Hey Siri, is this a CivMil crisis?
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Hey Siri, is this a CivMil crisis?
things you don't love to see civmil experts write in your mentions
I am more worried about war in Minnesota than in Greenland or Canada.
The US is hours or days away from civil war. This might sound extreme, but if Walz has the Minn National Guard blocking ICE ops, the usual response of the fed govt to governors using NG against feds is to call out the army. 1/
The US is hours or days away from civil war. This might sound extreme, but if Walz has the Minn National Guard blocking ICE ops, the usual response of the fed govt to governors using NG against feds is to call out the army. 1/
"This is why Judge Menendez’s ruling is so critical: it may be the last opportunity a federal judge has to intervene before matters spiral completely out of control."
January 21, 2026 at 6:04 PM
things you don't love to see civmil experts write in your mentions
I don't say this lightly: they are cowards and derelict in their oversight and civmil duties.
Awful: Sen Tim Kaine reached out to numerous GOP Senators to ask them to join his letter laying out basic questions for Trump about drug boat bombing, Senate staffer tells me. Zero Rs agreed.
On the pod we discuss this & deeper legal issues w/ @sranderson.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/article/2003...
On the pod we discuss this & deeper legal issues w/ @sranderson.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/article/2003...
Trump Drug Boat Bombing Takes Darker Turn as Damning New Info Emerges
As Trump’s decision to kill 11 drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea suddenly starts looking even worse, a legal expert explains how brazenly Trump is stretching the law—and why it’s so unnerving.
newrepublic.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I don't say this lightly: they are cowards and derelict in their oversight and civmil duties.
A senior administration official, as well as other officials, told Rolling Stone that it is a priority of Trump that these kinds of military deployments -- in times of relative calm -- become normalized in American political culture.
More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
More: rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
August 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM
CivMil scholars 15 years ago: "I wish my niche field received more attention"
CivMil scholars now: "not like this!"
CivMil scholars now: "not like this!"
August 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
CivMil scholars 15 years ago: "I wish my niche field received more attention"
CivMil scholars now: "not like this!"
CivMil scholars now: "not like this!"
COMMENTARY: Pete Hegseth’s ‘Warfighter’ Crusade Isn’t About Killing
The Defense Secretary wants to rid the military of “woke” — and make sure no one questions the president’s orders ever again.
The Defense Secretary wants to rid the military of “woke” — and make sure no one questions the president’s orders ever again.
Pete Hegseth's 'Warfighter' Crusade Isn't About Killing
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has prioritized eradicating "woke" from the military, and making sure no one questions Trump's orders.
www.rollingstone.com
October 2, 2026 at 2:09 PM
flagging for the civmil experts
this week in minneapolis we saw northeast dog parade marshal and city council member michael rainville and wedge live cat tour marshal and hennepin county attorney mary moriarty
they appear to leading pet-based armies on opposite sides of the city
they appear to leading pet-based armies on opposite sides of the city
June 26, 2026 at 11:20 PM
flagging for the civmil experts
“Military leaders must be able to offer professional military advice even if it conflicts with the partisan beliefs of the civilian leadership,” writes GMF’s Carrie A. Lee, evaluating lessons from Poland to inform US military personnel decisions.
🔗 Read: bit.ly/4hCsY5J
🔗 Read: bit.ly/4hCsY5J
How to Politicize a Military
bit.ly
October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Okay #CivMil people, where does this put us?
holy shit John Kelly did an interview with the NYT and finally said it out loud www.nytimes.com/2024/10/22/u...
As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator
John Kelly, the Trump White House’s longest-serving chief of staff, said that he believed that Donald Trump met the definition of a fascist.
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2024 at 2:03 AM
Okay #CivMil people, where does this put us?
As Army officers, we used to talk all these hypothetical scenarios about being given unlawful and unethical orders and what you’d do.
If you’re in the Navy, it’s not hypothetical anymore. You’re being told to kill people you have no legal authority to kill. You’re being told to commit murder.
If you’re in the Navy, it’s not hypothetical anymore. You’re being told to kill people you have no legal authority to kill. You’re being told to commit murder.
September 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The US Army Recruiting Command pulled out of a long-term partnership with a major Black STEM event but sent the same unit to a mostly white NRA event “that recruiters acknowledge is less likely to yield high-quality applicants.” #civmil #milhist #RaceToTheBottom
SCOOP: The military has started making deliberate efforts to scale back the recruiting of Black Americans. www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Military Drops Recruiting Efforts at Prestigious Black Engineering Awards Event
Until this week, Army Recruiting Command had a public partnership with the Black Engineer of the Year Awards, or BEYA, an annual conference that draws students, academics and professionals in science,...
www.military.com
February 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The US Army Recruiting Command pulled out of a long-term partnership with a major Black STEM event but sent the same unit to a mostly white NRA event “that recruiters acknowledge is less likely to yield high-quality applicants.” #civmil #milhist #RaceToTheBottom
Firing General Brown and Admiral Franchetti is not a complete surprise to civmil watchers, but pulling this guy from retirement for chairman definitely is
It’s a strong signal that promotion to top positions will require complete ideological conformity from here on out
It’s a strong signal that promotion to top positions will require complete ideological conformity from here on out
Trump is nominating a retired Air National Guard 3-star to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Highest major command was Deputy Commander, CENTSOC
www.af.mil/About-Us/Bio...
