Brian Finucane
@bcfinucane.bsky.social
Senior Adviser, US Program, International Crisis Group. Editor at Just Security. Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law. Ex State Dept Lawyer. War Powers| Use of Force| Counterterrorism| Law of War| War Crimes| Arms Sales
Pinned
Upending the International Order
Through both word and deed, President Trump has been aggressively undermining the rule of law internationally.
www.justsecurity.org
As I wrote last spring:
"In short, the United States behaving as a predatory hegemon unconstrained by the UN Charter and threatening other states with territorial conquest...may spur more countries to acquire their own atomic insurance policies."
www.justsecurity.org/109537/upend...
"In short, the United States behaving as a predatory hegemon unconstrained by the UN Charter and threatening other states with territorial conquest...may spur more countries to acquire their own atomic insurance policies."
www.justsecurity.org/109537/upend...
The Trump administration’s lawless killing spree continues with three more maritime strikes—two in the Pacific and one in the Caribbean.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
February 17, 2026 at 4:29 PM
The Trump administration’s lawless killing spree continues with three more maritime strikes—two in the Pacific and one in the Caribbean.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
Pleased to speak to @nickturse.bsky.social about USG rescue efforts for the survivors of boat strikes.
“It does not appear as if they were eager to rescue additional survivors and then be faced with the question of ‘what do we do with them?’”
“It does not appear as if they were eager to rescue additional survivors and then be faced with the question of ‘what do we do with them?’”
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Sent a Rescue Plane for Boat Strike Survivors. It Took 45 Hours to Arrive.
In seas that could kill a person within an hour, it took nearly two days for a rescue plane to arrive.
New from @airwars.bsky.social and @theintercept.com
theintercept.com/2026/02/17/b...
In seas that could kill a person within an hour, it took nearly two days for a rescue plane to arrive.
New from @airwars.bsky.social and @theintercept.com
theintercept.com/2026/02/17/b...
U.S. Sent a Rescue Plane for Boat Strike Survivors. It Took 45 Hours to Arrive.
In seas that could kill a person within an hour, it took nearly two days for a rescue plane to arrive.
theintercept.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Pleased to speak to @nickturse.bsky.social about USG rescue efforts for the survivors of boat strikes.
“It does not appear as if they were eager to rescue additional survivors and then be faced with the question of ‘what do we do with them?’”
“It does not appear as if they were eager to rescue additional survivors and then be faced with the question of ‘what do we do with them?’”
Today’s edition of the Article I Crisis.
BORIS SANCHEZ: You had administration officials suggesting Pretti was brandishing a weapon, and we all saw that wasn't the case. Are you willing to just blindly trust the work of ICE without judicial oversight?
REP. MARK ALFORD: Look, I trust what Homan, DHS, Noem, and President Trump are doing
REP. MARK ALFORD: Look, I trust what Homan, DHS, Noem, and President Trump are doing
February 16, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Today’s edition of the Article I Crisis.
Time for a rewatch of Lonesome Dove.
February 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Time for a rewatch of Lonesome Dove.
The essence of the Big Lie
Ossoff: "Among today's false prophets are the election deniers who indulge this president's obsession with overturning the 2020 election. Hear me when I say this -- they tell a lie so absurd, and therefore so debasing, that the act of telling it proves the teller's total and humiliating submission."
February 16, 2026 at 5:40 PM
The essence of the Big Lie
Reposted by Brian Finucane
"The Constitution vests the power of declaring War with Congress, therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject, and authorized such a measure."
What quaint notions that George Washington fellow had.
What quaint notions that George Washington fellow had.
February 2, 2026 at 7:16 PM
"The Constitution vests the power of declaring War with Congress, therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject, and authorized such a measure."
What quaint notions that George Washington fellow had.
What quaint notions that George Washington fellow had.
Powder and poor visibility
February 16, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Powder and poor visibility
Dropping three-year-old off at ski school:
“Daddy, I’m going to ski faster than you.”
“Daddy, I’m going to ski faster than you.”
February 16, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Dropping three-year-old off at ski school:
“Daddy, I’m going to ski faster than you.”
“Daddy, I’m going to ski faster than you.”
Hard-boiled war powers dialogue for the day.
February 16, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Hard-boiled war powers dialogue for the day.
Contempt for the rule of law is a constant with POTUS—as illustrated at other times by his sanctions on ICC personnel and his approach to arms sales to Israel.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/w...
Trump’s Stinging Attack on Israel’s President Touches a Nerve
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Contempt for the rule of law is a constant with POTUS—as illustrated at other times by his sanctions on ICC personnel and his approach to arms sales to Israel.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/w...
Threatening annexation against a NATO ally can be a little disruptive and distracting it turns out.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
In Munich, Lawmakers Concede Scars Remain After Trump’s Greenland Threat
www.nytimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Threatening annexation against a NATO ally can be a little disruptive and distracting it turns out.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
Reposted by Brian Finucane
“In less than a year, DHS has attacked the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 14th amendments to the US Constitution, the writ of habeas corpus, the independent judiciary, and much more,” states David Bier before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
February 13, 2026 at 8:03 PM
“In less than a year, DHS has attacked the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 14th amendments to the US Constitution, the writ of habeas corpus, the independent judiciary, and much more,” states David Bier before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
Carefully inspecting with a headlamp all the dark corners of the ski chalet to reassure my kindergartener that there are no “vampire bats or brontosaurus” lurking there.
