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.

How Swalwell Got Away With It For So Long

His clean-cut image was belied by years of rumors.

Trump Meets His Meme Match

We can forgive the raping, graft, election stealing, and warmongering. But this goes too far!

Trump Agrees To Cease Fire on Iran’s Terms

No significant U.S. war aims were achieved.

Trump: ‘A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight’

The President has threatened massive war crimes.

Negotiating With Crazy Bastards

The Madmen Theory doesn’t work when both sides are using it.

Trump’s Easter Message to Iran

Praise be to Allah, you crazy bastards!

American Pilot Shot Down Over Iran Rescued

A great thing, precipitated by a questionable thing.

President Donald Trump thanks the crowd after remarks at the Salute to America Celebration, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. President Donald Trump thanks the crowd after remarks at the Salute to America Celebration, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trump Approval at Historic Lows

Only Nixon has been lower.

Iran War at 5 Weeks

So much winning.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George speaks during a transformation panel during the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Oct. 15, 2025. AUSA provides attendees with insights into U.S. Army priorities, explore cutting-edge technologies, and engage in high-impact networking with key decision-makers. The theme this year is “Agile, Adaptive, Lethal: Winning at the Pace of Change.” Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George speaks during a transformation panel during the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Oct. 15, 2025. AUSA provides attendees with insights into U.S. Army priorities, explore cutting-edge technologies, and engage in high-impact networking with key decision-makers. The theme this year is “Agile, Adaptive, Lethal: Winning at the Pace of Change.”

Purge of Military Brass Continues

Undermining the professionalism of the officer corps.

Pam Bondi Out as Attorney General

She’s transitioning to an as-yet unspecified role the private sector.

Trump’s Iran Speech

Nineteen minutes. Zero answers.

Trump Seeks Quick End to Quixotic War

Having set the region afire, he’s prepared to let others clean up the mess.

TSA Workers Paid, But DHS Funding Lapse Goes On

The longest government “shutdown” in history has no end in sight.

Race for 2028 Nomination Already Underway

Ready or not, the campaign has begun.

Politics Makes Very Strange Bedfellows

The Nick Fuentes phenomenon.

No Kings Rallies March On

Sounding a barbaric yawp over the streets of the world.

Iran War One Month In

There’s still no strategy.

Trump to Pay TSA Despite Congress

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Social Media ‘Addiction’ Verdict

Dangerous in more ways than one.

President Donald J. Trump attends the Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable on public safety at Tennessee Air National Guard Base, Tennessee on Monday, March 23, 2026. President Donald J. Trump attends the Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable on public safety at Tennessee Air National Guard Base, Tennessee on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Iran War Nearly Over, Or Just Begun

So much winning.

Trump: Democrats Now America’s Greatest Enemy

They were previously behind Iran.

Trump Threatens to Obliterate Iranian POWER PLANTS

STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST, naturally.

Robert Mueller, 1944-2026

An American patriot is gone at 81.

Trump to Expand and/or End Iran War Soon

The Art of the Deal in action.

Saturday’s Forum

Chuck Norris, 1940-2026

The martial artist and action movie star is gone at 86.

Cesar Chavez Was a Serial Child Rapist

The iconic labor leader had a dark secret.

Pentagon Wants $200 Billion to Fund Iran War

“It takes money to kill bad guys.”

Airports in Chaos as Congress Plays Games

Shutdown follies are not victimless.

Iranian Regime Consolidating, Cracking Down

The regime is not a -changin’.

Weird Sports Tricks

When international tournaments aren’t international.

President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office, Wednesday, October 22, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office, Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth

If the shoe doesn’t fit, wear it.

Iran War Roundup: Day 16

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Venezuela, from Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, January 3, 2026. President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Venezuela, from Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Rubio’s War

Little Marco has come a long way.

Iran War: No End in Sight

Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the Dignified Transfer of remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the Dignified Transfer of remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

Iran War ‘Very Complete, Pretty Much’

An update from the Commander-in-Chief.

Oil well fires rage outside Kuwait City in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. The wells were set on fire by Iraqi forces before they were ousted from the region by coalition force. Oil well fires rage outside Kuwait City in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. The wells were set on fire by Iraqi forces before they were ousted from the region by coalition force.

Iran War Now Targeting Oil and Water Production

Is no one thinking about the end state?

Next Ayatollah Up

Iran will soon have a new Supreme Leader. For now.

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the Dignified Transfer of remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the Dignified Transfer of remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

Trump and Kennedy: Trendsetters

Presidential fashion choices for solemn occasions.

Record Number of Congressmen Not Running for Re-Election

An ominous sign for the majority party.

Who’s Running Iran?

Apparently, not the president or his “leadership council.”

Iran Surrenders!

Well, it’s complicated.

Americans Think Americans Are Bad People

A majority describe the morality and ethics of their fellow citizens as “bad.”

War Powers Catch-22

They have a right to do anything we can’t stop them from doing.

CIA Backing Kurdish Forces to Disrupt Iran

What could go wrong?