That Rep. Devin Nunes is critical of President Obama’s strategy for confronting Russia and the Islamic State is hardly surprising.

The California Republican is more hawkish than Obama, and more inclined to advocate for the U.S. playing a central leadership role in confronting international crises. But Nunes also happens to be vying for the chairmanship of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and as a member of the panel, has access to classified material unavailable to his rank-and-file colleagues.