February 15, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Carefully inspecting with a headlamp all the dark corners of the ski chalet to reassure my kindergartener that there are no “vampire bats or brontosaurus” lurking there.
President of Peace
Trump told Netanyahu he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-n...
Trump told Netanyahu he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program, sources say
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December at Mar-a-Lago with Mr. Trump saying the U.S. would support strikes if no deal was made with Iran.
www.cbsnews.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:37 PM
President of Peace
Reposted by Brian Finucane
This El Paso mess could have been avoided with a properly functioning NSC and a properly functioning interagency lawyers group to resolve the legal disagreement (getting OLC to adjudicate if necessary).
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/u...
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:46 AM
This El Paso mess could have been avoided with a properly functioning NSC and a properly functioning interagency lawyers group to resolve the legal disagreement (getting OLC to adjudicate if necessary).
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/u...
Getting back into the swing of things
February 15, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Getting back into the swing of things
Given the administration’s actions over the last year, perverse for Rubio to laud Europe for the contributions of the “rule of law, the universities, and the scientific revolution” in his Munich remarks.
February 15, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Given the administration’s actions over the last year, perverse for Rubio to laud Europe for the contributions of the “rule of law, the universities, and the scientific revolution” in his Munich remarks.
“Dart frogs in captivity do not produce this toxin and it is not found naturally in Russia. There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s body.
Russia has brazenly developed and deployed this poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
Russia has brazenly developed and deployed this poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
UK government: “consistent, collaborative work has confirmed through laboratory testing that the deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs (epibatidine) was found in samples from Alexei Navalny’s body and highly likely resulted in his death” www.gov.uk/government/n...
UK confirms Russia poisoned Navalny in prison with rare toxin
UK and partners are today exposing the tragic circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny's death and have confirmed there was poison found in samples from his body.
www.gov.uk
February 14, 2026 at 10:22 PM
“Dart frogs in captivity do not produce this toxin and it is not found naturally in Russia. There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s body.
Russia has brazenly developed and deployed this poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
Russia has brazenly developed and deployed this poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
Best I can tell, rationale for bombing Syria is retaliation against remnants of ISIS (who Trump previously declared defeated) for killing US troops there.
US didn’t intervene against ISIS in 2014 due to threats against the homeland.
And Trump admin doesn’t seem to be claiming any such threat now.
US didn’t intervene against ISIS in 2014 due to threats against the homeland.
And Trump admin doesn’t seem to be claiming any such threat now.
US military reports a series of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria
US military reports a series of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria
The attacks came in retaliation for the Dec. 13 ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter.
dlvr.it
February 14, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Best I can tell, rationale for bombing Syria is retaliation against remnants of ISIS (who Trump previously declared defeated) for killing US troops there.
US didn’t intervene against ISIS in 2014 due to threats against the homeland.
And Trump admin doesn’t seem to be claiming any such threat now.
US didn’t intervene against ISIS in 2014 due to threats against the homeland.
And Trump admin doesn’t seem to be claiming any such threat now.
Vows of accountability and collecting potential evidence are vital at this moment.
The Illinois Accountability Commission is gathering precisely the kind of evidence that will hold ICE and the Trump Administration responsible.
Democratic AGs stress importance of citizen-generated evidence in challenging ICE • Stateline
Cellphone video has emerged as a powerful rebuttal to the Trump administration’s version of immigration enforcement incidents.
stateline.org
February 14, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Vows of accountability and collecting potential evidence are vital at this moment.
Great event, featuring opening remarks from @annikennorway.bsky.social and discussion between @ishaantharoor.bsky.social and @crisisgroup.org President @comfortero.crisisgroup.org of our 2026 10 Conflicts to Watch.
Peace ≠ Appeasement.
Ambassador @annikennorway.bsky.social hosted an important fireside chat and reception marking International International Crisis Group’s 10 Conflicts to Watch 2026.
Ambassador @annikennorway.bsky.social hosted an important fireside chat and reception marking International International Crisis Group’s 10 Conflicts to Watch 2026.
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Great event, featuring opening remarks from @annikennorway.bsky.social and discussion between @ishaantharoor.bsky.social and @crisisgroup.org President @comfortero.crisisgroup.org of our 2026 10 Conflicts to Watch.
The low cost option would be not doing any of that.
The Trump administration says Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured at minimum cost to the US taxpayer. Bloomberg calculations show the price tag of the ships deployed in the Caribbean hit more than $20 million a day at its peak.
Trump's Caribbean Surge Nears $3 Billion Price Tag So Far
The operations around Venezuela that eventually led to the capture of its president pulled in nearly a fifth of the US Navy’s surface fleet at a cost of more than $20 million a day.
bloom.bg
February 14, 2026 at 6:53 PM
The low cost option would be not doing any of that.
I’ve had some DIY mishaps and even some injuries.
But none quite like (allegedly) baking my brain with a homemade raygun.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
But none quite like (allegedly) baking my brain with a homemade raygun.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Researcher skeptical of ‘Havana syndrome’ tested secret weapon on himself
The CIA investigated a Norwegian government experiment with a pulsed-energy machine in which a researcher built and tested a “Havana syndrome” device on himself.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:49 PM
I’ve had some DIY mishaps and even some injuries.
But none quite like (allegedly) baking my brain with a homemade raygun.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
But none quite like (allegedly) baking my brain with a homemade raygun.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
That’s two of my alma matres
February 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
That’s two of my alma matres