Biden Pardons Federal and DC Marijuana Users

A small but positive step.

Righting Past Wrongs

Thousands of LGBTQ veterans are seeking to have their discharges upgraded.

Chinese Attack Critical Infrastructure

The US intelligence community and Silicon Valley are warning of a major threat.

Trump, Hamilton, and the Electoral College

Don’t blame the primary author of The Federalist for our current mess.

Biggest Leaker in Decade Should Never Have Had Access to Secrets

The United States has not learned from Snowden and Manning.

Daniel Ellsberg Wants More Leaks

The Pentagon Papers guy laments that there are too few like him.

Lackadaisical Handling of Secrets by Top Officials

It’s becoming a sad joke.

[Updated unexpectedly] Three Questions Brought Up By The DOJ Filing & Trump’s Reaction

Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in again… [update: x2]

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[Update] Analysis of NARA’s Letter to Former President Trump

Why would the Trump team release a document that casts them in such a bad light?

[Updated x 2] The Latest On The Trump Document Investigation

Running down the latest “known knowns” with just a bit of analysis

Prosecuting Trump for Mishandling Classified Materials

It’s complicated, hard to prove, and politically fraught.

FBI Raids Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Home

The former President and his supporters are crying “weaponization of the justice system.”

Trump Pondered Mexico Missile Attack, Shooting BLM Protesters

The 45th President was a psychopath.

Trump Judge Acquits January 6 Non-Rioter

Two hundred-odd people have pled or been found guilty. One has been acquitted.

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UN Ambassador’s Chief of Staff Loses Clearance

A bizarre case of bureaucratic ineptitude.

Biden Staffers Fired for Marijuana Use?

Credulous reports notwithstanding, there’s more to the story.

QAnon Conspiracist Republican Senate Nominee from Oregon

Jo Rae Perkins may be a nut, but she won a four-person primary.

The Problematic Acting DNI

Only the best people.

West Point Why We’re Losing Wars Says West Point Prof

A book out today makes an odd case.

No-Deal Brexit Would Be A Disaster For The United Kingdom

A newly released report leaked from inside the British Government notes that a hard Brexit is likely to be a disaster for the British economy.

Hiring Preferences for Government Spouses

A perfectly reasonable initiative with a significant downside.

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White House Waived ‘Dozens’ of Clearance Denials

Findings of “foreign influence, conflicts of interest, concerning personal conduct, financial problems, drug use, and criminal conduct” were dismissed.

Andrew Marshall Dead at 97

The legendary figure was in charge of strategic forecasting at the Pentagon for decades.

Trump Intervened To Get Ivanka Trump A Security Clearance

For the second time in a week, reports indicate that the President intervened to get a family member a security clearance.

Trump Ordered Security Clearance For Jared Kushner Despite Objections

President Trump personally overrode the objections of security officials, the White House Counsel, and the Chief of Staff to make sure his son-in-law got a security clearance.

Alabama Executes Domineque Ray Under Questionable Circumstances

Critics on both the Left and the Right rightly see an injustice here but the US Supreme Court allowed it to happen.

Trump Shutdown Longest Ever and Violates Law

Federal employees deemed “essential” missed a paycheck yesterday in violation of US labor law.

Mueller Recommends No Jail Time For Michael Flynn

Citing substantial cooperation, Special Counsel Robert Mueller is recommending no jail time for former Trump associate Michael Flynn.

CNN Sues White House Over Revocation Of Correspondent’s Press Pass

CNN fires back in the Administration’s ongoing war with the news media.

Federal Judge Allows Emoluments Clause Case To Proceed

A Federal Judge in Maryland has ruled that discovery can proceed in a case alleging that President Trump has taken payments from outside sources in violation of the Constitution

Trump Wants Dept. Of Justice To Investigate Source Of Anonymous Op-Ed

President Trump wants Jeff Sessions and the Justice Department to investigate the anonymous Op-Ed published earlier this week even though there doesn’t appear to have been a crime committed.

We Need Prudent Elder Statesmen

My latest for The National Interest is out.

Trump Revokes Brennan’s Security Clearance

The former CIA Director has been stripped of his access to classified information after repeatedly criticizing the President.

Trump Revokes John Brennan’s Security Clearance, Threatens More Revocations

In what appears to be a move based purely on vindictiveness, President Trump has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan.

Trump World Experiences An Omarosa Earthquake

Omarosa Manigault Newman, who used to be a Trump favorite, is out with a book that makes sensationalistic claims about the Trump Administration. The real story, though, is what she has on tape and how she got it.

Trump Administration Considering Revoking Security Clearances Of Administration Critics

Based on what can only be described as pure vindictiveness, the President is apparently planning on revoking security clearances of former officials who have been outspoken against the Administration and its policies.

Defense Contractor Fires Employee Linked To White Supremacist Group

A man who had been identified as an assailant at last year’s Charlottesville rally and apparent member of a white supremacist organization has been dismissed by defense contractor Northrop Grumman.

How Can a White Supremacist Have a Security Clearance?

It’s more complicated than one might think.

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Defense Department Taking Over Security Clearance Process

A long-overdue overhaul of the way the United States vets those who access classified information is underway.

Mueller Investigating Gulf State Influence, Too

Americans actings as agents for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been working hard to manipulate the President.

Trump White House ‘Most Toxic Working Environment on the Planet’

According to one insider, “There’s no leadership, no trust, no direction and this point there’s very little hope.”

Trump in Honey Badger Mode Already?

The President tried bringing something akin to a traditional policy process to the White House. Now he’s rebelling against it.

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‘Several’ White House Staffers Fired or Reassigned Over Clearances

An unspecified number of White House staffers unable to obtain security clearances are out, with several more likely to follow.

Kushner and Corruption

The circumstantial case for corruption by Kushner is growing.

More Turmoil Ahead for Trump White House

Staffers are fleeing the administration like rats from a sinking ship.

Foreign Governments Sought to Exploit Kushner’s Overseas Business Arrangements

This is very much why the security clearance process requires so much financial disclosure.

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Jared Kushner ‘Loses’ Top Secret Clearance (But Maybe Not Access)

The White House chief of staff has downgraded the President’s son-in-law’s access to classified information. We’ll see how long that lasts.

Russiagate Worst Scandal in Decades?

Jonathan Bernstein thinks so and Chuck Todd and company outline a pretty strong case.