Highest major command was Deputy Commander, CENTSOC
www.af.mil/About-Us/Bio...
February 22, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Firing General Brown and Admiral Franchetti is not a complete surprise to civmil watchers, but pulling this guy from retirement for chairman definitely is
It’s a strong signal that promotion to top positions will require complete ideological conformity from here on out
It’s a strong signal that promotion to top positions will require complete ideological conformity from here on out
He's gonna get crucified. And people will say it's political retribution.
It's not.
It's a culmination of weak leadership allowing unforms to creep into political discourse and be used as props in rallies and sports games.
It's not.
It's a culmination of weak leadership allowing unforms to creep into political discourse and be used as props in rallies and sports games.
July 2, 2026 at 5:35 PM
From what I’m reading, the Supreme Court has made any order the president gives the military to throw the elections his way not-illegal for him. Under existing US CivMil norms that means they should obey.
July 1, 2024 at 2:47 PM
From what I’m reading, the Supreme Court has made any order the president gives the military to throw the elections his way not-illegal for him. Under existing US CivMil norms that means they should obey.
There is a CivMil element to this. The military isn’t supposed to obey illegal orders, and destroying civilian infrastructure to pressure a government is illegal.
But there are three reasons to think that won’t matter if after initial advice, Trump decides to insist.
1/5
#civmilsky #menasky
But there are three reasons to think that won’t matter if after initial advice, Trump decides to insist.
1/5
#civmilsky #menasky
March 22, 2026 at 6:11 AM
There is a CivMil element to this. The military isn’t supposed to obey illegal orders, and destroying civilian infrastructure to pressure a government is illegal.
But there are three reasons to think that won’t matter if after initial advice, Trump decides to insist.
1/5
#civmilsky #menasky
But there are three reasons to think that won’t matter if after initial advice, Trump decides to insist.
1/5
#civmilsky #menasky
Congress, too, is Constitutional civilian control of the military. Every senior officer is required before confirmation to commit they will tell Congress of any concerns about Administration policies or actions.
Admiral pushed out by Hegseth meets privately with lawmakers
Adm. Alvin Holsey, who oversees military operations in Latin America, has voiced concern about the Trump administration’s activities there.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
You need to listen to her. #CivMil
Sending the Guard to police DC citizens politicizes the military--just like using it and active duty troops against protesters and in immigration and counter cartel missions does.
This is no accident. It's part of a broader effort to transform the military into a partisan force.
This is no accident. It's part of a broader effort to transform the military into a partisan force.
NYT reporting today that the admin. is planning to use the U.S. military ag/ cartels. This has actually been in the works for awhile as I argued in this Foreign Affairs piece from April.
It's part of what I see as an effort to politicize the military and transform it into a partisan force. 1/
It's part of what I see as an effort to politicize the military and transform it into a partisan force. 1/
August 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
You need to listen to her. #CivMil
May 23, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Steve with a terrifying, and to my mind, sober minded analysis of the CivMil implications of the US Military purge
I wrote angry about the purging of the US military. saideman.blogspot.com/2025/02/why-...
February 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Steve with a terrifying, and to my mind, sober minded analysis of the CivMil implications of the US Military purge
Samuel Huntington wakes up and frowns.
#civmil
#civmil
An authoritarian who ran a fascist-style campaign announces a plan to purge the generals. What would you say if you saw it in another country? www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | Trump Draft Executive Order Would Create Board to Purge Generals
The panel could upend the military review process and raise concerns about the politicization of the military.
www.wsj.com
November 12, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Samuel Huntington wakes up and frowns.
#civmil
#civmil
Telco-CivMil pipeline (or should I say fiber highway. )
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Telco-CivMil pipeline (or should I say fiber highway. )
Months after his predecessor's failed attempt to impose martial law, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged senior military leaders to remain "loyal to the country, rather than to power" during a promotion ceremony this week for service chiefs (from @choiboy.bsky.social)
South Korean president warns generals against political loyalties after martial law scandal
Months after his predecessor’s attempt to impose martial law, South Korea’s president ordered military leaders to pledge loyalty to the people.
www.stripes.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:23 PM