Joel Pollak
Politics • Lifestyle • News • Travel • Writing
I will share my thoughts about American politics, as well as current events in Israel and elsewhere, based on my experiences in the U.S., South Africa, and the Middle East. I will also discuss books and popular culture from the perspective of a somewhat libertarian, religiously observant conservative living in California. I will also share art and ideas that I find useful and helpful, and link to my content at Breitbart News, Amazon, and elsewhere.
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Can one use the term 'regime' in referring to Biden?

I have long resisted the use of the term "regime" in referring to any U.S. administration. Rush Limbaugh used to do it in reference to Obama, partly for the shock value, but it was not meant to be taken seriously as a description.

The term "regime" implies a government that is not elected, and therefore illegitimate. That is why I have never used it -- nor do I think it would be appropriate to describe the Biden administration as a regime for that reason.

But there may be other reasons to describe the Biden administration as a "regime" -- as Lee Smith argues in a forthcoming interview this weekend on Breitbart News Sunday (SiriusXM 125, Sunday, August 28, 4-7 p.m. ET).

Smith points to the behavior of the Department of Justice and the FBI over the past several years. The fact that core parts of our civil service -- especially law enforcement -- are now politicized is a key marker of a "regime" society.

What that means is that we are no longer operating according to an independent set of rules, but according to a system in which the party in power can make up the rules as it goes along, even dictating truth and falsehood.

The only way to oppose a regime effectively is to create opposing factions within the regime -- not to support an opposing political party outside the regime itself. Democratic changes, if they come, will be temporary and rare.

Does this sound shocking? What's shocking is how many examples of regime behavior you start to see once you adopt this new frame. President Biden calling the opposition "semi-fascist" is one example; he ran on "unity!"

Another is Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) of New York telling Republicans that if they don't like the way her state is run, they should leave for Florida, where they presumably belong. It's ugly, shocking, and dismisses half the country.

We've seen that kind of rhetoric from both sides -- but rarely pushed with some enthusiasm from people in positions of power, and here the push is coming almost entirely from Democrats. They are sporting for a fight, or a fissure.

Having been a Democrat once, I can speculate that they are likely acting out of the quiet conviction that if you just apply enough pressure, the other side of the country will "evolve" away (since they are presumed to be more primitive).

Then you can get on with the business of governing the country the way you want it to be governed, and frogmarch everyone toward your left-wing utopia (once you can convince the other left-wingers to agree on a single vision).

How about the differential treatment meted out to Black Lives Matter rioters, almost none of whom were prosecuted, much less jailed; and January 6 rioters, some of whom are still sitting in jail awaiting trial, 18 months after the fact?

Still shocked? Ask yourself if a Republican can live openly as such in a liberal neighborhood. Ask yourself if the same is true in reverse -- and why there might be a different answer to those two questions. This is scary stuff.

This is life under the Biden "regime." It's a democratically-elected government -- I'll acknowledge that. What's wrong is that it's not behaving that way. It says it is defending democracy, while it is destroying liberty and crushing opposition.

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Videos
Posts
Time-lapse sunrise at Temescal Falls
00:00:17
This is what is left of my special place in the forest

Burned, then covered in mudslides and rockslides. The river still flows through it. But we have lost so much. I have to believe the spirit still lives on.

00:00:16
The drive home 💔
00:00:46
Breitbart News Sunday; show rundown (October 5, 2025)

Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.

Please listen, and #bringthemhome.

SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)

Weekly Torah reading: Ha'azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52)

This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.

One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.

"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495834&jewish=Haazinu-Torah-Reading.htm&p=complete

Breitbart News Sunday: September 28, 2028

So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.

Special guests:

  • Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
  • John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
  • Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
  • Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
  • Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"

Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874

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