Tom Joscelyn
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Articles by Tom Joscelyn
How the Heritage Foundation Promotes Christian Nationalist Schooling
KEVIN ROBERTS, the president of the Heritage Foundation, believes America’s K-12 school system is in the middle of a “revolution.” And he may be right. For decades, the Heritage Foundation has argued that the Department of Education should be shuttered. Today, that goal is closer to becoming a reality than ever before, as mass layoffs and drastic program cuts have hollowed out the department.
Will the Senate Confirm Thugs Like Bill Pulte & Todd Blanche? (w/ Tom Joscelyn)
Tom Joscelyn joins Bill Kristol for Bulwark on Sunday. Leave a comment As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Add Bulwark+ Takes feed to your player of choice, here.
Norm Eisen and Tom Joscelyn column: SPLC hearing
This morning, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee (HJC) is holding a hearing titled, “The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate.” Its premise is a farce — an opportunity for HJC Republicans to amplify the Trump regime’s outrageous smear of a legendary civil rights organization. In April, President Donald Trump’s corrupt Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a grand jury had returned an indictment against the SPLC.
White Supremacy on the Right (w/ Tom Joscelyn) | Bulwark on Sunday
Bill Kristol and Tom Joscelyn went live to discuss white supremacy in the online Right and why they're obsessed with attacking the Southern Poverty Law Center. Leave a comment As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Add Bulwark+ Takes feed to your player of choice, here.
The Trump Regime’s Corrupt Indictment of SPLC Is a New Low
During a press conference on Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) had been criminally indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama. “There is nothing political about this indictment,” Blanche . Anyone paying attention knows that is a lie. MAGA Republicans have been gunning for the SPLC for years. During a congressional hearing late last year, for instance, Rep.
The Trump Regime’s Heinous Attack on a Legendary Civil Rights Organization
The Trump administration’s move to indict the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) stands as the latest in a string of preposterous abuses of power and the continued weaponization of our justice system. I know many of us were alarmed into action by prior controversial investigations involving high-profile figures (e.g., Leticia James, James Comey).
A Stunning Setback for the Global Far-Right
Viktor Orbán’s defeat is a stunning setback for the far-right. No, Péter Magyar is not a political liberal or a progressive. He is a former member of Orbán’s own Fidesz Party. He’s a conservative whose new party, Tisza, won a supermajority in the Hungarian parliament by focusing on practical issues, including the Orbán regime’s rampant corruption and failing economic policies.
Trump is Remaking National Security to Enforce His Agenda (w/ Tom Joscelyn)
Just Security's Tom Joscelyn joins Bill Kristol to discuss how Trump and his allies are reshaping the DOJ/FBI, DHS/ICE, and the Pentagon — with major implications for civil liberties, political dissent, and the 2026 elections. Leave a comment As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Add Bulwark+ Takes feed to your player of choice, here.
Global Governance of Emerging Technologies: Counterterrorism Challenges at the United Nations Security Council
Terrorist organizations rarely lead in technological innovation and are not early adopters of emerging technologies. Their incorporation of technological advancements into operational activities is typically measured and gradual, influenced by organizational structure, resource limitations, opportunities for learning and concerns that new technologies may increase their exposure to counterterrorism operations.
January 6 Recidivists
On Monday, the Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Police Department arrested Bryan Betancur, a convicted (and then Trump-pardoned) January 6th rioter, charging him with assault and battery. Betancur live-streamed videos of himself creepily touching the hair of women passengers while riding the Metro. The videos went viral, leading to complaints and ultimately Betancur’s arrest. Betancur is the latest January 6th recidivist.
How Jan. 6 Marked the Marriage of MAGA and White Nationalism
Nick Fuentes, the notorious online white nationalist and white supremacist, recently came back into the spotlight after an interview with Tucker Carlson that caused a major rift on the MAGA right. Tom Joscelyn, former senior professional staffer on the J6 Committee, breaks it down for us.
How the DOJ is Prosecuting Nihilistic Violent Extremism
In late October, federal prosecutors in Arizona filed a 29-count superseding indictment against Baron Martin, a 21-year-old man accused of belonging to the transnational Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups 764 and its progenitor, CVLT (pronounced “cult”). According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Martin abused at least nine victims, eight of whom were minors, some as young as 13, over the course of more than two years.
