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.
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The War on Higher Ed

Elite American universities are surrending at an astonishing pace.

Rules for Thee, Not For Me

Unequal treatment for senior officials is the norm, like it or not.

Israel’s Next Move

Will the Netanyahu government double down on its weakening of Iran?

Trump Orders Proof of Citizenship to Vote

Yet another test of Executive power for the courts to resolve.

The Dual State

First thing we do, let’s intimidate all the lawyers.

George Foreman, 1949-2025

The boxing great and grill pitchman is gone at 76.

Trump Deporting 530,000 Legal Immigrants, Shuttering DHS Due Process Offices

Then process gets in the way of efficiency, kill the process.

Now Is It a Constitutional Crisis?

We are at least on the precipice.

We’re Back?

Our long national nightmare (may be) over.

Democrats Cave

They don’t want to give Trump what he wants, so they’re giving him what he wants.

John Feinstein, 1956-2025

The acclaimed sportswriter is gone.

Independent public servants are a prerequisite for a functioning democracy. Photo from a protest outside the USAID HQ. Independent public servants are a prerequisite for a functioning democracy. Photo from a protest outside the USAID HQ.

Judge Orders Illegally Fired Probationary Feds Rehired

A rebuke of pretextual firings but likely not a permanent solution.

Government Shutdown When Government is Already Being Shut Down

Democrats are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Pentagon Shutters Research Programs

No more woke crap.

USAID Ordered to Destroy Its Records

Salting the earth and breaking the law.

Kevin Drum, 1958-2025

One of the OG political bloggers is gone.

Chaos at the Veterans Administration?

Massive cuts are seriously undermining the mission.

‘We Live in a Foreign Country Now’

A stark observation.

Careening Toward A Shutdown

A year-long Continuing Resolution or bust?

An America First Foreign Policy

Deciphering the meaning of a vague slogan.

Winning the Battle Against Drugs

The war is another thing, entirely.

DOGEing It Out

Is the DOGE now on a leash?

The Big Chilling Effect

Our leaders are afraid to lead.

SCOTUS Rejects Trump Bid to Halt Foreign Aid

A seemingly obvious ruling was nonetheless 5-4.

Trump’s Very Long Congressional Speech Roundup

It made history in many ways.

Trump and the Liberal Order

America is getting screwed by playing by the rules it created.

Trump 47 Foreign Policy

It’s still murky but already quite different from the Trump 45 administration’s.

The Artlessness of the Deal

Applying rational analysis to attitude and instinct.

Navy aircraft carrier with jets Navy aircraft carrier with jets

Norway Cutting Off Fuel to US Navy

A story I thought I’d never see.

The Leader of the Free World?

The postwar era may have ended yesterday.

Mass Firings Ruled Illegal

A judge says OPM has no authority to fire workers in other agencies.

Global Democracy at Two-Decade Low

Perhaps longer, but the worst in the history of the Economist Intelligence Unit report.

Gene Hackman, 1930-1925

The legendary actor is gone at 95.

Judge Questions DOGE Constitutionality

The unorthodox non-agency agency run by no one in particular may violate the basic rules of our system.

US Abandons Ukraine, Ruptures Atlantic Alliance

A shocking but completely unsurprising development.

Friedrich Merz (CDU-Parteivorsitzender); Porträt, Einzelbild Friedrich Merz (CDU-Parteivorsitzender); Porträt, Einzelbild

German Election Dominated by Parties of the Right

But a centrist grand coalition will likely govern.

American blues and soul singer Roberta Flack in concert in Deauville (Normandy, France) in July 1992. American blues and soul singer Roberta Flack in concert in Deauville (Normandy, France) in July 1992.

Roberta Flack, 1937-2025

The R&B icon is gone at 88.

Musk of Confusion in the Air

In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.”

The Looming Government Shutdown

Beware the Ides of March.

Taking a Chainsaw to the Federal Workforce

The cruelty is indeed the point.

Hegseth Fires Service JAGs

The top uniformed lawyers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been relieved.

Dan “Razin” Caine Nominated for Joint Chiefs Chairman

The retired 3-star National Guard officer is an unorthodox pick.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. delivers remarks during a transition ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 14, 2020. (U.S. Air Force/Eric Dietrich) Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. delivers remarks during a transition ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 14, 2020. (U.S. Air Force/Eric Dietrich)

Trump Purges Pentagon Leadership

Three members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been fired.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Mitch McConnell Announces Retirement

Don’t let the door . . .

One Month

The Most Important Rule Of Surviving A Political Confirmation Fight Is: Don’t Quit!

All of 47’s controversial nominees have been confirmed. Save one.

Blogging During DOGEtime

In the interests of full disclosure.

Mass Voting Behavior

How to create an echo chamber.