Biden’s Christianity, Lincoln, and the Truth of Who We Are

Biden’s America is a place and idea in which the trappings of empire or glory are ephemera in comparison with perennial human relationships—families; friendships; communities; schools; neighbors; partners.

Freedom, Security, and Insurrection

The aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots runs into the First Amendment,

Did Q Shaman Intend to ‘Capture and Assassinate’ Government Officials?

Some of the Capitol rioters were much more dangerous than others.

Capitol Riot Could Have Been Much Worse

The live coverage of Wednesday’s assault on American democracy underplayed its seriousness.

The Terrorist In The Mirror

There’s a word for people who use outrageous violence to terrorize.

Lame Duckin’

As expected, the Congress has overridden his veto of the NDAA.

West Point Cheaters Mostly Athletes

The Academy is prioritizing football glory over honor.

[Voter Fraud Graphic] [Voter Fraud Graphic]

Two Crazy Aspects of Trump’s Fraud Allegations

Granted, there are more than two. But from a political science/political history POV, these two stick out in my mind.

Nashville Christmas Bombing

An exploding RV did substantial property damage but caused only minor injuries to bystanders.

Cadets participate in the Class of 2019 Graduation Parade, May 24, 2019, at West Point. (Matthew Moeller/Army) Cadets participate in the Class of 2019 Graduation Parade, May 24, 2019, at West Point. (Matthew Moeller/Army)

West Point Cheating Scandal Worst in Decades

73 cadets violated the honor code while taking an exam remotely.

Guardians of the High Frontier

Space Force took a year to decide what to call their uniformed members.

The SolarWinds Attack

Our enemies are getting more brazen and sophisticated in their cyber warfare.

No to Austin

My latest for Defense One.

Chuck Yeager Dead at 97

An American hero is gone.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Gen. Lloyd Austin Biden’s SecDef Pick

Not another general.

Biden’s Defense Secretary

My latest for Defense One.

Biden Considering Lloyd Austin for SECDEF?

Yet another retired general in the post would be a bad idea.

Rethinking Flournoy as SECDEF

Women in national security circles love this woman.

Biden SECDEF Pick on Hold?

Maybe it’s not going to be Michèle Flournoy after all.

Avril Haynes Biden’s Director of National Intelligence Nominee

She’d be America’s first woman intelligence chief.

Al Qaeda Deputy Killed in Iran

The man behind the 1998 embassy attacks is dead.

Pompeo Promises ‘Smooth Transition’

” . . . to a second Trump Administration.” Get it?

Pentagon Policy Chief Ousted

The purge of non-loyalists continues.

Trump Fires Esper, Names Acting SECDEF

A lame duck President has fired his Secretary of Defense and replaced him in probably violation of the law.

The Slow Rollout of Pinks and Greens

The Army is finally getting its World War II uniforms, one base at a time.

Joint Chiefs in COVID Quarantine

Because of course they are.

The Proud Boys Heard Trump Loud and Clear

They are standing by as ordered.

The Office of Legal Counsel

Holding the president accountable is hard.

Trump Saves ‘Stars and Stripes’

The venerable military newspaper lives to print another day.

Trump’s Bizarre, Anti-Veteran Rant

The Toddler-in-Chief strikes again.

Fear of a Black General?

My latest for Defense One.

DNI Refusing to Brief Congress on Election Security

Yet more flouting of the rule of law by the Trump administration.

Soldier-Scholar (Pick One)

My latest for War on the Rocks.

President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Six Responses to Six Scenarios

Yet another call for military intervention in domestic politics.

President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Domestic Enemies

My latest for Defense One.

Foreign Interference in the 2020 Elections

The Russians are at it again, with the cooperation of the Trump administration and its enablers.

Brent Scowcroft, 1925-2020

The National Security Advisor to Presidents Ford and GHW Bush has died.

newspaper newspaper

Pentagon Training IDs Press as ‘Adversaries’

The reporting demonstrates the uncomfortable truth.

In Response to John Podhoretz’s Latest Column

Shame on him for defending authoritarian actions.

Cops Aren’t Soldiers

The similarities are obvious. The differences are more important.

A Simple Comparison

A thought experiment on what we have seen in Portland.

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Cops Should Not Look Like Soldiers

Pentagon officials are speaking out about the militarization of police.

Federal Agents Using Strong-Arm Tactics in America’s Cities

Portland may be a preview of what’s to come.

A Timeline Of Nihilism And Fecklessness

How about crowd sourcing a timeline for all of Trump’s enablers?

Covid-19 Deaths Rising

The trend line shifted this week.

Protestors Getting Hit By Cars

A researcher has documented 66 separate incidents since May 27.

photo of war, plastic, small, army, green, toy, weapon, military, gun, soldier, combat, tiny, isolated, object, model, troop, miniature, white, figurine, commando, play, man, figure, battle, attack, background, enemy, action, warfare, childhood, army men, grass, action figure photo of war, plastic, small, army, green, toy, weapon, military, gun, soldier, combat, tiny, isolated, object, model, troop, miniature, white, figurine, commando, play, man, figure, battle, attack, background, enemy, action, warfare, childhood, army men, grass, action figure

Vindman Abruptly Retiring from Army

The soldier who became a national figure for testifying against President Trump has had enough.

Israeli Bomb Sets Back Iranian Nuclear Program

The Natanz fuel enrichment site has been seriously damaged.

Airpods Airpods

Podcast Recommendation

The Daily on the Russia bounty story.

Intel Briefers Stopped Telling Trump about Russia

The President didn’t want to hear about bad behavior from Moscow, so he wasn’t told.