How Much Did Trump Stooge Ed Martin Blab to Alex Jones? Original
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S campaign of retribution is being informally led by Ed Martin, the pardon attorney in the Department of Justice, and Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. For months, they’ve harassed Trump’s political adversaries with bogus claims of mortgage fraud. But in a twist, we’ve now learned that the DOJ is investigating Martin and Pulte themselves for allegedly improper conduct.
Sen. Schmitt’s hearing on political violence is a sham
Since the murder of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, the Trump administration and its allies on the Hill have relentlessly pushed a dishonest narrative—namely, that the American left is chiefly if not solely responsible for political violence in America. Political violence is committed by those all along the political spectrum, and, indeed, all data shows that the preponderance has been on the right.
Trump is targeting the First Amendment rights of all Americans
The Trump administration has used Charlie Kirk’s death as a false pretext to embark on a new campaign of intimidation, abusing the power of America’s federal law enforcement agencies to target civil society. Senior administration officials were quick to claim that Kirk’s assassination was tied to a broader network. They offered no evidence to support this supposed connection.
What Kirk actually said matters
Many clips of Charlie Kirk’s show have circulated online in the aftermath of his death. One stirred more controversy than others. In it, Kirk rails against affirmative action, claiming that four of the most prominent Black women in America “do not have [the] brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously” so they had “to go steal a white person’s slot.” It is a blatantly racist argument—the type of ignorant bombast Kirk regularly trafficked in.
Vance’s dangerous attack on free speech
On Monday, Vice President JD Vance hosted the Charlie Kirk show, ostensibly to pay tribute to his fallen friend. But that was not Vance’s sole purpose for assuming Kirk’s mic. Indeed, the vice president used the occasion to launch an unhinged broadside against his perceived political opponents, threatening the free speech rights of civil society. Vance knew what he was doing.
Trump’s Fake Emergencies are Straight Out of the Authoritarian Playbook
On Monday, President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. Trump claims that “rising violence in the capital” and an “increase in violent crime” have compelled him to deploy the D.C. National Guard, dispatch FBI agents, and – perhaps most ominously – federalize the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Bulwark on Sunday: Trump’s Decades With Epstein
From secret notes to shady friendships, Bill Kristol and Tom Joscelyn break down Trump’s long and unsettling ties to Jeffrey Epstein, what the evidence shows, and why the truth still matters. Stacy Williams talks with Tim about her relationship with Epstein and brush with Trump in 1990s As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Don’t care for video?
The Epstein files, with E. Jean Carroll, Rep. Jamie Raskin & Tom Joscelyn
At The Contrarian, we take the most important issues and analyze them from all angles.
Tom Joscelyn on the moral depravation of the Trump administration: Epstein, Bove & Pirro
Jen is joined by Tom Joscelyn to discuss the controversial nominations of Emil Bove and Jeanine Pirro to the position of a jurist on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., respectively. The two also discuss how Trump’s refusal to release the Epstein files may be the kryptonite of the unified MAGA base.
Early Edition: July 14, 2025
Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news: RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE President Trump is set to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine today that will potentially include offensive weapons, according to sources.
Bulwark On Sunday: The Velociraptors Have Learned How To Open Their Cage
Thomas Joscelyn, senior fellow at the. Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joined Bill Kristol to discuss Trump's authoritarian impulses, how far he will go and if we can stop them. Available for iOS and Android As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the left side of the player to toggle to audio.
Trump’s Pick for the Third Circuit Is Clearly Unfit
Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, is expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Bove was a controversial federal prosecutor who later became Trump’s criminal defense lawyer. He then served as acting deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice during the first months of the second Trump administration, engaging in a series of startling acts.
Autocracy vs. Democracy in America: Tom Joscelyn on his 100 Days Report
This Thursday, State Democracy Defenders Action released a new report outlining the destruction of the first 100 days of the Trump-Musk chaos regime. But, at the same time, civil society organizations, voters, and pro-democracy coalitions have been fighting back — and winning! One of the authors of the report, Tom Joscelyn, joins Jen to break it down. Read the full report here.
Three Ways Abrego Garcia's Rights Violated — Two of Which the Government Admits
As the controversy over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from Maryland to El Salvador has raged, the Trump administration has sought to focus the public’s attention on Abrego Garcia’s alleged membership in MS-13, a violent international gang. The White House, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have waged an aggressive information campaign to highlight the allegations.
