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...
I read Rubio’s discussion of “civilizational erasure” as him:
1) dutifully carrying water for others in the administration and
2) trying to position himself to compete in a future GOP primary.
1) dutifully carrying water for others in the administration and
2) trying to position himself to compete in a future GOP primary.
Rubio's speech in Munich warned of the "civilizational erasure" of Europe and the ills of "mass migration." He said the US aims to save European culture. And he pushed for more defense spending. Rubio hit these themes in a friendlier tone than Vance. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/w...
Rubio Stresses Shared History to Europeans but Warns of ‘Civilizational Erasure’ in Munich
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I read Rubio’s discussion of “civilizational erasure” as him:
1) dutifully carrying water for others in the administration and
2) trying to position himself to compete in a future GOP primary.
1) dutifully carrying water for others in the administration and
2) trying to position himself to compete in a future GOP primary.
First skate ski of the season.
February 14, 2026 at 3:47 PM
First skate ski of the season.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
@ishaantharoor.bsky.social wrote The Washington Post's WorldView column for its flagship newsletter on international affairs. It had around half a million subscribers when management eliminated it — and Ishaan's position — last week. You can continue to follow his work by signing up here ⬇️
Dear friends on Bluesky, it's been an overwhelming week since the mass layoff at the Post. I'll be continuing the work and would be so grateful if you sign up here to keep up with my future journalism. docs.google.com/forms/d/1dlh...
Ishaan Tharoor — Follow my work
Please share your email address so I can keep you posted.
docs.google.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
@ishaantharoor.bsky.social wrote The Washington Post's WorldView column for its flagship newsletter on international affairs. It had around half a million subscribers when management eliminated it — and Ishaan's position — last week. You can continue to follow his work by signing up here ⬇️
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...
There’s a risk that this lawless premeditated killing spree fades into background noise, like the neglected but intensified U.S. bombing campaign in Somalia.
More lawless slaughter at sea.
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
February 14, 2026 at 11:13 AM
There’s a risk that this lawless premeditated killing spree fades into background noise, like the neglected but intensified U.S. bombing campaign in Somalia.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
More lawless slaughter at sea.
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 AM
More lawless slaughter at sea.
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
"Rubio even made a nod to the impact of German immigrants, who 'dramatically improved the quality of our beer.' Why those immigrants were good for America and others now are not was not clear."
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
Update from Steven Erlanger
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 9:08 AM
"Rubio even made a nod to the impact of German immigrants, who 'dramatically improved the quality of our beer.' Why those immigrants were good for America and others now are not was not clear."
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
The @wsj.com needing to provide a stepwise guide for adults to starting a fire is a bit on the nose.
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Why the Traditional Wood-Burning Fireplace Is Facing Extinction
Homeowners still love a crackling, cozy fire. But environmental concerns, construction barriers and the lack of skills needed to build them are turning wood-burners into a ‘vanishing art.’
www.wsj.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:50 AM
The @wsj.com needing to provide a stepwise guide for adults to starting a fire is a bit on the nose.
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
The “Secretary of War” remains preoccupied with Culture War.
New: Military officers could soon find dozens of top colleges and universities across the US (list in replies) abruptly off limits for tuition assistance as part of Hegseth’s campaign against schools he describes as being biased against the US military
www.cnn.com/2026/02/13/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/13/p...
Pentagon may bar tuition aid for top universities in Hegseth’s crackdown on ‘biased’ schools | CNN Politics
Military officers could soon find dozens of top colleges and universities across the United States abruptly off limits for tuition assistance as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign again...
www.cnn.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:44 AM
The “Secretary of War” remains preoccupied with Culture War.
More lawless slaughter at sea.
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 AM
More lawless slaughter at sea.
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
First strike in the Caribbean in a few months.
As usual, the “designated terrorist organizations” (note plural) supposedly operating the vessel are unidentified.
And no details on the victims smeared as “narco-terrorists.”
Well, I’m reassured that components of DHS should be blazing away at the sky with anti-drone lasers.
Q: Can you confirm that CBP actually hit a party balloon it thought was a drone with a laser? And why wasn't that coordinated with the FAA?
