Jason “JB” Baker
@jasonbbaker.bsky.social
Mostly national security, foreign policy, & security cooperation goings on. Some Illinois and Chicago Sports. Amateur angler and waterfowler. Personal account-views mine-nothing official here except the dad jokes.
Everything old is Melian again.
January 21, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Everything old is Melian again.
Sharing a gift link to ensure anyone and everyone can read this.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The Military Is Being Forced to Plan for an Unthinkable Betrayal
Attacking an ally would be a perversion of everything the armed forces have been trained to do.
www.theatlantic.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Sharing a gift link to ensure anyone and everyone can read this.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
A new post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth just a couple hours after President Trump said he wouldn’t have wanted a second strike on alleged narco boats and that Hegseth said he didn’t order second strikes.
December 1, 2025 at 12:41 AM
A new post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth just a couple hours after President Trump said he wouldn’t have wanted a second strike on alleged narco boats and that Hegseth said he didn’t order second strikes.
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
One thing I have no patience for is "there is nothing to be thankful for" doomerism. If Americans were finding things to be thankful for in 1863, two and a half years into a bloody Civil War, when Abraham Lincoln formalized the Thanksgiving holiday, then I can find things to be thankful for too.
November 26, 2025 at 10:33 PM
One thing I have no patience for is "there is nothing to be thankful for" doomerism. If Americans were finding things to be thankful for in 1863, two and a half years into a bloody Civil War, when Abraham Lincoln formalized the Thanksgiving holiday, then I can find things to be thankful for too.
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
Trump has approved a 28-point plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. “The deeply troubling details now circulating show what Trump wants: to help the Russian president,” Phillips Payson O’Brien argues, “and to weaken Ukraine, perhaps fatally.”
Trump’s Devastating Plan for Ukraine
The White House is giving Putin permission to try again.
bit.ly
November 22, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Trump has approved a 28-point plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. “The deeply troubling details now circulating show what Trump wants: to help the Russian president,” Phillips Payson O’Brien argues, “and to weaken Ukraine, perhaps fatally.”
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
📣 We are now accepting applications for CFR's 2026–27 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship, a unique opportunity for young professionals studying nuclear security issues.
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
November 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
📣 We are now accepting applications for CFR's 2026–27 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship, a unique opportunity for young professionals studying nuclear security issues.
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
Page One in CLT:
November 19, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Page One in CLT:
With Washington wanting to finally make a pivot out of the region (debatable if such a thing can or should be done) seeking to create more stable and secure partners and allies makes sense to that end. It’s been a dramatic year of change in the region, and I don’t see things slowing down. /11x
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
With Washington wanting to finally make a pivot out of the region (debatable if such a thing can or should be done) seeking to create more stable and secure partners and allies makes sense to that end. It’s been a dramatic year of change in the region, and I don’t see things slowing down. /11x
The Saudis want to sometimes drive that fancy sports car into the future, not just ride along, and they want to shape the road that leads there. In my time talking to military and government officials there, I was always led to believe they want the U.S. to remain their partner of choice. /10
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
The Saudis want to sometimes drive that fancy sports car into the future, not just ride along, and they want to shape the road that leads there. In my time talking to military and government officials there, I was always led to believe they want the U.S. to remain their partner of choice. /10
And the United States needs a strong and stable partner in the region. One that stands against Iran, brings economic benefit, is able to defend itself and Arab partners, that can unite its neighbors…and doesn’t turn to China as it does so. /9
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
And the United States needs a strong and stable partner in the region. One that stands against Iran, brings economic benefit, is able to defend itself and Arab partners, that can unite its neighbors…and doesn’t turn to China as it does so. /9
Vision 2030 can’t succeed alone. Riyadh sees the need for partners militarily, strategically, economically, technologically. /8
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Vision 2030 can’t succeed alone. Riyadh sees the need for partners militarily, strategically, economically, technologically. /8
All of this done with a desire for a more pragmatic relationship with the U.S: One driven by what each can do for the other, setting aside anything that might get in the way of being realist partners. /7
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
All of this done with a desire for a more pragmatic relationship with the U.S: One driven by what each can do for the other, setting aside anything that might get in the way of being realist partners. /7
Today’s visit reinforced that:
– Nearly $1T in planned U.S. investments
– Movement toward an F-35 sale
– Heavy focus on AI, tech, infrastructure
– Saudi insistence on a credible Palestinian path forward, however, maintaining their position as a Muslim leader and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques /6
– Nearly $1T in planned U.S. investments
– Movement toward an F-35 sale
– Heavy focus on AI, tech, infrastructure
– Saudi insistence on a credible Palestinian path forward, however, maintaining their position as a Muslim leader and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques /6
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Today’s visit reinforced that:
– Nearly $1T in planned U.S. investments
– Movement toward an F-35 sale
– Heavy focus on AI, tech, infrastructure
– Saudi insistence on a credible Palestinian path forward, however, maintaining their position as a Muslim leader and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques /6
– Nearly $1T in planned U.S. investments
– Movement toward an F-35 sale
– Heavy focus on AI, tech, infrastructure
– Saudi insistence on a credible Palestinian path forward, however, maintaining their position as a Muslim leader and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques /6
CNAS captured this perfectly this summer in a report: Saudi Arabia is becoming a global swing state, a middle power shaping a new order. /5
www.cnas.org/publications...
www.cnas.org/publications...
