James Risen

The Pentagon press corps is gone. As reporters for major news outlets turn in their government-issued press badges rather than accept new restrictions, some argue that the best military journalism is yet to come.

The Pentagon press corps has to respond by becoming more adversarial. Tougher coverage is the only answer.

www.cjr.org/news/the-pen...

Please, let's solve problems peacefully.

Pete Hegseth is skirting law by bringing back Confederate names of army bases US defense secretary reverted to Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, but the men they honor aren’t role models

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Maga influencer and de facto national security adviser Laura Loomer holds outsized sway on Trump The 32-year-old was instrumental in high-profile national security firings, and has cheerled the attacks on Iran

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump is not interested in listening to US experts on Iran’s nuclear program The US president is more willing to listen to Israel than his predecessors were and is also deeply suspicious of the CIA

The intelligence on Iran's nuclear program has hardly changed in nearly 20 years.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Will Republican senator Susan Collins stay on the sidelines or take on Trump? Collins has broken with Trump in the past, but so far has been unwilling to use the full power of her committee

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump’s Power Feeds on White Demographic Fears Paranoid about losing their majority status and the power it confers, white Americans keep backing Trump’s racist anti-immigrant policies.

theintercept.com/2025/04/20/t...

Under Trump and Musk, billionaires wield unprecedented influence over US national security Government officials and contractors long controlled spy operations. Now the likes of Musk and Bezos are in control

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

What happened to all the people who said that the Trump-Russia scandal was a hoax?
It was never a hoax. And now he is proving that it was true.

The Hidden History of Trump’s First Trip to Moscow In 1987, a young real estate developer traveled to the Soviet Union. The KGB almost certainly made the trip happen.

www.politico.com/magazine/sto...

Former Intelligence Officer Claims KGB Recruited Trump Alnur Mussayev alleged Trump was given the codename “Krasnov”.

www.thedailybeast.com/former-intel...

“Just go cover the hell out of (Trump) without sitting there in the press pool. Maybe it will be liberating,” @jamesrisen.bsky.social advises the AP. “If (you) have guts and nerve you find other ways to cover people.” The Washington press corps has become too accostomed to being stenographers.

There's Plenty of Evidence That Trump Sought to Block the Russia Probe, but It Will Take More Than That to Bring Him Down Given Trump's conflicting explanations for firing former FBI Director James Comey, it may be difficult to prove his intent beyond a reasonable doubt.

The third part of my series from 2018.
theintercept.com/2018/05/31/t...

A Key Trump-Russia Intermediary Has Been Missing for Months, as the Case for Collusion Grows Stronger The relationship between a young American adviser and an academic with shadowy ties to Moscow reveals a secret channel between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

The second part of my multi-part series in 2018 about Trump and Russia.
theintercept.com/2018/04/12/t...

Is Donald Trump a Traitor? Americans must live with the uncertainty of not knowing whether Trump has the best interests of the United States or those of Russia at heart.

I wrote this in 2018, and the question still stands: Is Donald Trump a traitor?
theintercept.com/2018/02/16/t...

Why is the Army Still Honoring Confederate Generals? The U.S. Army has faced almost no resistance to bases named for prominent confederate white supremacists.

Braxton Bragg was not only a major slaveholder. He was also the most incompetent and widely hated general in the Confederate Army, who got routed by Grant at Missionary Ridge. Confederate officers serving under him demanded that Jefferson Davis dismiss him.

theintercept.com/2019/10/06/a...

WHATEVER IT TAKES | Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions Official Trailer YouTube video by Xavier LaFlamme

This never gets old.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlwm...

Jayden Daniels is a machine

2024 Season Recap | Washington Commanders | NFL YouTube video by Washington Commanders

The Official Recap of the Washington Commanders' amazing season
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIQR...

Hail Mary TD! Commanders beat Bears on Daniels' 52-yard TD pass to Brown at buzzer YouTube video by NFL

The Hail Mary by the Washington Commanders to defeat the Chicago Bears is the NFL's Moment of the Year.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRt-...

Jayden Daniels named Offensive Rookie of the Year; see full list of NFL Honors winners Daniels won the award in a landslide as he received 49 of 50 first-place votes with Raiders tight end Brock Bowers getting the other.

For @theathletic.bsky.social: Jayden Daniels wins AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/611...

Jayden Daniels is the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year! 🔥

#NFL  #JaydenDaniels #NFLHonors

Trump Blames Immigrant Surge for Housing Crisis. Most Economists Disagree. The former president often implies that deportations will bring down housing costs. Reality is more complicated.

This was the worst campaign story of 2024.
Trump plans mass deportations. Will that help make housing more affordable?

www.nytimes.com/2024/10/11/b...

Why the Media Won’t Report the Truth About Trump The political press has doubled down on horse-race coverage of the election, overlooking the threat Trump poses to democracy.

I have spent my entire life in journalism, and the press coverage of the 2024 campaign was the worst I've ever seen.

theintercept.com/2024/08/28/t...

Media’s Biggest Failures James Risen discusses press missteps in the Trump era with David Bralow, The Intercept’s general counsel, on The Intercept Briefing podcast.

The press focused on horse race coverage during the 2024 campaign and failed to warn Americans about the threat Trump posed. That has made the mainstream press irrelevant today.
theintercept.com/2025/01/03/i...

Americans Need a Closing Argument Against Trump Too many Americans seem to be ignoring the risks that another Trump presidency would pose to the U.S. This is a warning to them.

I told you so, part 2

theintercept.com/2024/10/22/c...

On Israel, Trump Is Even Worse Than Biden Donald Trump and his MAGA cult of Christian nationalists would never force Israel to accept a ceasefire — or a Palestinian state.

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.

theintercept.com/2024/03/04/t...

Now, is the press going to continue the false narrative that Trump and Republicans are good for the economy?

The press consistently failed to point out that wages were growing faster than prices during much of Biden's presidency. growhttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1351276/wage-growth-vs-inflation-us/th since January 2023.

Under Biden, U.S. oil production reached an all time high. The U.S. produced more crude oil than any country ever.
You will have to ask political pundits how they think this fits in with what they claim was Biden's "woke" agenda.

www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...