Jeff Dufour
@dcdufour.bsky.social
Editor in chief at National Journal. Soccer player, baseball coach, cocktail nerd. Occasional Mick Jagger impersonator. Georgetown alum. RTs do not = endorsements.
Southern Command had not been posting about the boat strikes ... until Nov. 14, when they began not only announcing the "lethal kinetic strikes" on X, but noting that each one came "at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth."
December 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Southern Command had not been posting about the boat strikes ... until Nov. 14, when they began not only announcing the "lethal kinetic strikes" on X, but noting that each one came "at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth."
I'm not sure how I missed the Great Biden Water Shortage of 2024.
Trump: "I gave them as you know unlimited water, Biden came back with a rigged election, and he immediately restricted the water again. But I came back in and immediately unrestricted it again. So now you have unlimited water to clean your damn dishes."
November 18, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I'm not sure how I missed the Great Biden Water Shortage of 2024.
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
Neal Katyal says he's working on a TV show that he describes as "The West Wing for the Supreme Court," and my question is, have We As A Society not suffered enough
A Brief History Of Awful TV Shows About the Supreme Court
The concept of “The West Wing for the Supreme Court” might be the only thing more upsetting than the actual Supreme Court.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Neal Katyal says he's working on a TV show that he describes as "The West Wing for the Supreme Court," and my question is, have We As A Society not suffered enough
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
Making sense (not easy) of the week’s fire hose of news with @dcdufour.bsky.social, Editor in chief @nationaljournal.com, @miacmccarthy.bsky.social, Congress Reporter @politico.com and @hunterw.bsky.social, investigative reporter @talkingpointsmemo.com m
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youtu.be/A-TvXJ8jpUc
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November 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Making sense (not easy) of the week’s fire hose of news with @dcdufour.bsky.social, Editor in chief @nationaljournal.com, @miacmccarthy.bsky.social, Congress Reporter @politico.com and @hunterw.bsky.social, investigative reporter @talkingpointsmemo.com m
bit.ly/Click-2-Listen
youtu.be/A-TvXJ8jpUc
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youtu.be/A-TvXJ8jpUc
Gary Hart's boat, "Monkey Business," would like a word.
November 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Gary Hart's boat, "Monkey Business," would like a word.
In his Monday column, my colleague Charlie Cook listed a 10-item scorecard of races that would determine how well Democrats did on Tuesday. They went 10/10.
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/730083/an-...
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/730083/an-...
An early-warning system for the political winds
Look to these 10 questions Tuesday night to see if the political winds are calm, or if they may blow Republicans out of office next year.
www.nationaljournal.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
In his Monday column, my colleague Charlie Cook listed a 10-item scorecard of races that would determine how well Democrats did on Tuesday. They went 10/10.
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/730083/an-...
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/730083/an-...
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
Nearly two years ago, the company that owns Trump's Truth Social sued the Guardian, Forbes, Reuters and more than a dozen other news orgs for defamation, over supposedly misrepresenting their financials.
Yesterday, Trump's company dropped their case altogether
Yesterday, Trump's company dropped their case altogether
October 30, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Nearly two years ago, the company that owns Trump's Truth Social sued the Guardian, Forbes, Reuters and more than a dozen other news orgs for defamation, over supposedly misrepresenting their financials.
Yesterday, Trump's company dropped their case altogether
Yesterday, Trump's company dropped their case altogether
It's a privilege be a colleague of @TomDeFrank, who's covered every president since Nixon—and the DoD even longer than that. Here, he reflects on 60 years in the Pentagon as a soldier and reporter, which effectively ended with Hegseth's new media policy.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/730026/rem...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/730026/rem...
