Kori Schake
@kschake.bsky.social
Leads AEI’s foreign and defense team, author of The State and the Soldier, contributing writer at The Atlantic. 2025-2026 Kissinger Chair at the Library of Congress. Californian. https://www.aei.org/profile/kori-schake/
Pinned
Reposted by Kori Schake
This week marks the 250th anniversary of Common Sense. I wrote about it and why Paine’s words still matter today.
open.substack.com/pub/imperfec...
open.substack.com/pub/imperfec...
To Make the World Again
Common Sense at 250
open.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:05 AM
This week marks the 250th anniversary of Common Sense. I wrote about it and why Paine’s words still matter today.
open.substack.com/pub/imperfec...
open.substack.com/pub/imperfec...
Reposted by Kori Schake
be the tiny but unflappable roe deer you wish to see in this world
January 9, 2026 at 9:42 PM
be the tiny but unflappable roe deer you wish to see in this world
Reposted by Kori Schake
I recommend this book for those who may be struggling w/ thoughts that the U.S. military should "Do something!", or that it is a monolith that just does what it's told, or that the reality of refusing an unlawful order is black & white.
Most public servants live the Oath.
If you can get there, do!
Most public servants live the Oath.
If you can get there, do!
If you happen to be in DC on Tuesday, Jan 13th, I’ll be talking civ-mil at AEI — and free copies of the book will be available 🙂
January 9, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I recommend this book for those who may be struggling w/ thoughts that the U.S. military should "Do something!", or that it is a monolith that just does what it's told, or that the reality of refusing an unlawful order is black & white.
Most public servants live the Oath.
If you can get there, do!
Most public servants live the Oath.
If you can get there, do!
“the Court significantly constrained the President’s ability to call the National Guard into federal service and reinforced the restrictions on any domestic use of the military.” My assessment of Illinois v. Trump ruling significance.
www.aei.org
January 9, 2026 at 10:26 PM
“the Court significantly constrained the President’s ability to call the National Guard into federal service and reinforced the restrictions on any domestic use of the military.” My assessment of Illinois v. Trump ruling significance.
If you happen to be in DC on Tuesday, Jan 13th, I’ll be talking civ-mil at AEI — and free copies of the book will be available 🙂
January 9, 2026 at 9:03 PM
If you happen to be in DC on Tuesday, Jan 13th, I’ll be talking civ-mil at AEI — and free copies of the book will be available 🙂
Reposted by Kori Schake
“Mr. Trump’s policies are helping ‘to create a world without America,’ said Robert Z. Lawrence, a professor of international trade and investment at Harvard. And ‘it’s not only in trade,’ he added.” Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/b...
E.U. and South America to Form Free-Trade Zone With 700 Million People
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:55 PM
“Mr. Trump’s policies are helping ‘to create a world without America,’ said Robert Z. Lawrence, a professor of international trade and investment at Harvard. And ‘it’s not only in trade,’ he added.” Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/b...
Important perspective from one of the best civ-mil experts, @risabrooks12.bsky.social, on her recently published work.
Often missed is how using the military in highly contested domestic security missions (immigration, crime, anti protest) enables politicization. Involving the military in controversial missions is a central tactic for politicizing it--it's a feature, not a bug of civilian politicization. 3/end
January 9, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Important perspective from one of the best civ-mil experts, @risabrooks12.bsky.social, on her recently published work.
Love this encouragement, @soonergrunt.bsky.social
There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy. Remember this. Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy...
January 9, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Love this encouragement, @soonergrunt.bsky.social
Reposted by Kori Schake
🇩🇪🇺🇸 Just 15% of Germans consider the US a trusted partner — the lowest percentage in this ARD survey's history. At least that's higher than the 9% of Germans who trust Russia?
January 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
🇩🇪🇺🇸 Just 15% of Germans consider the US a trusted partner — the lowest percentage in this ARD survey's history. At least that's higher than the 9% of Germans who trust Russia?
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, Dullfeblog ftw
Trump adds his own name to Vietnam Memorial
President says wall ‘needed a winner’ and ‘a little more gold’
www.duffelblog.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, Dullfeblog ftw
Reposted by Kori Schake
Listen I'm rooting hard for change folks -- the Iranian pro-democracy protest movement is amazing and inspiring.
