I served as a Senate staffer in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, and was part of the effort that ultimately resulted in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. In the days and months after the attacks, Washington was shaken in a way that is difficult to convey to those who did not […]
Statement on the January 24, 2026, Minneapolis Shooting For Immediate Release January 24, 2026 The Steady State unequivocally condemns the fatal shooting earlier today in Minneapolis by ICE paramilitary officers, in which a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident was shot and killed at the intersection of 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue. This incident constitutes another lethal […]
A question asked often these days is whether the U.S. is approaching a slide downwards toward authoritarianism. According to a report from The Steady State, an organization of over 300 former national security and intelligence professionals, we are, regrettably, not on the precipice, but moving down that slope. The report, “Accelerating Authoritarian Dynamics: Assessment of […]
Thank you , , , , , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Get more from The Steady State in the Substack app Available for iOS and Android Get the app Powered by WPeMatico
Denver Riggleman, a former Republican member of Congress, reveals the soul-killing costs of trying to uphold the Constitution in a party that upholds Trump first. From affordability to foreign policy, he tells co-hosts Jim Lawler and John Sipher, the consequences for America are profound. Powered by WPeMatico
Contrary to the views of some in this administration, American power was never just about tanks, missiles or aircraft carriers. It was about trust. For decades, allies believed that the United States might be imperfect, sometimes frustrating, often slow but ultimately serious. That, when Washington made commitments, it meant them. That American leadership, while messy, […]
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 360 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, […]
PDF AVAILABLE HERE We assess with high confidence that the cumulative effect of the Trump Administration’s ongoing actions indicates that democratic backsliding continues. While some institutional resistance exists and may be growing, the trajectory poses both immediate and long-term risks to constitutional order and national security. The period from October 1, 2025—January 18, 2026 saw […]
A still frame from a video taken by the ICE agent that fired at Renee Good “It is the policy of the Department of Justice to value and preserve human life.” Department of Justice Policy on the Use of Force (Adopted May 20, 2022) We all have seen and heard them. A picture is worth […]