Ben Watson

Overheard at the Pentagon: “I’ve got my five points ready. I’ve been a productive member of society.”

The struggle over democracy is not just one among many issues. It’s an overarching concern that transcends and permeates all areas of public policy. It sets the conditions for how we determine who belongs, whose sensibilities and rights count, how we deal with all the collective action challenges.

Source: "Is This Democracy" podcast, episode 37 // Jan 24, 2025
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...

“That’s not like the be all end all explanation for everything that’s going on," @thomaszimmer.bsky.social, Georgetown University historian, replied. "But I think that’s a good—if you put that at the center of your interpretation of what’s going on, I think you’re on the right track,” he said.

Regarding Trump's desire to end birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, here's an interesting note of contrast by @lilymasonphd.bsky.social, political scientist at Johns Hopkins University:

Defense One Radio, Ep. 170: Year in review We listen back on more than a dozen guests from conversations across 2024.

A fascinating crash course in national security in 2024, from @defenseone.bsky.social and @benwatson.bsky.social. www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/1...

The D Brief: Seoul’s six-hour self-coup; Trump’s SecArmy pick; Palantir’s 18 theses; Lockheed braces; And a bit more.

We noted these and other related points in our newsletter today, which you can check out or subscribe to here: www.defenseone.com/threats/2024...

But if Ron DeSantis (the man responsible for the Martha's Vineyard stunt) winds up as Trump's pick to run the Pentagon, we can expect more misrepresentations like this when it comes to immigration policy—especially since the Martha's Vineyard allegation was spread by DeSantis himself.

Time will tell how far Trump can take his campaign promise to launch the “largest deportation operation in American history." After all, he campaigned on building a border wall in 2016 and that was never completed. But Team Trump, of course, has more experience and guidance this time around.

Why bring it up: Team Trump 2.0 is reportedly preparing for two main objectives in the year ahead.
• changes to border security/immigration policy
• and a return of Trump 1.0 tax cuts

www.semafor.com/article/12/0...

The claim purports to reveal hypocrisy—a powerful allegation, in this case seeking permission by precedent—when (to me) it seems closer to whataboutism and a kind of projection, if not the classic political deception/lies.

DeSantis wrong: Migrants not deported on Martha's Vineyard As he moves toward a potential bid for president, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has highlighted his efforts to crack down on

It's fairly easy to check into this and discover the claim is not true.

See here, e.g.
• www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
• www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
• www.npr.org/2022/09/16/1...

Here's a deceptive and inaccurate claim we may see + hear again in the coming months.

Democrats: “Trump can’t use the military to help deport illegals!"
Also Democrats: Called in the National Guard to deport 50 illegals out of Martha’s Vineyard to a military base within 48 hours of their arrival.

🎙️Our first author interview of 2024 just posted Friday: www.defenseone.com/threats/2024...

It's a revealing conversation about the recent history of anti-government, far-right militancy in America, with @cfr.org's Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware.

Check out their new book→ www.cfr.org/book/god-gun...