I just want to clarify that this is a vicious security state. We'll need to see *key defections* -- ideally a cascade of them -- from that state or the protests alone won't bring victory
I just want to clarify that this is a vicious security state. We'll need to see *key defections* -- ideally a cascade of them -- from that state or the protests alone won't bring victory
Last night in Tehran. We don’t need that many nights like this for the regime to fall. One or two could finish the job.
January 9, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Listen I'm rooting hard for change folks -- the Iranian pro-democracy protest movement is amazing and inspiring.
I just want to clarify that this is a vicious security state. We'll need to see *key defections* -- ideally a cascade of them -- from that state or the protests alone won't bring victory
I just want to clarify that this is a vicious security state. We'll need to see *key defections* -- ideally a cascade of them -- from that state or the protests alone won't bring victory
Reposted by Kori Schake
“Today, the US appears to be embracing an approach that had been developed specifically to counter US ideals and interests. This adoption of spheres of interests is even more baffling, as it reduces America’s status in the world from that of a global power to that of a regional power among several”
Europe’s Place in the New ‘Spheres of Influence’ World
For Europe, the Trump administration’s embrace of a world dominated by great powers represents a completely new challenge.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:14 PM
“Today, the US appears to be embracing an approach that had been developed specifically to counter US ideals and interests. This adoption of spheres of interests is even more baffling, as it reduces America’s status in the world from that of a global power to that of a regional power among several”
Reposted by Kori Schake
At 19, I thought, “the Iraqi people were suffering under a brutal dictator…in the worst-case scenario, removing him would be a net good. What followed was civil war, mass death, swelling ranks of terror groups, genocide, mass rape, and slavery. “
I wrote about Venezuela
reason.com/2026/01/07/i...
I wrote about Venezuela
reason.com/2026/01/07/i...
I once supported regime change in Iraq. That’s why Venezuela worries me.
When we use our military and roll the dice with the fate of nations, the consequences play out in a much longer time frame than social media trends.
reason.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:55 PM
At 19, I thought, “the Iraqi people were suffering under a brutal dictator…in the worst-case scenario, removing him would be a net good. What followed was civil war, mass death, swelling ranks of terror groups, genocide, mass rape, and slavery. “
I wrote about Venezuela
reason.com/2026/01/07/i...
I wrote about Venezuela
reason.com/2026/01/07/i...
Elliot Ackerman: "it’s extremely risky to base a foreign policy around these types of operations. You can’t keep stepping up to the craps table and never expect to throw a losing roll.”
A Close Call for U.S. Commandos and an Emboldened Trump
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Elliot Ackerman: "it’s extremely risky to base a foreign policy around these types of operations. You can’t keep stepping up to the craps table and never expect to throw a losing roll.”
Reposted by Kori Schake
Our essay in @foreignpolicy.com on why Venezuela's military is now the critical political actor and, consequently, democratic stability requires reforming civil-military relations.
Many thanks to @htrinkunas.bsky.social for his guidance.
Many thanks to @htrinkunas.bsky.social for his guidance.
In our piece with Prof. @vasabjit.bsky.social, we argue that the problems with the armed forces predate Maduro and even Chávez; no one should count on the Venezuelan Military surrendering its privileges easily
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/07/v...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/07/v...
Venezuela’s Military Won’t Surrender Its Privileges Easily
Problems with the armed forces pre-date Maduro and even Chávez.
foreignpolicy.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Our essay in @foreignpolicy.com on why Venezuela's military is now the critical political actor and, consequently, democratic stability requires reforming civil-military relations.
Many thanks to @htrinkunas.bsky.social for his guidance.
Many thanks to @htrinkunas.bsky.social for his guidance.
Reposted by Kori Schake
Tactically, it was successful in its immediate objective, even impressive. But that's never been the issue for the U.S. military of late - we can do tactically impressive things, over and over again, especially against non-peer foes. The real challenge is aligning strategy with national interests.
Hegseth takes the mic and starts denigrating a CNN reporter for asking a "disingenuous question," adding, "you're trying to find any angle possible to undermine the success of one of the most historic military missions the world has ever seen"
January 7, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Tactically, it was successful in its immediate objective, even impressive. But that's never been the issue for the U.S. military of late - we can do tactically impressive things, over and over again, especially against non-peer foes. The real challenge is aligning strategy with national interests.
