"Re-establish deterrence" is one of the most cursed phrases in foreign policy; it belies a total lack of understanding of anything. How could it possibly be that attacking someone "helps" to "re-establish deterrence"? How can you do this if *you* are the aggressor?!?!? www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Every step taken by the federal government to promote and advance scientific research in the US, which has been the mainstay of US economic growth and strength since roughly 1870, is now being reversed in order to retard or suppress scientific research. This is a conscious policy.

Publication day! Taking Territory: The Persistence of Conquest Since 1945 is now out from @CornellPress! It offers a comprehensive account of the causes and consequences of attempts to conquer territory across the world since World War II.

Israeli military purchases are one marker of how nations think about the future of war. Their Air Force is tactically proficient and forward thinking. They're not going all in on drones. Instead, they're buying more F-35s and the newest F-15s. www.timesofisrael.com/israel-appro...

Insanity. An airplane company is a major donor for a member of the US cabinet to drive a Japanese car around the country while gas prices skyrocket? It’s beyond parody. It’s an ethical disaster, tone deaf, bad public policy (Amtrak!!! Hello!!!), and insane. www.wsj.com/business/boe...

Insanity. An airplane company is a major donor for a member of the US cabinet to drive a Japanese car around the country while gas prices skyrocket? It’s beyond parody. It’s an ethical disaster, tone deaf, bad public policy (Amtrak!!! Hello!!!), and insane. www.wsj.com/business/boe...

Good data and historical lessons but there are two dynamics that are missed / underexplored: First, one of the reasons Iran might retain so much of its weapons is *because* of the suppressive effect of allied airpower. They might have so much left *because* they can't shoot it.

There has been a lot of discourse about Iran retaining 75% of its prewar mobile launchers and 70% of its prewar missile stockpiles despite months of intense American/Israeli bombardment but history would tell us this is actually a structural feature that refuses to go away. My latest ⬇️

Good data and historical lessons but there are two dynamics that are missed / underexplored: First, one of the reasons Iran might retain so much of its weapons is *because* of the suppressive effect of allied airpower. They might have so much left *because* they can't shoot it.

Current short term treasury bond yield: ~3.7% Current inflation: 3.8% Art of the deal bay-bee.

Last Gulf oil on the water just came ashore in California. Next tanker would be 10 weeks away if it left the Gulf and transited the Strait of Hormuz tomorrow… Spoiler alert: It’s not coming. bsky.app/profile/wsj....

My "Littoral Commander Indo-Pacific" 2d Edition is available now! Don't forget to grab a copy before they sell out! #wargaming dietzfoundation-org.square.site/product/litt...

What you write in an “editor’s note” at the end of a story when you are definitely a credible news outlet running reporting by a legitimate journalist

While this may cripple the USN, the USN will surely find other ways to cripple itself regardless.

Two things can be simultaneously true: 1) the free market can help improve longterm affordability 2) government regulation and support can both incentivize that future and help in the present Dems have the opportunity to attack on both fronts!

Supporting military readiness means being pro transit. It is unbelievable how not walkable most military bases and associated communities are; the quasi-requirement to have a car is a huge tax on junior enlisted personnel. taskandpurpose.com/news/air-for...

It is bizarre when commentary over Iran anchors on "winning" or "losing" given how nebulous objectives were/are. This isn't some WW2 "win means I roll into your capital" thing. "Win" or "lose" is entirely in the eye of the beholder. We could both win, but both lose seems more likely.

It’s the night of the 8th grade dance, otherwise known as the greatest night of your life. Stakes are unbelievably high. You’re in the corner with your bros wearing newly purchased formalwear from JCPenneys; you have a lot of hair gel in. It reeks of axe. Then, it happens: Low by Flo Rida.

Israel’s efforts to influence the vote for the Eurovision Song Contest to improve its international reputation were far broader than previously known, a New York Times investigation found. Here is the inside story of the controversy that almost broke Eurovision. nyti.ms/3Rellcg

I beg people to think before they write or speak about drones. Russia can produce millions, they say, as if the Russian model is one we’d want to emulate. The Russians wish they had Bradleys and F-35s. “U.S. Marines Take a Crash Course in Drone Warfare” www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...

