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.

Sweden’s COVID Response: So Far, Not Good

Vastly more people died than needed to and the economy still crashed.

How Many Lives Have Shutdowns Saved?

A new study estimates how many lives were saved in 30 American cities.

Justin Amash Not Running for President After All

We won’t have whatshisname to kick around any more.

New Trek with Pike and Spock

“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” is coming to CBS All Access.

Gregory McMichael Leaked the Arbery Video

A bizarre twist to a tragic story.

Gregory McMichael Was Not a Good Cop

A look at the employment records of one of the men involved in the Ahmaud Arbery shooting.

Ronald Shurer, Medal of Honor Recipient, 1978-2020

A hero of the Afghan War has succumbed to cancer, aged 41.

newspaper newspaper

New York Times and the Outrage Mob

The newspaper of record radically altered a column and then misrepresented it.

Wisconsin Courts Overturn Governor’s Closure Order

Pandemonium during a pandemic.

The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 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 street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 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.

300,000 Dead from COVID-19

Another grim milestone

The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 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 street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 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.

COVID-19 Myths

Wrongheaded thinking about the pandemic won’t go away.

Second Video in Ahmaud Arbery Case

We now have more context but not more relevant facts.

Monday’s Forum

All the news just repeats itself.

Trump Wants to Divest Federal Retirement Fund of China Stocks

Should public employee pensions be an asset in the administration’s foreign policy?

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are joined by health care and nursing association representatives, from left to right-Dr. Ernest Grant, Lisa Barlow, Caroline Few Elliot, Luke Adams, Marty Blankenship, Allen Zelno, Sophia Thomas and Maria Arvonio, listening to a reporter’s question after the signing of a proclamation in honor of National Nurses Day Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are joined by health care and nursing association representatives, from left to right-Dr. Ernest Grant, Lisa Barlow, Caroline Few Elliot, Luke Adams, Marty Blankenship, Allen Zelno, Sophia Thomas and Maria Arvonio, listening to a reporter’s question after the signing of a proclamation in honor of National Nurses Day Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Slowly Re-Opening America

Things are going to get better. And far worse.

Mother’s Day Forum

Here’s what we tell her.

The Ahmaud Arbery Shooting

A seemingly innocent black man has been killed, sparking a wave of outrage.

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a tree planting ceremony in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day Wednesday, April 22, 2020, on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a tree planting ceremony in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day Wednesday, April 22, 2020, on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

White House Refused to Release CDC Opening Guidance

A report outlining steps for re-opening the economy in the wake of COVID-19 has been leaked to the press.

Civility Strained by Coronavirus

We’re a long, long way from normal.

Saturday’s Forum

The world was angry. The world was mean.

US Unemployment at Record Highs

More Americans are out of work than at any time since the Great Depression.

Dave Dilegge, 1956-2020

The founder of Small Wars Journal passed Saturday.

President Donald J. Trump displays his signature on a proclamation making the month of May Older Americans Month, during the America’s Seniors event Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour) President Donald J. Trump displays his signature on a proclamation making the month of May Older Americans Month, during the America’s Seniors event Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

Trump Pushing to Open Economy Soon

“Will some people be affected badly? Yes.”

Richard Friedman Dead at 79

He revolutionized how we think of male homosexuality.

75 Percent of Democrats Happy with Biden

The Tara Reade allegations haven’t hurt the presumptive nominee with the party.

President Donald J. Trump participates in a FOX News Channel virtual town hall entitled America Together: Returning to Work, with co-moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum live from the Lincoln Memorial Sunday, May 3, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump participates in a FOX News Channel virtual town hall entitled America Together: Returning to Work, with co-moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum live from the Lincoln Memorial Sunday, May 3, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

There is No Plan

A sober assessment of President Trump’s plan to get the country running again.

Don Shula Dead at 90

The coaching legend led the 1972 Miami Dolphins to the only perfect season in NFL history.

Sunday’s Forum

Have at it.

The Language of Sexual Violence

We need a better vocabulary for treating the spectrum between rude and horrific.

Kim Jong Un Makes Public Appearance

The reports of the the North Korean dictator’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

Saturday’s Forum

Do we even have weekends anymore?

Joe Biden Denies Tara Reade Allegations

The presumptive Democratic nominee says, “They aren’t true. This never happened.”

Who Pays for Coronavirus Losses?

Some inchorent musings about a massive question.

Justin Amash Running for Libertarian Nomination

The erstwhile Tea Party Republican is making a run for President.

COVID-19 Has Killed More Americans Than Vietnam War

Another grim milestone. It won’t be the last.

Schools Under Pressure to Re-open

Until our kids go back to school, we can’t go back to work.

SCOTUS Rules Congress Can’t Reneg on ObamaCare Insurer Bailout

An 8-1 rebuke from the nation’s highest court.

Undercounting COVID Deaths

The counting methodology is flawed and that’s assuming honest reporting.

Sunday’s Forum

The beginning of another week. Or is it the end?

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, listens as William N. Bryan, science and technology advisor to the DHS Secretary, delivers remarks and answers questions from members of the press during a coronavirus task force briefing Thursday, April 23, 2020, in the James S. Brady White House Press Briefing Room. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, listens as William N. Bryan, science and technology advisor to the DHS Secretary, delivers remarks and answers questions from members of the press during a coronavirus task force briefing Thursday, April 23, 2020, in the James S. Brady White House Press Briefing Room. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

Trump May Have Fewer Coronavirus Briefings

It’s about damned time.

Man Whose Twin Brother Died from Spanish Flu Dies from COVID-19

A seemingly impossible coincidence.

The Grim Reality

This isn’t likely to end any time soon.

Saturday’s Forum

It’s that time again.

Working Longer During the Pandemic

Contrary to some expectations, Americans are logging three extra hours of work a day.

"Kim Jong-un visiting Berlin" by driver Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Uploaded on March 30, 2017 "Kim Jong-un visiting Berlin" by driver Photographer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Uploaded on March 30, 2017

What if Kim Jong Un is Dead?

Some informed speculation.

Thanks, Celebrities

Harsh. But fair?

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a tree planting ceremony in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day Wednesday, April 22, 2020, on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a tree planting ceremony in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day Wednesday, April 22, 2020, on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Trump in Trouble

Things are not looking good.