The Just Security Podcast: Politicization and Weaponization of the Justice Department in the Second Trump Administration
In just his first six weeks in office, President Donald Trump has issued more than 80 executive orders and other actions, many of them targeting the federal workforce and the structure of the federal government. Just Security’s Co-Editor-in-Chief, Ryan Goodman, recently published a timeline of actions that highlight the alarming level of politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice under the second Trump administration.
What Just Happened: Trump’s January 6 Pardons and Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers By The Numbers
During a flurry of executive orders on his first day in office, President Donald Trump pardoned nearly all the Jan. 6 defendants. “These are the hostages,” Trump claimed, while signing the pardon proclamation. “This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation,” the first line reads. But the defendants and convicts Trump pardoned were not “hostages” in any sense.
The Just Security Podcast: Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Final Report in the 2020 Election Interference Case
Just after midnight on Tuesday, January 14, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office released its report on President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The report concludes that the evidence Smith obtained was sufficient to criminally convict Trump, but that after the 2024 election the case could not move forward in light of Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
3 Highlights in Special Counsel Jack Smith's Final Report on 2020 Election Subversion Case
Just after midnight, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office released its report on President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The report’s concluding paragraph was clearly written for the history books.
The Contrarian Press Release
New Media ProjectWill Feature Leading Pro-Democracy Commentators WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen launched The Contrarian, a new independent media project unencumbered by corporate interests. The Contrarian will feature both political and cultural commentary in defense of democracy with multiple daily Substack columns, a YouTube channel, podcasts, and more. To launch this new venture, Rubin has announced that, effective today, she has resigned from The Washington Post.
Unpacking the Inspector General Report on January 6th and FBI “False Flag” Conspiracies
During a press conference on Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump was asked whether he would pardon January 6 defendants charged with violent offenses. Much of Trump’s reply focused on a conspiracy theory – namely, that the FBI used its agents or confidential human sources (CHSs) to instigate the January 6 riot. “As you see, I guess 24 or 28 people came now from the FBI,” Trump claimed.
Eleven Precedents of ISIS-Inspired Vehicle Rammings: Precursors to New Orleans Attack
On New Year’s Day, at least 14 people were killed and dozens more wounded when a man drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, New Orleans.
The Just Security Podcast: ‘The Presidents and the People’ Book Talk
Editor’s note: This episode of the Just Security Podcast is part of a series from leading experts with practical solutions to democratic backsliding, polarization, and political violence. With the U.S. presidential election less than a week away, anxiety is high, both across the country and around the world. Many fear the rise of populism and the erosion of democratic norms.
‘The Presidents and the People’ Book Talk
With the U.S. presidential election less than a week away, anxiety is high, both across the country and around the world. Many fear the rise of populism and the erosion of democratic norms. In over two centuries, the United States has had many presidents who pushed on the door of anti-democratic power, but it has also had people who pushed back. Ahead of the election, what lessons can we learn by looking to the past?
Proud Boys Threat Assessment: From the Planning of January 6th to Future Scenarios
Editor’s note: Readers may also be interested in an introduction and accompanying analysis: Ryan Goodman, Heat Map of January 6th Defendants Across the United States In the nearly four years since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Department of Justice has charged over 1,500 defendants with crimes associated with the events of that day. It is the largest investigation in federal law enforcement history – and it is ongoing.
Wake Up Call: UN Security Council’s Report on ISIS and al-Qaeda
In late July, the United Nations Security Council released a detailed report on the threats posed by ISIS and al-Qaeda. The report is authored by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which assists the Security Council’s efforts to enforce sanctions measures – such as travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes – against designated terrorist groups and individuals.
Our Iran Policy Has Failed. Time for a New Strategy. Original
For too long we relied on empty threats or ignored the problem. Published July 24, 2024 The Biden administration still speaks of “not allowing” Iran nuclear weapons. Yet just last Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that Iran is “probably one or two weeks away” from “having breakout capacity to produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon.” His blunt observation, that “where we are now is not a good place,” barely begins to capture the problem.
Iran Is Stoking Anti-Israel Protests in the U.S. Such Efforts Are Hardly New. Original
The Islamic Republic has a long history of running influence operations.
