Journeys With Jani

Let’s Talk About It…

I will begin with this… I’m not debating or arguing with anyone. This is my opinion but also based on fact. If you opt to come at me…well, ok then. Go for it. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

I’ve spent the past few days watching headlines and flashbacks—thinking about Iran, terrorism, our borders, and how different presidents have handled it all. I’m not a policy expert. I’m just a woman who pays attention, reads beyond the clickbait, and knows firsthand what service and sacrifice look like. This has taken me all day and then some to put down.

See, my family’s worn the uniform for generations—all the way back to the American Revolution. Both of my granddads served. So did several cousins. And my own son was a United States Marine (is—once a Marine, always a Marine. He earned it).

So no matter where you fall politically, let me say this plainly: you support the military, or you sit down. They are the 1% standing for all of us.

Now… let’s take a look at Iran and how we got to where we are today. Because this story didn’t start with Trump—or Biden—or even Obama. It started decades ago. But for our purposes, we’ll begin at 9/11.

📜 A Quick Breakdown: U.S. Presidents & Iran (Post-9/11)

George W. Bush (2001–2009):

Bush came out swinging. After 9/11, he called Iran part of the “Axis of Evil.” Sanctions tightened. Backdoor operations started. But here’s the kicker: by invading Iraq, we unintentionally gave Iran more power in the region. They filled the vacuum we created.

Barack Obama (2009–2017):

Enter diplomacy. Obama brokered the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA). Iran got billions in frozen assets released, and in return, they promised to scale back nuclear development. But their missiles? Their proxy militias? Those weren’t part of the deal—and they didn’t stop. Iran played the long game, and we mostly looked the other way.

Donald Trump, First Term (2017–2021):

Trump tore the deal up and dropped the hammer. He reinstated sanctions, squeezed Iran’s economy, and made headlines when he ordered the strike that killed Iran’s top general, Qasem Soleimani. It was bold. Some say reckless. Others—like me—call it a reminder that the United States doesn’t play around. And as a side note, keep in mind we the people have no idea what is going on 100%! Remember “Men in Black?” Part of the quote made by Tommy Lee Jones is true in real life… “the only way these people can get on with their happy lives is that they DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT!” 

Joe Biden (2021–Jan 2025):

Tried to bring diplomacy back. Reached out to restart the JCPOA, which failed. Approved the release of $6 billion in frozen funds in exchange for hostages. The money was earmarked for humanitarian use, but let’s be honest: it freed up other resources for Iran to use how they pleased. Meanwhile, Iran marched forward with uranium enrichment.

Donald Trump, Second Term (2025–Today):

Now he’s back. Stronger, louder, and more resolved. Since returning to office, he’s reimposed full sanctions, bolstered Israel’s defense, and made it clear there will be no more games with Iran. Diplomacy isn’t on the table unless Iran fully disarms its nuclear ambitions. So far, they haven’t blinked. But neither has he.

🚪 The Other Door: Border Security & Common Sense

Now here’s where my neck gets a little red, and not from the Georgia sun.

While all of this is going on overseas, we’ve allowed hundreds of thousands of people to walk right into our country—completely unvetted. We don’t know who most of them are, what they believe, or what they’re carrying. That’s not a political statement. That’s national security 101.

The truth is, not everyone who crosses our border is here to make a better life. Some of them are here to exploit our weakness. And Iran? They’ve got their hands in more pots than you think—from Central America to sleeper cells. You don’t need a tinfoil hat to connect the dots. You just need to pay attention.

🧠 Real Talk, Not Fear Tactics

Look, I support Trump. I support strong borders. I support staring our enemies in the face and saying, “Not here. Not ever.” But I also support truth over tribalism. Every president made moves that brought us here—some smart, some not. Ignoring that does no one any good.

We can’t afford to pretend everything is fine. We can’t afford to act like the military will always catch what we refuse to see. And we sure as hell can’t keep apologizing for being strong.

Final Thought:

If we’re going to fix what’s broken, it starts with being honest. About Iran. About our border. About leadership. And about the fact that our safety isn’t guaranteed—it’s protected by the few willing to fight for it.

So thank you to those who serve. The 1% holding the line for the rest of us.

Now let’s hold the line here at home, too.

XOXO, Jani

📚 Footnotes:

1. George W. Bush, “State of the Union Address,” January 29, 2002. White House Archives

2. “What the Iran Deal Accomplished,” Brookings Institution. brookings.edu

3. “What Is the Iran Nuclear Deal?” Council on Foreign Relations. cfr.org

4. U.S. Department of Treasury briefing on JCPOA and asset release. home.treasury.gov 5. 5. “Qasem Soleimani: US kills top Iranian general,” BBC, January 3, 2020. bbc.com

6. “Biden administration unfreezes $6 billion in Iranian funds as part of prisoner swap,” Reuters, September 18, 2023. reuters.com

7. “Trump to leave G7 summit early and return to Washington,” The Guardian, June 16, 2025. theguardian.com

8. “US airstrikes hit Iran’s nuclear facilities,” Associated Press, June 22, 2025. apnews.com

9. “Iran bombing raid causes ‘severe damage’ to nuclear infrastructure,” Washington Post, June 22, 2025. washingtonpost.com

10. “Tom Homan warns about border gotaways and terror risk,” Fox News, April 2025. foxnews.com

11. “Iranian Agents and the Border Threat,” Homeland Security Today, March 2025. hstoday.us