Posts by James Joyner

James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

COVID Passports Redux

Competing analogies and externalities.

Tuesday’s Forum

Socialize Music?

A really weird proposal to solve a problem that probably doesn’t exist.

Vaccine Eligibility Floodgates Open Before Supply

Many states are moving to a first come, first served basis for COVID shots.

The Joys of Decennial Redistricting

Quite a number of Democratic Congressmen are thinking about seeking a new job.

Section 304 and Our Silly Senate

A little-known rule might allow a majority to pass one more bill.

Problem Doesn’t Exist if You Ignore It

Apparently, all those states legislating on transgender kids playing sports are doing it for no reason.

New York Launches COVID Passport

The Excelsior Pass is the nation’s first. Will it start a trend?

Sunday’s Forum

Beverly Cleary, 1916-2021

The beloved author of children’s books had died days short of her 105th birthday.

Larry McMurtry, 1936-2021

The author of “Lonesome Dove,” “Terms of Endearment,” and so many more great novels is gone at 84.

tax taxes pig piggybank dollar signs chalkboard tax taxes pig piggybank dollar signs chalkboard

A Reverse Harberger Tax for Eminent Domain?

A George Mason economist has an intriguing idea but maybe he has it backwards.

President Biden’s First Press Conference

The media became the story but the President was the news.

President Joe Biden takes notes doing a G7 Leaders’ Virtual Meeting Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in the White House Situation Room. President Joe Biden takes notes doing a G7 Leaders’ Virtual Meeting Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in the White House Situation Room.

Judging Presidents and Presidencies

We tend to focus on the wrong qualities in our early assessments.

Performative Leadership

The downfall of Andrew Cuomo shines a light on toxic workplaces and governance styles.

Manchin Supports Tax Hike for Infrastructure

While progressives in the party are often frustrated with the West Virginia Senator, he is demonstrating yet again that he’s no Republican.

Jay Leno Apologizes for Asian Jokes

His stale jokes about eating dog have drawn fire for years.

Thursday’s Forum

United States Less Democratic Than it Used to Be

Multiple indicators point to a decline in the representativeness of the American system.

Duckworth and Hirono Holding Biden Nominees Hostage

Appoint more Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Or else!

Yale Fires Prof for Trump Mental Health ‘Diagnoses’

What at first blush appears a case of hypocrisy and cancel culture is a violation of professional ethics.

Wednesday’s Forum

Biden Urges Commonsense Gun Reform

Here we go again.

I love taxes police money Euros I love taxes police money Euros

A W-2 for Business Income

An interesting proposal to improve tax collection.

Biden First Since Reagan to Get All Cabinet Picks Confirmed

The seemingly unremarkable event hadn’t happened in four decades.

President Joe Biden participates in a virtual call with the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance Mission team members Thursday, March 4, 2021, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. President Joe Biden participates in a virtual call with the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance Mission team members Thursday, March 4, 2021, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

Biden’s $3 Trillion Infrastructure Bill

We’re about to spend a whole lot more money.

Atlanta Shooting Not a Hate Crime?

The U.S. Senators and a U.S. Representative beg to differ.

Monday’s Forum

Holy Days and Holidays in a Diverse Society

Balancing practical considerations and religious observances.

Arguments Over Definitions

The lack of common understandings and shared assumptions makes political conversations challenging.

Biden’s Immigration Crisis

Immigration policy is harder than it looks.

Sunday’s Forum

Anti-Asian Hate in America

A mass shooting in Atlanta draws attention to a problem of which I was only tangentially aware.

Saturday’s Forum

Biden Staffers Fired for Marijuana Use?

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

The NFL’s $10 Billion TV Deal

Pandemic-induced recession? What pandemic-induced recession?

The Republican Advantage in the House

Any “fair” drawing of districts will yield a GOP advantage over time.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a virtual bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a virtual bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Liberals Upset Biden Foreign Policy is Biden’s

Those expecting Bernie Sanders’ agenda are sorely disappointed.

Friday’s Forum

David Bowie Predicts the Internet

An interesting blast from the past.

It’s Time to Reopen Schools Everywhere

The evidence is too clear to ignore at this point.

President Joe Biden pets the Biden family dog Champ in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, prior to a bipartisan meeting with House and Senate members to discuss supply chains. President Joe Biden pets the Biden family dog Champ in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, prior to a bipartisan meeting with House and Senate members to discuss supply chains.

Biden Dog Not Banished After All

Major is a good boy who hardly ever bites anybody.

US Should Have Federal Vaccine Passport

There are legitimate ethical and liberty questions but they’re outweighed by the benefits.

The free high-resolution photo of achievement, agreement, alliance, america, american, black and white, buddy, business, business agreement, business deal, business people, bw, caucasian, closeup, collaborate, collaboration, companion, company, connected, cooperation, corporate, deal, diversity, gray scale, grayscale, greeting, hands, handshake, help, hold, join, management, organization, participation, partnership, people, relation, russian, shake hands, shaking hands, strategy, suit and tie, support, team, teamwork, together, togetherness, venture, westerner, white collar worker, hand, gesture, finger, wrist, interaction, photography, stock photography, holding hands, monochrome, employment @rawpixel.com, taken with an unknown camera 02/18 2019 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of achievement, agreement, alliance, america, american, black and white, buddy, business, business agreement, business deal, business people, bw, caucasian, closeup, collaborate, collaboration, companion, company, connected, cooperation, corporate, deal, diversity, gray scale, grayscale, greeting, hands, handshake, help, hold, join, management, organization, participation, partnership, people, relation, russian, shake hands, shaking hands, strategy, suit and tie, support, team, teamwork, together, togetherness, venture, westerner, white collar worker, hand, gesture, finger, wrist, interaction, photography, stock photography, holding hands, monochrome, employment @rawpixel.com, taken with an unknown camera 02/18 2019 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Deal-making in Washington is next to impossible.

Thursday’s Forum

The Rise of Negative Partisanship

Yes, partisanship is real. And it influences more than just voting behavior.

Not Will Rogers’ Democratic Party

The case of Katie Porter’s committee assignments.

Major Kimberly Bender, Director Air Force Public Affairs , Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, receives the first of two COVID 19 vaccine shots, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 29 Jan 2021. Major Kimberly Bender, Director Air Force Public Affairs , Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, receives the first of two COVID 19 vaccine shots, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 29 Jan 2021.

Incentivizing COVID Vaccination

Israel is taking an aggressive approach to inoculation.

Yes, Presidential Approval Matters

An explanation to a question you likely weren’t asking.