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profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders
@profsaunders.bsky.social
18K followers 3.2K following 2.2K posts

Professor of Political Science & Director of the Saltzman Institute of War & Peace Studies, Columbia. New Book: The Insiders' Game: How Elites Make War and Peace https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691215808/the-insiders-game .. more

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profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · Feb 5
Hard to think through problems when we are in a mode where the current problem gets eaten by a bigger problem within hours.
18 81 610

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

senatepress.bsky.social
Senate Press Gallery @senatepress.bsky.social · 22h
Senate adopted by voice vote: Kaine amendment #3337 to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq.
6 42 210

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, David R. Miller

kairyssdal.bsky.social
Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 1d
Just 'cause it has to be said every now and then.

GOP Senators and Representatives are obviously okay with...everything...that's happening.
57 320 1.4K

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

adamrothman.bsky.social
Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · 1d
America needs "solidarity among groups who disagree ferociously on many questions, but who agree on the need to keep America democratic and rebuild institutions and social connections to make democracy more robust," explains @himself.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | Where Trump Is Vulnerable and How to Act on It
www.nytimes.com
5 32

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 1d
This speech from @marisakabas.bsky.social is really worth reading.
marisakabas.bsky.social
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 1d
New — I was fortunate to speak in front of students and faculty at Grinnell College in Iowa tonight about the business of independent journalism, the current state of media under Trump 2.0, and billionaire control.

I published my full speech because I thought it might resonate beyond campus:
Truth, morality and independence in journalism under the second Trump regime
My full remarks to students and faculty at Grennell College.
www.thehandbasket.co
28 140

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Blair Fix, Nathan P. Kalmoe

marisakabas.bsky.social
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 1d
New — I was fortunate to speak in front of students and faculty at Grinnell College in Iowa tonight about the business of independent journalism, the current state of media under Trump 2.0, and billionaire control.

I published my full speech because I thought it might resonate beyond campus:
Truth, morality and independence in journalism under the second Trump regime
My full remarks to students and faculty at Grennell College.
www.thehandbasket.co
29 300 1.5K

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Justin Lewis, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

blipstress.bsky.social
violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 1d
An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.
24 340 2K

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Lisa W. Fazio, Elizabeth Saunders , and 11 more

donmoyn.bsky.social
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d
The elimination of USAID is a moral atrocity and all involved made a choice to enable, and then lie about, ending the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) - Mohammed Taher clutched the lifeless body of his 2-year-old son and wept. Ever since his family's food rations stopped arriving at their internment camp in Myanmar in April, the father had watched helplessly as his once-vibrant baby boy weakened, suffering from diarrhea and begging for food. On May 21, exactly two weeks after Taher's little boy died, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat before Congress and declared: "No one has died" because of his government's decision to gut its foreign aid program. Rubio also insisted: "No children are dying on my watch." That, Taher says, "is a lie."
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Reposted by Henry Farrell

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 2d
“This battle holds bigger lessons. The greatest weapon that the forces of regime change possess is the fear of inevitability. If everyone believes that Mr. Trump will succeed in reshaping America, he will.”

A great @himself.bsky.social column in the @nytimes.com.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.
www.nytimes.com
1 11 34

Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Marc Lynch, Ben H. Ansell , and 11 more

himself.bsky.social
Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 2d
"It wanted to signal strength. Instead, it’s revealing its weakness. The administration’s need to break the academy is forcing it to make a desperately risky gamble." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.
www.nytimes.com
12 180 620

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 3d
This was a fascinating conversation @ilascolumbia.bsky.social…check out the video! 👇
siwpscolumbia.bsky.social
Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social · 3d
Last week, SIWPS Director @profsaunders.bsky.social participated in a panel w/ María Alejandra Vélez, @gramsey.bsky.social, & @emoncada.bsky.social titled "Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America.”

Watch the recording via @ilascolumbia.bsky.social ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmtY...
Columbia ILAS | Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America
YouTube video by ILAS Columbia
www.youtube.com
2

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

siwpscolumbia.bsky.social
Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social · 3d
Last week, SIWPS Director @profsaunders.bsky.social participated in a panel w/ María Alejandra Vélez, @gramsey.bsky.social, & @emoncada.bsky.social titled "Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America.”

Watch the recording via @ilascolumbia.bsky.social ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmtY...
Columbia ILAS | Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America
YouTube video by ILAS Columbia
www.youtube.com
1 2

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 3d
Also, residents of DC did not love it either.
4 32

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Brendan Nyhan, Silvia Secchi , and 1 more

charliesavage.bsky.social
Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 4d
C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself

It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself
www.nytimes.com
43 220 440

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Rosemary A. Joyce, David R. Miller , and 2 more

qjurecic.bsky.social
Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 4d
I truly don't understand what people thought was going to happen
marydudziak.bsky.social
Mary Dudziak @marydudziak.bsky.social · 4d
Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected? @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...
Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected? Circular graph showing over half answered: much more than I expected, about a quarter: more than I expected, about an eighth: similar threat to what I expected, small sliver: much less threat than I expected.
170 540 2.7K

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 4d
👇👇👇👇👇👇
lindsaypcohn.bsky.social
Lindsay P Cohn @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social · 4d
Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon
Judge asked federal government lawyer: 'Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judge’s order that you disagree with?'
www.oregonlive.com
3 10

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Elizabeth Saunders, Will Jennings , and 5 more

marydudziak.bsky.social
Mary Dudziak @marydudziak.bsky.social · 4d
Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected? @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...
Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected? Circular graph showing over half answered: much more than I expected, about a quarter: more than I expected, about an eighth: similar threat to what I expected, small sliver: much less threat than I expected.
35 89 270

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Dan Immergluck

reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 4d
Yeah, people need to understand that probably the single biggest reason given in Judge Immergut’s order for blocking the Guard deployment was that the facts on the ground simply did not reflect any serious issues for ICE.