'A genuine sense of personal loss': Remembering 60 years at the Pentagon
With his press access now restricted, an Army officer-turned-longtime defense correspondent recalls his brushes with generals, the secrets he kept, and how the building's current leadership compares.
www.nationaljournal.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:09 PM
It's a privilege be a colleague of @TomDeFrank, who's covered every president since Nixon—and the DoD even longer than that. Here, he reflects on 60 years in the Pentagon as a soldier and reporter, which effectively ended with Hegseth's new media policy.
www.nationaljournal.com/s/730026/rem...
www.nationaljournal.com/s/730026/rem...
I'd prefer a Gronkipedia
October 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I'd prefer a Gronkipedia
Then things really go up a notch when we get into "person, woman, man, camera, TV."
Trump: AOC is low IQ. If you give her an IQ test, have her pass like the exams that I decided to take when I was at Walter Reed. Those are very hard…
The first couple of questions are easy. A tiger, an elephant, a giraffe..
The first couple of questions are easy. A tiger, an elephant, a giraffe..
October 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Then things really go up a notch when we get into "person, woman, man, camera, TV."
My colleague George Condon goes deep into the history books to debunk the White House's argument that Trump's ballroom construction "echoes the storied history of improvements and additions" to the building.
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/729980/no-...
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/729980/no-...
No, this White House renovation is not like the others
Trump aides say his ballroom project is part of a continuum of improvements over the decades. But they leave out some key context.
www.nationaljournal.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
My colleague George Condon goes deep into the history books to debunk the White House's argument that Trump's ballroom construction "echoes the storied history of improvements and additions" to the building.
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/729980/no-...
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www.nationaljournal.com/s/729980/no-...
Sometimes she just says the thing explicitly.
Leavitt: "At this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the president's main priority."
October 23, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Sometimes she just says the thing explicitly.
If a president can't be indicted by the DOJ while in office, then surely he cannot demand restitution from that same DOJ while in office. Right? The problem is this wouldn't have to go to a jury as a civil tort case, as long as he's got a DOJ atty who will sign off on a "settlement."
Breaking News: President Trump wants $230 million from the Justice Department for investigating him, people familiar with the matter say. Any settlement might ultimately be approved by senior department officials who defended him or those in his orbit. nyti.ms/4hmIi5X
October 21, 2025 at 8:04 PM
If a president can't be indicted by the DOJ while in office, then surely he cannot demand restitution from that same DOJ while in office. Right? The problem is this wouldn't have to go to a jury as a civil tort case, as long as he's got a DOJ atty who will sign off on a "settlement."
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
Trump notes the sound of construction of his new ballroom at the White House and says, "that's music to my ears. When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. In this case it reminds me of lack of money because I'm paying for it."
October 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Not kids that want to be the next generation of political leaders.
Vance on public outrage over the "I love Hitler" group chat: "Grow up! Focus on the real issues. Don't focus on what kids say in group chats... The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys — they tell edgy, offensive jokes. That's what kids do."
October 15, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Not kids that want to be the next generation of political leaders.
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
A consequential week and our panel puts it all in context. With @dcdufour.bsky.social, Editor-in-chief @nationaljournal.com, @bennettjohnt.bsky.social, WH Correspondent at CQ @rollcall.com and @miacmccarthy.bsky.social, Political Reporter @politico.com m
bit.ly/Click-2-Listen
youtu.be/r4PhUaFtQqE
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youtu.be/r4PhUaFtQqE
October 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
A consequential week and our panel puts it all in context. With @dcdufour.bsky.social, Editor-in-chief @nationaljournal.com, @bennettjohnt.bsky.social, WH Correspondent at CQ @rollcall.com and @miacmccarthy.bsky.social, Political Reporter @politico.com m
bit.ly/Click-2-Listen
youtu.be/r4PhUaFtQqE
bit.ly/Click-2-Listen
youtu.be/r4PhUaFtQqE
This is interesting because on Apr 11 he had his "annual physical examination" at Walter Reed. (Link below.) I wonder how that differs from a "routine yearly checkup."
www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
October 8, 2025 at 10:28 PM
This is interesting because on Apr 11 he had his "annual physical examination" at Walter Reed. (Link below.) I wonder how that differs from a "routine yearly checkup."
www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
On this episode, @dcdufour.bsky.social and Charlie Cook discuss the latest news on redistricting, the impending government shutdown, and how thermostatic politics could affect the dynamics of the midterm elections.