It is unbelievable how undemocratic this whole redistricting fight is. It’s not a sign of a functional democracy. If it was a foreign country there’d be breathless reporting on what it meant about democratic backsliding.

Revisiting this incredible piece today. @aselrod.bsky.social’s writing is superbly researched and blisteringly incisive.

The opening sentence in Anna Karenina is one of the best openers I’ve ever read.

Awesome paint scheme on the old B-15E. www.twz.com/air/camoufla...

B-36 2.0 baby The design should have the biggest weapons pay possible with two rotary launchers, designed from the start to replace one or both with fuel bladders. Then two - four HSABs like the Buff. 12,000 mile range min

Habitation of corruption and vice is hard to reverse.

Odysseus was the world’s first special operator but a lot of you aren’t ready for that discussion

Did Ramaswamy write this

I don’t really understand why the NYT opinion page has any “conservative” commentators in today’s age. Like what’s the business case? Who subscribes to the NYT to see what Ross or Bret have to say? It’s a faux lens through which to view conservatism anyways. What’s the value add?

Own goals abound.

The debate over 6.8 vs 5.56 is so interesting to me from the aviation side. Military aviation has consistently prioritized longer ranged engagements even at the expense of the in close fight (with some exceptions). Of course, aviators have the opportunity to disengage and don't have to hold ground.

Directionally correct (invest in airpower) but flawed details. It’s unclear if J-50 / J-36 are real fighters or demonstrators, and U.S. 6th gen demonstrators (three of them! According to Roper) allegedly flew several years ago. But yes, we need more tankers and airlift! www.wsj.com/opinion/amer...

The metaphors are, yet again, getting a little heavy-handed.

Universities were far more conservative in the 1960s than they are today yet they also suffered from Republican calumnies. It’s almost like the right is not acting in good faith; you can’t fight fire by talking about how the fire has some good points too.

This must read piece from @elanhead.com is so wonderful. We are known for our breaking news and our deep dives, but this is a magnificent dose of historical context that just ties it all together.

I think we're making massive strategic errors, but this particular point has a bit more nuance at the tactical level. We are certainly burning capabilities, but we're also showing our adversaries good the U.S. military is at doing the mission. www.wsj.com/world/iran-w...

There is a certain irony to the Navy turning towards expendable, unmanned, "warfighting" optimized platforms when it has, for the last several decades, mostly highlighted its role in peacetime or short-of-total-war operations. They finally got Title 10 changed and now they're leaning away from it?

What the hell www.newyorker.com/culture/prog...

Perhaps my most totalitarian take is that anyone who “rolls coal” should be summarily executed.

EXCLUSIVE: Melissa Hortman Died in a Shocking Act of Political Violence. This Is the Story of Her Life.

I never knew about reactive dogs until I got one and man, talk about a life changing deal that is. Insanity.

Was it losing its edge? Why should Iran not have been much of a contest? So many unfounded assertions. Iran’s entire budget and security apparatus have been focused on one region and a handful of problems for decades. Any conflict with them would be challenging. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/o...

Liberals need to understand that many liberals work in defense. Moreover, liberals should *want* liberals to work in defense. They’re an asset to the cause! It’s not a good outcome if everyone involved in war thinks/votes one direction.

There is no way in hell Trump is gonna understand a French and Indian War joke dawg

Lots of people don’t seem to understand that liberalism requires people willing to build armaments for it, fight for it, and die for it. It’s not like the other alternative hegemons are going to be some bulwark of liberal values.

Dude is Vice President of the United States - he can ask his senior military advisor to just go ask. Log into JWICS and look up the numbers? Like what are we doing here people? Bizarre move for the VP to throw the Pentagon under the bus.

yeah the moment i figured out how old "late stage capitalism" was as a phrase was the moment i stopped taking the concept seriously

I think is the correct interpretation, although there's an interesting bit around our blindspots and thinking "solving the missile problem" solves "homeland no longer a sanctuary" which is just not true. If anyone cares enough to hit the homeland with hypersonics, the threat will be more complex.