John Hayward

National Security Deputy Editor

John Hayward

Follow John Hayward

I'm a conservative because there is so much about the American tradition that is worth conserving. I worry that people aren't as frightened of authoritarians and totalitarians as they should be. Freedom and capitalism are inseparable, because without capitalism, freedom just means shouting your opinion and hoping somebody important is listening.

National security, technology, global political and economic strategy

Associate in Arts, Edison Community College, 1986

Hayward has been a writer for Breitbart News Network since 2013. Prior to that, he worked for two decades in computers and business consulting before becoming an amateur blogger under the pseudonym "Doctor Zero" for Hot Air. As he developed a large following, he also received criticism for being an anonymous voice, so he decided to reveal his full name and go public. Shortly thereafter, he began doing radio interviews across the country for his writing and was contacted by Human Events in Washington, D.C. to become a full-time professional columnist.

Management at Breitbart News noticed his work and invited him to join Breitbart.com. Hayward jumped at the opportunity to "join a platform with so much reach, to be a part of something so huge."

Hayward's work has been cited by radio and television outlets from Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin to Fox News. His essays have been incorporated into several high school and college textbooks, and he gives occasional lectures on media analysis and writing online. He frequently guest-hosts Breitbart News Tonight on SiriusXM channel 125, the Patriot Channel.

Articles by John Hayward

Reports: U.S. Military Embraces Ukraine’s Counter-Drone Technology

The U.S. military is reportedly working with Ukrainian drone warfare experts to deploy counter-drone defenses at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in the latest example of the Ukrainians marketing their hard-fought battlefield drone expertise to allied nations.

TOPSHOT - A Ukrainian serviceman operates a drone during the 'Wild Drones' drone

Former Samsung Researcher Jailed for Leaking Chip Tech to China

The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday announced that a former researcher for South Korean electronics giant Samsung has been sentenced to seven years in prison for leaking chip technology to China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT).

Visitors walk past the logo of Samsung Electronics during the 2026 World IT Show in Seoul

Iran Claims It Will Not Join Pakistan Peace Talks

Iranian state media reported on Sunday night that Tehran is not planning to attend peace talks announced by President Donald Trump and scheduled for Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday.

President Pezeshkian

Trump Says No Ground Troops Needed to Secure Iran’s Uranium

President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran has agreed to surrender its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, and the Iranians are evidently willing to deliver the material to inspectors, ensuring it will not be necessary to send in U.S. ground forces to secure it.

President Donald J. Trump participates in a Ratepayer Protection Pledge roundtable, Wednes

Syrian Army Takes Control of Last U.S. Military Base

The Syrian Army on Thursday took control of the last U.S. military base on Syrian soil, with assurances that Syria’s new government can handle the job of controlling the Islamic State and other terrorist threats.

Syrian army soldiers fly a drone after Syrian government troops took control of the area f

Ukraine Claims World’s First All-Drone Battle Victory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this week that his forces scored the world’s first all-drone ground battle victory, capturing a Russian position with only robots on the ground supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In this photo provided by Ukraine's 65th Mechanised Brigade press service on April 10

Report: Iran Executions Hit Three-Decade High

Two European non-governmental organizations (NGOs) published a report this week that found Iran conducted 1,639 executions in 2025 — an increase of 68 percent over the previous year, and the largest number of executions since 1989.

Title: Iran War Image ID: 26091481722963 Article: Iranian police special forces stand guar

OPEC Oil Production Slows Drastically Due to Iran War

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) released its latest monthly report on Monday, revealing that oil production fell by 27 percent in March due to Iran using terrorist threats to close the Strait of Hormuz.

ERBIL, IRAQ - MARCH 17: A worker at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17,

Reports: Pakistan Preparing More Iran-U.S. Talks

As the standoff between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz continues, Pakistani and Iranian officials claim a new round of peace talks could be held in Pakistan by the end of the week.

Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, speaks dur

Trump Blockade Threatens Iran’s Military-Industrial Complex

President Donald Trump’s blockade of Iran could be poised to deliver a staggering blow to the Iranian economy, including the cash flows needed by the regime to pay the host of soldiers and thugs it requires to stay in power.

TEHRAN, IRAN - APRIL 12: A view shows a large billboard displayed at Vanak Square in Tehra

Zelensky Reveals Ukrainian Forces Shot Down Iranian Drones in Middle East

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Wednesday that Ukrainian anti-drone personnel were deployed to the Middle East nations attacked by Iran during Operation Epic Fury, and were able to counter Iran’s Shahed drones with their own interceptor technology.

FILE - Ukrainian air defense intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air in the third Russia aerial

Indonesia Threatens YouTube for Violating Ban on Social Media for Teens

Indonesian Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said Thursday that Google’s YouTube platform has not complied with Jakarta’s ban on social media accounts for children under 16 and could face “sanctions” if it does not begin meeting its obligations under the law.

social media indonesia

Drone Strike Kills 30 at Wedding in Darfur

A drone strike in the town of Kutum, located in the north of Sudan’s Darfur region, killed at least 30 civilians on Wednesday. According to the United Nations, both women and children were among the victims.

An ambulance drives in a border reception centre (Village 8), housing Ethiopian refugees w