‘A Playground for Putin’ Original
This week, NATO leaders will gather in Washington, D.C., for the defensive alliance’s 75th annual summit. The high-profile gathering comes at a moment of political turmoil in the United States, as President Joe Biden struggles to demonstrate his fitness to lead following a poor debate performance late last month. The 81-year-old Biden, by his own admission, had a very “bad night” as he faced off against former President Donald Trump on the debate stage.
Ex-Clinton Aide on Whether Joe Should Go
Was the debate an 'extinction level event' for Biden? Published July 1, 2024 • Updated June 30, 2024 Political consultant and former aide to Hillary Clinton, Philippe Reines, joins Jamie to discuss Biden’s performance in last week’s debate and where Democrats should go from here. The Agenda: —Comparing Biden and Trump’s health —”Heaviest president since Taft” —Should Biden bow out? —Hillary Clinton 2024?
How Julian Assange Shaped the 2016 Election Original
Published July 1, 2024 • Updated June 30, 2024 Last week, the Department of Justice announced it had reached a plea deal with the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange. The deal immediately reignited the debate over Assange’s legacy. Much of the discussion has focused on WikiLeaks’ release of hundreds of thousands of national security documents in 2010 and 2011. Indeed, the case against Assange was strictly limited to his role in soliciting the leak of those files and then posting them online.
The Show Trial of Evan Gershkovich Original
In Russia, the trial—“trial”—of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is under way. The “trial” is being held in secret, though Gershkovich was displayed—locked in a glass box with his head shaved—for the benefit of the press and the amusement of the Russian people.
A “Not Bad” Father’s Day Gift
I was driving my daughter Jane and her friend Amelia to dance the other day, when a catchy song started thumping. I asked Jane for the artist’s name and she mumbled something that sounded like “Dylan Concrete.” “Concrete?” I said with a laugh. “Is that her real name?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Wow, she rocks!” Jane, in the passenger seat, looked straight ahead, expressionless. A quick glance in the rearview mirror gave me everything I needed. Her friend was giggling.
What Does Hunter Biden’s Conviction Mean For His Dad’s Reelection?
Welcome to your regularly scheduled Collision! Hunter Biden was found guilty on three felony gun charges, as our special emergency edition from Tuesday explained. Today we’ll dive a little deeper into the political implications of the conviction. Hunter Biden will face sentencing in a few weeks. While the maximum he could get is 25 years in prison, the federal sentencing guideline range will be much lower. Illegal gun possession charges usually carry some prison time, but this is not the usual case.
Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady, Signals One Cut This Year
Mary Trimble is the editor of The Morning Dispatch and is based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the company in 2023, she interned at The Dispatch, in the political archives at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), and at Voice of America, where she produced content for their French-language service to Africa. When not helping write The Morning Dispatch, she is probably watching classic movies, going on weekend road trips, or enjoying live music with friends.
The Terrorist Threat to America is Growing Original
The arrests of several natives of Tajikistan is the latest in a troubling trend. Published June 13, 2024 Federal agents arrested eight men with suspected ties to ISIS last weekend in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia. There is still much we don’t know about the counterterrorism operation, and it’s possible that information in the first news reports isn’t entirely accurate.
Anatomy of MAGA Conspiracy of Assassination Attempt Against Trump: What It Tells Us
After walking out of a Manhattan courtroom Tuesday, former President Donald Trump amplified MAGA’s latest anti-government conspiracy theory – that the Biden administration planned to assassinate him.
Key January 6th Instigator, Nick Fuentes, Reinstatement on Twitter/X: The Implications
On Thursday, Elon Musk vowed to reinstate the “X” account of Nick Fuentes, a notorious white nationalist, and has now made good on his promise. Fuentes gained infamy when he attended the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville in 2017 and has compiled an extensive dossier of extremist activity since then. Fuentes’s “America First” movement, dubbed the “Groypers,” is built on racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and misogyny.
Keeping Count: Major Adverse Legal Findings Against Donald Trump (Nov. 2020-2024)
Following Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, the former president has suffered a string of major defeats in the legal system. These began with state and federal courts rejecting his claims of election fraud. His criminal record includes indictments in four different jurisdictions. Most recently, a New York court found Trump in “criminal contempt” for his attacks against jurors and witnesses in his Manhattan criminal proceedings.
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