In Chicago there is enough of a difference that it could impact a court case.
anthonymkreis.bsky.social
Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 4d
I think folks should prepare themselves for the off chance that there is a different outcome in Chicago than the litigation has yielded thus far in Portland. The facts on the ground, I think, are arguably different enough.

But that’ll raise serious Posse Comitatus issues in Chicago. It’s not good.
bradmossesq.bsky.social
Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 4d
Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.
27 87 380

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

anthonymkreis.bsky.social
Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 4d
I think folks should prepare themselves for the off chance that there is a different outcome in Chicago than the litigation has yielded thus far in Portland. The facts on the ground, I think, are arguably different enough.

But that’ll raise serious Posse Comitatus issues in Chicago. It’s not good.
bradmossesq.bsky.social
Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 4d
Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.
34 170 610

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 4d
Trump's defiance of of a (Trump-appointed) federal judge in Oregon and the Governor of Illinois over national guard troops shows again that in the realm of national security, there are no constraints left on the presidency. @foreignaffairs.com www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Imperial President at Home, Emperor Abroad
American foreign policy in an age of unrestrained executive power.
www.foreignaffairs.com
7 23

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Colin F. Camerer, David R. Miller , and 6 more

bradmossesq.bsky.social
Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 4d
Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.
1.3K 4.2K 12K

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Elizabeth Saunders, Michael D. Robinson , and 3 more

lindsaypcohn.bsky.social
Lindsay P Cohn @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social · 4d
Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon
Judge asked federal government lawyer: 'Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judge’s order that you disagree with?'
www.oregonlive.com
43 620 1.9K

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Elizabeth Saunders, Brendan Nyhan , and 1 more

radiofreetom.bsky.social
Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 5d
Once again, where is the CNO? SECNAV? After what just happened in Quantico, when will the military top brass speak up?
I asked this after the disgrace at Ft. Bragg, too.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
120 730 2.3K

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

anthonyclark.bsky.social
Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 5d
*DEVELOPING*: I've updated my scoop with previously unreported details about the State Dept. staffer who requested the sword, NARA's response, and that the gift Trump gave King Charles III wasn't even a replica of Eisenhower's West Point Officer's Sabre:
lastcampaign.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
20 41

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele , and 9 more

bgrueskin.bsky.social
Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 5d
If a federal judge, appointed by Trump, can call him “simply untethered to facts,” our White House press corps can as well.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
In sum, the President is certainly entitled "a great level of deference," Newsom II, 141 F.4th at 1048, in his determination that he "is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." 10 U.S.C. § 12406(3). But "a great level of deference" is not equivalent to ignoring the facts on the ground. As the Ninth Circuit articulated, courts must "review the President's determination to ensure that it reflects a colorable assessment of the facts and law PAGE 22 - OPINION AND ORDER Case 3:25-cv-01756-IM Document 56 Filed 10/04/25 Page 23 of 31 within a 'range of honest judgment.'" Id. at 1051 (quoting Sterling, 278 U.S. at 399). Here, this Court concludes that the President did not have a "colorable basis" to invoke § 12406(3) to federalize the National Guard because the situation on the ground belied an inability of federal law enforcement officers to execute federal law. Id. at 1051-52. The President's determination was simply untethered to the facts. c. Whether there is a Rebellion or Danger of Rebellion Defendants also aroue that the Sentember 28 2025 federalization order is authorized
78 1.7K 5.5K

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Juan Cole, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

bcfinucane.bsky.social
Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 7d
Further premeditated killing by the Trump administration.

Labelling the victims of these strikes as "narco-terrorists" does not magically make these attacks legal.
Earlier this morning, on President Trump's orders, I directed a lethal, kinetic strike on a narco-trafficking vessel affiliated with Designated Terrorist Organizations in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike, and no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation. The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics - headed to America to poison our people. Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route. These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!
81 350 1K

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 7d
There are no more constraints on a president’s ability to use military force, and this president is using all that power to target civilians. All Americans should be extremely alarmed.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
5 18 31

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

kewhittington.bsky.social
Keith E. Whittington @kewhittington.bsky.social · 8d
Yet another no good, very bad day for the Constitution

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
3 10 30

Reposted by Kori Schake, Elizabeth Saunders

susancolbourn.net
Susie Colbourn @susancolbourn.net · 8d
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships with the America in the World Consortium!

Applicants from all disciplines whose research bears directly on American grand strategy, broadly defined, are welcome to apply.

Deadline: December 1
AWC Pre- and Post- Doctoral Fellowships 2025-2026
The America in the World Consortium at Duke University, Johns Hopkins SAIS, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Florida seeks applications from current Ph.D. students for its Pred...
www.awconsortium.org
14 15

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

siwpscolumbia.bsky.social
Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social · 8d
📚 Please join us next week for a conversation with @adambaczko.bsky.social on his book, "The Taliban Courts in Afghanistan: Waging War by Law."

🗓️ Friday, October 10
🕛 12:00–2:00 PM

Register here ⬇️
events.columbia.edu/go/TalibanCo...
2 1

Reposted by David R. Miller

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 8d
What?????????
anthonyclark.bsky.social
Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 8d
BREAKING: sources say NARA has forced out Dr. Todd Arrington, the federal director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, after he declined to allow the Trump administration to remove a sword from the library for a gift to King Charles

lastcampaign.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
EXCLUSIVE: NARA Ousts Eisenhower Library Director Over Proposed Trump Gift to King Charles
The director, a historian and Army veteran, declined to allow the Trump administration to remove a priceless artifact from the library's permanent collection
lastcampaign.substack.com
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