Caitlin Talmadge

Immigrants to America are great. They enrich communities and make us stronger, safer, and more prosperous than society would be otherwise.

Just saying this out loud because I’ve not seen much articulation of a positive case for immigration, lately, even as opposition to mass deportation grows.

Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril

And: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/u...

Gun-Rights Groups Clash With Trump Officials Over Fatal Shooting of Armed Protester Some in the administration have criticized Alex Pretti for carrying a gun to a protest activity, but Second Amendment groups have long fought for the right to do so.

Contradictions of late-stage MAGA www.wsj.com/us-news/gun-...

Exclusive | Trump Says Administration Is ‘Reviewing Everything’ About Minneapolis Shooting In an interview, the president says immigration-enforcement officers will “at some point” leave the area.

Oops, it turns out fascism is unpopular www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Do better. Call your buddy George W. Bush and show up together in Minneapolis.

Don’t just write statements. DO something with your megaphone.

This document is lighter on substance and heavier on pictures of the Secretary than any NDS/QDR I can ever remember. It also contains a bunch of lies, but I won't even get into those. 7/7

Elsewhere the NDS explicitly repudiates the concept of alliance commitments in general, much less those backed by a U.S. nuclear guarantee. They are not hiding the ball here. 6/7

The lack of discussion of nuclear issues, particularly extended deterrence, is remarkable & will alarm allies. The terms extended deterrence/nuclear umbrella appear nowhere, not even in the one paragraph on nukes. 5/7

U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific are framed primarily in transactional economic terms, with little interest in protecting democratic values or long-standing alliance relationships. Again, quite different from past NDS. 4/7

The NDS seeks to expand military-to-military communications with China in order to bolster strategic stability. But I believe China has little interest in doing so, because it wants the U.S. to worry about escalation risks in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. 3/7

This Strategy is much more conciliatory toward China than past Strategies, including the one from Trump’s first term. Ample concern about DPRK, Iranian, and Russian nukes but zero discussion of PRC nuclear buildup. 2/7

With the aid of chocolate I have brought myself to read the just-released National Defense Strategy. A few quick reactions: 1/7
media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...

Exclusive | China’s Top General Accused of Giving Nuclear Secrets to U.S. Bribery allegations have also been leveled against Gen. Zhang Youxia, whose downfall carries implications for the country’s military readiness.

Incredibly significant development in Chinese civil-military relations, one that I believe probably lowers the risk of near-term conflict over Taiwan. Xi unlikely to launch a war after hollowing out military leadership.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...

A crazy(?) part of my brain thinks that the horrific events in Minnesota make a U.S. strike on Iran more likely. The relevant military assets are now assembled in the Middle East. Hope I am wrong, but Trump knows how to change the conversation.

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

Vetted organizations supporting the people of Minnesota-- worth a look if you are searching for ways to actually do something
www.standwithminnesota.com

Chalkboard politics logo, a chalkboard with the podcast name and affiliations

📣📣📣Announcing...Chalkboard Politics @chalkboardpolitics.bsky.social, a podcast by students, for students (and their teachers). Written, edited, and mixed by the students at @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social and distributed by @goodauth.bsky.social. 1/ www.podbean.com/media/share/...

Trump Seeks ‘Decisive’ Options for Iran as Assets Move Into Middle East U.S. jet fighters have arrived in the region and an aircraft carrier is on its way.

Good luck with that www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Russia’s Fearsome Arsenal Fizzled in Venezuela. Here’s Why.

"The Venezuelan military’s incompetence appears to have played a big role in the U.S. success.... Russia may have quietly allowed the military equipment it sold Venezuela to fall into disrepair, to avoid greater conflict with Washington."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/w...

Just trying to buckle down today and immerse myself in the blissful irrelevance of scholarly work as I look at archival evidence on **checks notes** US military responses to the Iranian Revolution 👀

YouTube video by Brookings Institution What did the US achieve in the Venezuela operation?

Video version of the discussion available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVGe...

Pleased to join @brookings.edu podcast The Current with @sranderson.bsky.social to discuss the implications of the Maduro raid. www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...

What did the US achieve in the Venezuela operation? | Brookings Scott Anderson and Caitlin Talmadge discuss the legal, tactical, and strategic angles of the recent U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Anderson, a fel...

A busy day at @brookings.edu talking Venezuela.

First, this phenomenal podcast conversation with @proftalmadge.bsky.social for The Current (recorded yesterday but just published):

www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."

Who could have foreseen that turning poorly trained, heavily armed, ideologically motivated goons loose on residential streets would result in US citizens getting murdered

YouTube video by Minnesota Reformer ICE officer fatally shoots driver in Minneapolis

It was only a matter of time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9CJ...

Venezuela's interim leader sacks man in charge of Maduro's guard General Javier Marcano Tábata was the commander of the inner circle of guards tasked with protecting Maduro.

So the US killed five Venezuelan GENERALS in the Maduro raid. As one often does in standard "law enforcement" operations.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Trump says Venezuela to give up to 50 million barrels of oil to U.S. Trump's announcement came days after U.S. forces attacked Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro, to be prosecuted on drug-trafficking charges.

1/Quick thoughts on Venezuela oil and what it means for world politics. Rather than a simple story of corporate oligarchy, more about Trump putting himself at the center of spoils that can be used to consolidate power i.e neo-royalism.
www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/t...

Never believe it til Rubio denies it

The Brutal Maduro Enforcer Standing in Trump’s Way in Venezuela Cabello looms as the biggest obstacle to Trump’s hopes for a stable, U.S.-friendly oil state.

Great deep dive here on Interior Minister Cabello and the threat he poses to Rodriguez's consolidation of power in Venezuela. “Delcy may have Donald Trump’s ear, but she doesn’t have the guns, and Cabello knows that.”
Authoritarian politics 101
www.wsj.com/world/americ...