Reposted by Kori Schake
Perhaps the greatest irony of Putin's strategy of disrupting the rules-based global order to restore Russian greatness is that his successors are likely to discover that the disappearance of those rules leaves Russia more exposed to the opportunistic ambitions of stronger powers
January 7, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Perhaps the greatest irony of Putin's strategy of disrupting the rules-based global order to restore Russian greatness is that his successors are likely to discover that the disappearance of those rules leaves Russia more exposed to the opportunistic ambitions of stronger powers
Reposted by Kori Schake
Trump's Greenland threats undermine his own efforts to secure a peace deal in Ukraine. Any US security guarantee included in such a deal would be hard to take seriously if he is willing to ignore the security guarantee the US already has with Denmark.
January 7, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Trump's Greenland threats undermine his own efforts to secure a peace deal in Ukraine. Any US security guarantee included in such a deal would be hard to take seriously if he is willing to ignore the security guarantee the US already has with Denmark.
The Netherlands and some Nordics have restricted US access because they were finding intel on Russia they’d shared with the US turning up in Russia.
Netherlands curtails intelligence-sharing with US over ‘human rights’
Dutch spy chiefs cite concerns about Trump administration’s ‘politicisation’ of services
www.ft.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM
The Netherlands and some Nordics have restricted US access because they were finding intel on Russia they’d shared with the US turning up in Russia.
Reposted by Kori Schake
The number of ways this is unconstitutional lunacy
is…a lot
is…a lot
January 7, 2026 at 12:17 AM
The number of ways this is unconstitutional lunacy
is…a lot
is…a lot
Reposted by Kori Schake
"By which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king."
@lmchervinsky.bsky.social and I dive into the origins and meanings of Thomas Paine's Common Sense at 250 for @inpursuitusa.bsky.social
Watch Now: youtu.be/6cB7BljBWJw?...
@lmchervinsky.bsky.social and I dive into the origins and meanings of Thomas Paine's Common Sense at 250 for @inpursuitusa.bsky.social
Watch Now: youtu.be/6cB7BljBWJw?...
January 7, 2026 at 12:44 AM
"By which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king."
@lmchervinsky.bsky.social and I dive into the origins and meanings of Thomas Paine's Common Sense at 250 for @inpursuitusa.bsky.social
Watch Now: youtu.be/6cB7BljBWJw?...
@lmchervinsky.bsky.social and I dive into the origins and meanings of Thomas Paine's Common Sense at 250 for @inpursuitusa.bsky.social
Watch Now: youtu.be/6cB7BljBWJw?...
Reposted by Kori Schake
Under Trump, the US is becoming what its unreasonable, anti-American critics used to claim it was.
January 7, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Under Trump, the US is becoming what its unreasonable, anti-American critics used to claim it was.
Reposted by Kori Schake
"An Army Is a Dangerous Thing to Play With": @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com with @kschake.bsky.social, on our Neon Liberalism podcast www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #54: An Army Is a Dangerous Thing to Play With
Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of The State and the Soldier, as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking p...
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:12 PM
"An Army Is a Dangerous Thing to Play With": @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com with @kschake.bsky.social, on our Neon Liberalism podcast www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
I believe Jim Mattis had a letter of reprimand in his USMC file at nearly every rank he held. I expect Hegseth’s letter of reprimand to be a similar credit to Senator Kelley’s record. It’s still terrible for SecDef attempting to penalize obviously protected political speech.
January 6, 2026 at 9:43 PM
I believe Jim Mattis had a letter of reprimand in his USMC file at nearly every rank he held. I expect Hegseth’s letter of reprimand to be a similar credit to Senator Kelley’s record. It’s still terrible for SecDef attempting to penalize obviously protected political speech.
Reposted by Kori Schake
Pentagon will begin review of 'effectiveness' of women in ground combat positions www.npr.org/2026/01/06/n...
Pentagon will begin review of 'effectiveness' of women in ground combat positions
The review, outlined in a Pentagon memo obtained by NPR, comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told admirals and generals in September that women must meet the "highest male standard."
www.npr.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Pentagon will begin review of 'effectiveness' of women in ground combat positions www.npr.org/2026/01/06/n...