PJRO
@pjro.bsky.social
Retired national security analyst. Pro-democracy at home and abroad (think FDR).
Good Kruse-Perlstein disagreement! I think Perlstein wins. Atwater seems to be saying--or implying--some of Reagan's other issue stances had become closely associated with racism, so he didn't need to be so overt to signal racist policies. (HCR probably would agree?)
December 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Good Kruse-Perlstein disagreement! I think Perlstein wins. Atwater seems to be saying--or implying--some of Reagan's other issue stances had become closely associated with racism, so he didn't need to be so overt to signal racist policies. (HCR probably would agree?)
Bannon referred to Congress as "our Duma" for good reason. This is what unitary executive theorists have achieved and what they want--when their Republican Party is in the White House.
December 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Bannon referred to Congress as "our Duma" for good reason. This is what unitary executive theorists have achieved and what they want--when their Republican Party is in the White House.
The routine response should be "Mr. President, did you remember to take your meds this morning?" (And there is no harm in asking this every day.)
December 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The routine response should be "Mr. President, did you remember to take your meds this morning?" (And there is no harm in asking this every day.)
The context also includes how citizenship was determined prior to the 14th Amendment. Aside from naturalization, was birthright citizenship the norm across the states, excepting most Native Americans and most Blacks?
December 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The context also includes how citizenship was determined prior to the 14th Amendment. Aside from naturalization, was birthright citizenship the norm across the states, excepting most Native Americans and most Blacks?
China is the largest source of fentanyl coming the the United States and there are many ships off China's coast that should be targeted, according to Tom Cotton.
December 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
China is the largest source of fentanyl coming the the United States and there are many ships off China's coast that should be targeted, according to Tom Cotton.
Ironically, Krugman published that mea culpa in July 2022 just as the month-over-month inflation rate plummeted.
December 6, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Ironically, Krugman published that mea culpa in July 2022 just as the month-over-month inflation rate plummeted.
So she is not a government employee and needs to have a contract with the government to receive compensation. She has been paid illegally. And her orders/directions to government employees have been and are only suggestions by a non-employee.
December 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
So she is not a government employee and needs to have a contract with the government to receive compensation. She has been paid illegally. And her orders/directions to government employees have been and are only suggestions by a non-employee.
Importantly, the rise of pro-Moscow nationalist parties in Europe is described as a CORE national security interest.
December 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Importantly, the rise of pro-Moscow nationalist parties in Europe is described as a CORE national security interest.
I expect a member of the cabinet soon will tell us that Trump works 27 hours per day. My money is on Bessent, but it could be Rubio.
December 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I expect a member of the cabinet soon will tell us that Trump works 27 hours per day. My money is on Bessent, but it could be Rubio.
I want to know why Hegseth announced the retirement of Admiral Holsey on the afternoon of the mid-October day that US forces saved two survivors of a drone strike on their submersible. (I think Holsey's SOUTHCOM forces saved these guys, and the drone strike was by Admiral Bradley's SOCOM?)
December 4, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I want to know why Hegseth announced the retirement of Admiral Holsey on the afternoon of the mid-October day that US forces saved two survivors of a drone strike on their submersible. (I think Holsey's SOUTHCOM forces saved these guys, and the drone strike was by Admiral Bradley's SOCOM?)
Raising congressional pay, perhaps doubling it, is necessary but insufficient step to reduce corruption.
December 3, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Raising congressional pay, perhaps doubling it, is necessary but insufficient step to reduce corruption.
Hegseth announced Admiral Holsey's premature retirement on the afternoon of the day that forces under Holsey's command rescued two survivors of a drone strike by Admiral Bradley's forces. Did Holsey disobey Hegseth's (illegal) orders that day? Reporters and Congress should be asking about this now.
December 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Hegseth announced Admiral Holsey's premature retirement on the afternoon of the day that forces under Holsey's command rescued two survivors of a drone strike by Admiral Bradley's forces. Did Holsey disobey Hegseth's (illegal) orders that day? Reporters and Congress should be asking about this now.
Future taxpayers will be on the hook to demolish Trump's ballroom and re-create the East Wing, inside and out, to approximate what existed in January 2025. Those who contributed money to destroy the East Wing and build the ballroom should be forced by law to pay for this--at a minimum.
December 1, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Future taxpayers will be on the hook to demolish Trump's ballroom and re-create the East Wing, inside and out, to approximate what existed in January 2025. Those who contributed money to destroy the East Wing and build the ballroom should be forced by law to pay for this--at a minimum.
Nobody reads to the bottom of page 1075, so everybody is in the clear, right? ogc.osd.mil/Portals/99/d...
ogc.osd.mil
November 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Nobody reads to the bottom of page 1075, so everybody is in the clear, right? ogc.osd.mil/Portals/99/d...
So he came to the United States under Biden, then became radicalized after he arrived, and then was granted asylum by Trump. Got it.
November 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
So he came to the United States under Biden, then became radicalized after he arrived, and then was granted asylum by Trump. Got it.
Where are those income tax filings!?!
November 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Where are those income tax filings!?!
Trump probably would not accept Hegseth's resignation for something like this.
November 28, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Trump probably would not accept Hegseth's resignation for something like this.
I know that the court cases have not ended, but those Guardsmen were in D.C. because of Trump's likely-illegal orders.
November 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I know that the court cases have not ended, but those Guardsmen were in D.C. because of Trump's likely-illegal orders.
Defying a judge's order is punishable by more than impeachment.
November 26, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Defying a judge's order is punishable by more than impeachment.
Bannon referred to Congress as America's Duma, and he was correct.
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Bannon referred to Congress as America's Duma, and he was correct.
Is DOW a reference to DoD? I don't "recognize" anything called DOW.
November 25, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Is DOW a reference to DoD? I don't "recognize" anything called DOW.
It's GOP standard practice that anything THEY do is legal until the Supreme Court says otherwise. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? And no consequences. Federalist Society encourages this. SCOTUS allows Trump to do illegal things while the issue is in the courts.
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
It's GOP standard practice that anything THEY do is legal until the Supreme Court says otherwise. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? And no consequences. Federalist Society encourages this. SCOTUS allows Trump to do illegal things while the issue is in the courts.
I assumed that he's referring to a radical left, a radical right, and a center that is everybody else. He's saying the radical right largely owns the GOP (not debatable) and the radical left is getting stronger within the Democratic Party (debatable). Nothing much deeper than this.
November 22, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I assumed that he's referring to a radical left, a radical right, and a center that is everybody else. He's saying the radical right largely owns the GOP (not debatable) and the radical left is getting stronger within the Democratic Party (debatable). Nothing much deeper than this.
I am no fan of WaPo's editors, but the editorial says none of what "Adam Johnson" of X/Twitter claims that it says. Maybe read it. Or at least stop believing X/Twitter posts that you happen to like.
November 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I am no fan of WaPo's editors, but the editorial says none of what "Adam Johnson" of X/Twitter claims that it says. Maybe read it. Or at least stop believing X/Twitter posts that you happen to like.
I have maintained that the Russian interference and Comey's October Surprise were highly unusual "irregularities" that, together, probably denied HCR a victory in 2016. But we'll never know.
November 22, 2025 at 1:00 AM
I have maintained that the Russian interference and Comey's October Surprise were highly unusual "irregularities" that, together, probably denied HCR a victory in 2016. But we'll never know.