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Brian Finucane

@bcfinucane.bsky.social

22K followers 3.3K following 6.8K posts

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

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · Apr 15

NEW:

My commentary for @crisisgroup.org on how the Trump administration has repurposed the terrorism framing and applied it to cartels, migrants, and domestic political opponents.

www.crisisgroup.org/united-state...

The Trump Administration’s “Wars on Terror” – Old and New | Crisis Group

The Trump White House is repurposing the potent framing of “terrorism” to go after a new set of enemies – drug cartels, migrants and domestic political opponents. Its words and deeds pose serious risk...

www.crisisgroup.org

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Reposted by Brian Finucane

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 15h

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doesn't like the military's “stupid rules of engagement.”

Daniel Maurer writes that this view is "dangerously limited," especially as troops are deployed to American cities.

www.justsecurity.org/122191/hegse...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s War with the Rules of Engagement

Hegseth’s attack on the ROE demonstrates a dangerously limited – and legally incorrect – view about these rules and what they are for.

www.justsecurity.org

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 13h

From my colleague who used to head the Treaty Office at the US Department of State.

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 16h

Trump issued an order pledging to defend Qatar’s security:
- Is it binding?
- Is the pledge mutual?
- Why wasn’t Congress involved?
- What are the policy risks?

Leading treaty expert Mike Mattler (former State Dept.) analyzes these Qs and more:

www.justsecurity.org/122118/trump...

Some Questions About Trump’s Order Pledging to Defend Qatar’s Security

Trump's EO on Qatar raises a number of important legal and policy questions that merit careful consideration by Congress and the public.

www.justsecurity.org

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Reposted by Brian Finucane

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

As I wrote in April, the Trump administration is repurposing the “war on terror” framing against a new set of supposed enemies—both foreign and domestic.

DHS Secretary lumping together Antifa, MS-13, & TdA with ISIS.

www.crisisgroup.org/united-state...

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

IIRC they were both decent on war powers compared to this.

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

It is a miracle weight loss plan

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

“Mr. Maduro has continued to accept deportation flights from the United States despite the rising hostility from the Trump administration.”

If U.S. directly attacks Venezuela, I expect cooperation on deportation halts.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Qatar Pushes U.S.-Venezuela Diplomacy as Trump Focuses on Military Action

www.nytimes.com

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

The commander in chief, ladies and gentlemen

Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 1d

WSJ: President Trump believed his Truth Social post demanding prosecutions of James Comey and other political foes was a private message to his attorney general, and "and was surprised to learn it was public."

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, there is an established playbook.

These killings are gratuitous and performative.

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Tariffs also whiten your teeth, make you look younger, and cure cancer.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump to Hannity: "The tariffs have brought peace to the world. I'm telling you they brought peace to the world."

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Fetterman

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

SecDef still laser focused on the only war that matters:

MAGA Culture War

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Hegseth’s sprawling hunt for Charlie Kirk critics spans nearly 300 investigations

The inquiry, resulting in a smattering of disciplinary action so far, follows an extraordinary directive aimed at silencing criticism of the slain activist and Trump supporter.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

These are the stakes

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Schiff: "You begin to wonder -- do they believe they have the authority by putting some groups on a list, even domestic groups, to use lethal force against them, with no trial, no due process, no nothing? The reality is we can't rule that out."

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

The Article I Crisis.

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

48-51 vote on Schiff-Kaine resolution to block further strikes in the Caribbean.

Resolution does not pass.

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

“Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine said Wednesday that he and other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a classified briefing this week, were denied access to the Pentagon’s legal opinion about whether the boat strikes adhered to U.S. law.”

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump has yet to provide Congress hard evidence that targeted boats carried drugs, officials say

The Trump administration hasn't provided evidence to lawmakers that recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats were justified.

apnews.com

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

POTUS is personally invested in this deal.

Remains to be seen whether there will be the necessary USG followthrough to make it stick.

I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Nope, Senator Risch, drug smuggling is not an armed attack.

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Senate floor debate now:
www.senate.gov/legislative/...

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Somewhat challenging for defenders of the Trump administration’s lawless killings in the Caribbean (like Senator Cotton) to make the case for them when the administration won’t even tell us who they are targeting.

“We don’t know who we’re blowing up, but we can’t stop now!”

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Quite the lawless killing spree the Trump administration has embarked on in the Caribbean.

www.reuters.com/world/americ...

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Huh

And who did Antifa oppose back then?

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

From Donald Trump's Roundtable on Antifa just now —
"Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost 100 years in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany."
— special guest Jack Posobiec

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Is it good when the commander in chief is untethered to reality?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Moreover, if the Trump administration wants to use military force, it should come to Congress and request authorization as provided for in the US Constitution.

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Complete nonsense from Secretary Rubio.

The Trump administration is engaged in lawless, premeditated killings without any congressional authorization.

Schiff-Kaine resolution moves to stop that lawless killing.

The resolution would not affect authority to defend against real armed attacks.

The Schiff-Kaine resolution is up for a vote in the Senate today.

This resolution aims to strip President Trump of his constitutional authority to protect Americans by authorizing military strikes against narco-terrorists, the Houthis, and other Iranian proxies. This is dangerous — it puts our children, citizens, soldiers, and allies at risk.

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