KRISTI NOEM: You know, this was a joint agency task force, um, mission that was undertaken. And um, we're continuing to work on communication
*ends presser*
KRISTI NOEM: You know, this was a joint agency task force, um, mission that was undertaken. And um, we're continuing to work on communication
*ends presser*
February 13, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Well, I’m reassured that components of DHS should be blazing away at the sky with anti-drone lasers.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
WOW. Incredible. This is the case in which DHS claimed that ICE officers had been attacked with a shovel and fired back in self-defense. Evidence since suggests an ICE officer fired through a closed door and struck someone on the other side.
Will DHS retract the prior claims?
Will DHS retract the prior claims?
February 13, 2026 at 7:24 PM
WOW. Incredible. This is the case in which DHS claimed that ICE officers had been attacked with a shovel and fired back in self-defense. Evidence since suggests an ICE officer fired through a closed door and struck someone on the other side.
Will DHS retract the prior claims?
Will DHS retract the prior claims?
Recalling once again the historic victory over the Houthis in Operation Rough Rider.
Trump: "We won World War 1. We won everything. World War 2. And everything before, during, and a little bit after except we fought a little bit differently. We fought to be politically correct. We were a politically correct force with the presidents. But now we have a real force."
February 13, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Recalling once again the historic victory over the Houthis in Operation Rough Rider.
February 13, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Tapping the sign
One point I’ve been banging on about in interviews the last few weeks is that the mere threat of the use of force by the U.S. President is illegal both under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter but also the U.S. Constitution by virtue of the Take Care Clause.
February 13, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Tapping the sign
Administration operating so smoothly
Firing a pilot for leaving Kristi Noem's blanket behind. Berating staff when she's not on TV enough. Inside the constant chaos at DHS.
A Pilot Fired Over Kristi Noem’s Missing Blanket and the Constant Chaos Inside DHS
Secretary faces fire for confrontational immigration crackdown and self-promotional style; White House to wind down Minnesota operations.
on.wsj.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Administration operating so smoothly
Reality aside, the administration’s victory narratives are notable.
Leavitt: "Homan was able to achieve a level of cooperation w/local police to arrest left-wing agitators when they engage in unlawful behavior, which has led to a calmer situation. You are no longer seeing videos of them breaking up ICE operations are continuing. Nothing will stop President Trump."
February 13, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Reality aside, the administration’s victory narratives are notable.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Why keep thousands of people alive when you can instead make one man feel safe and special?
Exclusive: White House uses USAID funds for budget director Vought's security, documents show
The White House budget office is using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's budget chief and an archit...
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Why keep thousands of people alive when you can instead make one man feel safe and special?
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Given news that US forces will (finally) withdraw from al-Tanf garrison in Syria, reposting my @foreignaffairs.com essay from 2022 on how multiple US administrations played games with the law to conduct military operations in that country.
www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syr...
www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syr...
An Unauthorized War
The list of adversaries U.S. forces are fighting in Syria raises questions about the underlying legal rationales for the U.S. deployment.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Given news that US forces will (finally) withdraw from al-Tanf garrison in Syria, reposting my @foreignaffairs.com essay from 2022 on how multiple US administrations played games with the law to conduct military operations in that country.
www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syr...
www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syr...
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Yesterday we learned that the Department of Justice is monitoring and tracking members of Congress’s searches of the Epstein files. There’s no sugar coating it: the administration is spying on lawmakers as they exercise their constitutional oversight responsibilities. 1/10
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Yesterday we learned that the Department of Justice is monitoring and tracking members of Congress’s searches of the Epstein files. There’s no sugar coating it: the administration is spying on lawmakers as they exercise their constitutional oversight responsibilities. 1/10
When politics dictates the science
BREAKING: The EPA revokes scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health, removing a key basis for the climate change fight.
Live updates: Trump's EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned US fight against climate change
The Trump administration revoked a scientific finding at the center of U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, a significant rollback of regulations.
bit.ly
February 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM
When politics dictates the science
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JUST IN: Judge BOASBERG has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of Venezuelan men illegally deported under the Alien Enemies Act and who are currently in countries other than Venezuela.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
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