Global Swing States and the New Great Power Competition
International politics is undergoing a period of rapid, significant change. China and Russia are working together more closely and alongside Iran and N. Ko
www.cnas.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
CNAS captured this perfectly this summer in a report: Saudi Arabia is becoming a global swing state, a middle power shaping a new order. /5
www.cnas.org/publications...
www.cnas.org/publications...
The couple years, months, weeks (sometimes days largely) changed that. The Kingdom sees a region and global competition that is shifting fast and understands that staying on the sidelines carries its own risks. /4
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
The couple years, months, weeks (sometimes days largely) changed that. The Kingdom sees a region and global competition that is shifting fast and understands that staying on the sidelines carries its own risks. /4
When I returned from my year during security cooperation advising in Riyadh, I often told people Saudi Arabia is the neighbor with the incredible sports car in the garage—latest and greatest, knows exactly how powerful it is, but hasn’t wanted to risk being judged for how it drives. /3
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
When I returned from my year during security cooperation advising in Riyadh, I often told people Saudi Arabia is the neighbor with the incredible sports car in the garage—latest and greatest, knows exactly how powerful it is, but hasn’t wanted to risk being judged for how it drives. /3
First and foremost, there’s a big elephant in the room from the WH press spray with POTUS and MBS. For purposes of this thread (and my station in life for the next 6 months still) I’ll just say I’m not so naive as to say it can truly be set it aside, but alas, we deal with the world as it is. /2
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
First and foremost, there’s a big elephant in the room from the WH press spray with POTUS and MBS. For purposes of this thread (and my station in life for the next 6 months still) I’ll just say I’m not so naive as to say it can truly be set it aside, but alas, we deal with the world as it is. /2
Big day in Washington with MBS visiting the White House. Lots of noise from this Saudi trip, but a few signals & highlights to pull from the headlines and list of takes, expert opinions and punditry. /1 🧵
November 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Big day in Washington with MBS visiting the White House. Lots of noise from this Saudi trip, but a few signals & highlights to pull from the headlines and list of takes, expert opinions and punditry. /1 🧵
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
An important ringing moral condemnation for an approach that would put the military’s judgment above that of their civilian superiors, which creates a different kind of problem.
Contributor: Do our military leaders have the backbone to disobey illegal orders?
A recently uncovered memo promises U.S. soldiers immunity for the killing of more than 80 people in boat strikes throughout the Caribbean, effectively conceding it crossed a line.
www.latimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
An important ringing moral condemnation for an approach that would put the military’s judgment above that of their civilian superiors, which creates a different kind of problem.
Middle East hands will be watching very closely today. I'm curious to see what the U.S. "get" will be out of F-35s, some sort of civilian nuclear agreement, and surely some sort of security guarantee that matches--or more likely exceeds--what the Qataris got.
A fascinating time.
A fascinating time.
What to watch for as Trump welcomes Saudi crown prince
The visit, which will include a trip to the US Capitol, is being closely watched at home and in the Gulf.
www.semafor.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Middle East hands will be watching very closely today. I'm curious to see what the U.S. "get" will be out of F-35s, some sort of civilian nuclear agreement, and surely some sort of security guarantee that matches--or more likely exceeds--what the Qataris got.
A fascinating time.
A fascinating time.
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
I'm actually shocked. Good on Dana Bash for asking the question, and I genuinely would not have expected Greene to answer the way she did.
BASH: We have seen these attacks from the president at other people. It's not new. And I haven't heard you speak out about it until it was directed at you.
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: I think that's fair criticism. And I would like to say, humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics.
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: I think that's fair criticism. And I would like to say, humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics.
November 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I'm actually shocked. Good on Dana Bash for asking the question, and I genuinely would not have expected Greene to answer the way she did.
Allowing the outfit to do the extroverting is the preferred option.
November 15, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Allowing the outfit to do the extroverting is the preferred option.
If tariffs don’t make things more expensive for Americans, why will rolling back food tariffs make prices more affordable for consumers?
November 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
If tariffs don’t make things more expensive for Americans, why will rolling back food tariffs make prices more affordable for consumers?
Throw “and why McClellan would have been a tyrant” at the end of anything and I’m going to read or listen to it.
November 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Throw “and why McClellan would have been a tyrant” at the end of anything and I’m going to read or listen to it.
Reposted by Jason “JB” Baker
JPM: With the shutdown “the longest on record .. we now must take more seriously the possible damage to activity. Whereas previously it had been easy to imagine that any drag would be easily reversed when the shutdown ends, the risk for more lasting damage to the economy has grown ..”
November 8, 2025 at 12:32 AM
JPM: With the shutdown “the longest on record .. we now must take more seriously the possible damage to activity. Whereas previously it had been easy to imagine that any drag would be easily reversed when the shutdown ends, the risk for more lasting damage to the economy has grown ..”