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/6FWE...
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/6FWE...
National Journal Radio Bonus Episode: Thermostatic Politics
National Journal Radio · Episode
open.spotify.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
On this episode, @dcdufour.bsky.social and Charlie Cook discuss the latest news on redistricting, the impending government shutdown, and how thermostatic politics could affect the dynamics of the midterm elections.
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/6FWE...
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/6FWE...
He just huddled with Zelensky. So this seems to be another case of him parroting the positions of the person he last spoke with.
In February, Trump shouted at Zelensky that Ukraine "didn't have the cards."
Now, he says, "Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form."
Now, he says, "Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form."
September 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
He just huddled with Zelensky. So this seems to be another case of him parroting the positions of the person he last spoke with.
It wasn't until yesterday that I realized how much I missed the stemwinding "Trump, MD" press conferences of the COVID era.
September 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
It wasn't until yesterday that I realized how much I missed the stemwinding "Trump, MD" press conferences of the COVID era.
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
In this episode, @dcdufour.bsky.social talks to Max Stier of Partnership for Public Service about the disruptions to the federal workforce.
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/4Ln6...
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/4Ln6...
National Journal Radio Bonus Episode: Federal Workforce Transitions in the Trump 2.0 Era
National Journal Radio · Episode
open.spotify.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:39 AM
In this episode, @dcdufour.bsky.social talks to Max Stier of Partnership for Public Service about the disruptions to the federal workforce.
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/4Ln6...
Listen on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/4Ln6...
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
Q: Do you think it would've been fitting to lower the flags to half staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House Speaker, was gunned down by an assassin?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
September 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Q: Do you think it would've been fitting to lower the flags to half staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House Speaker, was gunned down by an assassin?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
TRUMP: I'm not familiar. The who?
As political violence becomes more common, I argue that the nightmare scenario isn't another North vs. South–style Civil War. It's the Troubles in Northern Ireland. www.nationaljournal.com/s/729578/its...
It’s Not a Civil War, It’s The Troubles
The growing spectre of political violence in America has another recent precedent.
www.nationaljournal.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
As political violence becomes more common, I argue that the nightmare scenario isn't another North vs. South–style Civil War. It's the Troubles in Northern Ireland. www.nationaljournal.com/s/729578/its...
The shooter is not in custody. None of them know who he is, much less his motive. Is there a good chance he's on the Left? Sure. Is it a guarantee? Not even close. Could be someone who had a personal beef with Kirk. Could be someone who had a psychotic break.
Rufo calling for mass arrests, Blake Masters & Cernovich calling for RICO against Dem & left funders, and a whole lot of everyday people begging for martial law, or, even worse, "gloves off." 99.9% of whom are just spouting off, but today if anything teaches us the damage that one .1% fool can do.
September 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The shooter is not in custody. None of them know who he is, much less his motive. Is there a good chance he's on the Left? Sure. Is it a guarantee? Not even close. Could be someone who had a personal beef with Kirk. Could be someone who had a psychotic break.
Reposted by Jeff Dufour
If I have any credibility with you from 20 years of reporting on rightwing & fascist movements, please listen when I beg you not to celebrate Charlie Kirk getting shot. Leave aside morality: this isn’t a match in dry grass, it’s a torch. We do not want what this could ignite & we would not win.
September 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
If I have any credibility with you from 20 years of reporting on rightwing & fascist movements, please listen when I beg you not to celebrate Charlie Kirk getting shot. Leave aside morality: this isn’t a match in dry grass, it’s a torch. We do not want what this could ignite & we would not win.