don’t Like it Here!

There are many barriers to true freedom.

The Least Dangerous Branch?

The apparently eminent demise of abortion rights has reignited an old debate.

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Plagiarized News Reports

Another journalist has been fired for a cardinal sin.

Supreme Court Overturning Roe (Probably)

POLITICO has obtained what purports to be the 1st draft of the opinion.

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Working at the Office Ain’t Woke!

People are resisting going back to the office.

Tucker Carlson White Supremacist Messaging

The face of Fox News is not the bow-tied buffoon from his “Crossfire” days.

New York’s Gerrymandering Disarmament

When doing the right thing is the wrong thing.

Biden Wants to Waive Visa Requirements for Russian Scientists

A splendid idea but why stop there?

Neal Adams, 1941-2022

The legendary comic book artist is gone at 80.

Vice President Kamala Harris participates in a Build Back Better virtual event with mayors from across the country Thursday, October 28, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Vice President Kamala Harris participates in a Build Back Better virtual event with mayors from across the country Thursday, October 28, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Unequal Medical Treatment

Vice President Harris gets better care than the average American. Cue the outrage!

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Professional Politicians Poor Prognosticators

Mitch McConnell and other senior Republican Senators foolishly believed their colleagues would do the right thing.

The free high-resolution photo of white, game, play, male, recreation, think, black, thoughtful, board game, fun, king, figure, sports, chess, queen, pawn, chessboard, games, champion, practice, challenge, stick, serious, tactics, win, schedule, strategic, clever, keeps, the player, checkerboard, the winner of the, indoor games and sports, tabletop game, the strategy, the championship, prevx, the cunning , taken with an NIKON D700 03/09 2017 The picture taken with 105.0mm, f/5.6s, 1/200s, ISO 100 The free high-resolution photo of white, game, play, male, recreation, think, black, thoughtful, board game, fun, king, figure, sports, chess, queen, pawn, chessboard, games, champion, practice, challenge, stick, serious, tactics, win, schedule, strategic, clever, keeps, the player, checkerboard, the winner of the, indoor games and sports, tabletop game, the strategy, the championship, prevx, the cunning , taken with an NIKON D700 03/09 2017 The picture taken with 105.0mm, f/5.6s, 1/200s, ISO 100

Institutions Matter, French Edition

How rules shape the game.

General Breedlove’s Integrity

Are retired officers on defense boards presumed liars?

Most Americans Have Had COVID-19

Some 60% of us, including 75% of our children, have been infected.

Elon Musk Buys Twitter

It’s happened. What does it mean?

Lived Experience in Art and Journalism

What are the limits of representation?

The free high-resolution photo of architecture, building, city, tower, religion, church, cathedral, place of worship, gold, madrid, christianity, cruz, moscow, orthodox, parish, dome, russia , taken with an D-LUX 5 03/07 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/4.0s, 1/800s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of architecture, building, city, tower, religion, church, cathedral, place of worship, gold, madrid, christianity, cruz, moscow, orthodox, parish, dome, russia , taken with an D-LUX 5 03/07 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/4.0s, 1/800s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

Dividing the Christian World

The Pope is indeed Catholic. The rest is up for debate.

Macron Wins Re-Election

The boring moderate beat the neo-Nazi with 58% of the vote.

Voting Underway in French Presidential Runoff

The incumbent should win easily but turnout is low and the consequences dire.

Depending on the Kindness of Strangers

Has the Internet made us more selfish?