The Real Intelligence Failure in Iran: A costly quagmire was predictable. Trump went to war anyway. New from me.

AMA, folks.

Feels right.

If it stands on its own, it’s done.

Cool.

Flip. Color and smell check.

Time to make the bacon. 🥓

There’s still no thrill like seeing a story in print. First issue of the new year is on stands and in your mailbox. (Oh, and here…https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/01/mohammad-tajik-iran-cyber-intelligence/684954/?gift=kPTlqn0J1iP9IBZcsdI5ISO8BNMho4wWgcNKRLP3pqI)

Not even making Lawfare podcasts anymore and still a top fan. ❤️ @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org

Ew.

Devoured.

That’s more like it.

I think Spotify is worried about me.

Among the reasons why I find this Washington Post editorial disappointing: It is contradicted by the reporting that appeared in the paper's own pages. (To which I and my colleagues contributed.) This framing is tendentious and inaccurate. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Will ask the experts to say if this is a big Hatch Act violation. (Quaint, I know.) www.hud.gov#openModal

Indeed. Like determining if the documents are even still classified. Or speaking with officials Bolton worked with at the time to determine if he had some reason for taking them. This is basic work before bringing a charge. But the clock ticking here is on Comey's case, not Bolton's.

Perhaps Halligan is not concerned about keeping her law license, but her new colleagues at the Justice Department sure seem to be. abcnews.go.com/US/prosecuto...

I howled at some of these comments. Props to David for having the intestinal fortitude to share them, and for writing this fond tribute to his late editor. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

When you're a secretive dictator, there's an upside to having basically no digital connection to the outside world.

It took less than a day for the mission creep to set in.

I'm so thrilled that our podcast about the secret history of candied bacon won a James Beard Media Award! Thank you to the foundation and to our listeners. I hope you enjoyed hearing it as much as we did making it. And profound gratitude to Odete Pereira for sharing her story.

Announcement of Gabbard’s swearing-in. Notes she is the “first female combat veteran Director of National Intelligence.”

John Ratcliffe sworn in as CIA director.

If Gabbard ever gets a confirmation hearing (which seems doubtful now) maybe her former staffers will finally get some answers to their questions.

Journalists: Don’t do this.

Behold. Odete’s bacon.