Adam Isacson
@adamisacson.com
He/Him. I work on security, borders, and migration at the Washington Office on Latin America (my views, not necessarily theirs). I'm also at wola.org, adamisacson.com, borderoversight.org, Mastodon elefanti.co/@adam
"How can I make Marco Rubio's job harder?" seems to be a question lots of people ask themselves.
January 12, 2026 at 1:21 PM
"How can I make Marco Rubio's job harder?" seems to be a question lots of people ask themselves.
A bit more than that, though yes, it's not 100% clear... active shooter training would (one hopes) involve de-escalation, target identification, and other use of force standards.
January 9, 2026 at 6:08 AM
A bit more than that, though yes, it's not 100% clear... active shooter training would (one hopes) involve de-escalation, target identification, and other use of force standards.
Heads up: Now's the time to buy up stock in flonpfioDy and 4ENII_ so you can cash out when the time comes.
January 8, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Heads up: Now's the time to buy up stock in flonpfioDy and 4ENII_ so you can cash out when the time comes.
Lashing out at 10% of your party's Senate delegation is a cool way to ease concerns about the wheels coming off.
January 8, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Lashing out at 10% of your party's Senate delegation is a cool way to ease concerns about the wheels coming off.
Next steps on the Venezuela war powers resolution:
January 8, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Next steps on the Venezuela war powers resolution:
This is just the motion to discharge, in one of two houses of Congress—but as an expression of doubt/concern about the Venezuela intervention, it is unexpected and a big deal.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
January 8, 2026 at 4:52 PM
This is just the motion to discharge, in one of two houses of Congress—but as an expression of doubt/concern about the Venezuela intervention, it is unexpected and a big deal.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
Here are excerpts from DHS's 2023 guidelines for the use of deadly force. What we're seeing and hearing from Minneapolis today points to these standards being thrown out the window and stomped on.
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
January 7, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Here are excerpts from DHS's 2023 guidelines for the use of deadly force. What we're seeing and hearing from Minneapolis today points to these standards being thrown out the window and stomped on.
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
Could this be the reason why Marco Rubio, the archetypal south Florida Republican, had to go on the Sunday morning news shows, swallow hard, and defend the idea of working with the Chavistas instead of the opposition (which must’ve been torture for him)?
January 5, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Could this be the reason why Marco Rubio, the archetypal south Florida Republican, had to go on the Sunday morning news shows, swallow hard, and defend the idea of working with the Chavistas instead of the opposition (which must’ve been torture for him)?
Is this "strategic clarity?" I don't remember Clausewitz saying stuff like this.
January 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Is this "strategic clarity?" I don't remember Clausewitz saying stuff like this.
This, from the 12/27 NY Times, is a concern although hopefully courts will quash it. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/u...
January 4, 2026 at 2:38 AM
This, from the 12/27 NY Times, is a concern although hopefully courts will quash it. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/u...
Last 90 days' Google searches for "Pottery Barn Rule."
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
January 3, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Last 90 days' Google searches for "Pottery Barn Rule."
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
There are just 15,000 soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen currently deployed around Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 5:28 PM
There are just 15,000 soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen currently deployed around Venezuela.
Here's a dangerous effort to carve out a loophole in presidential war powers big enough to drive a tank through.
If such an authority existed, the president could invade anywhere, anytime, without involving Congress—just by claiming, without proof, that an attack is "imminent."
If such an authority existed, the president could invade anywhere, anytime, without involving Congress—just by claiming, without proof, that an attack is "imminent."
January 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Here's a dangerous effort to carve out a loophole in presidential war powers big enough to drive a tank through.
If such an authority existed, the president could invade anywhere, anytime, without involving Congress—just by claiming, without proof, that an attack is "imminent."
If such an authority existed, the president could invade anywhere, anytime, without involving Congress—just by claiming, without proof, that an attack is "imminent."
Meanwhile: now we don't know how many people were killed in the 12/30 boat strike - www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releas...
January 3, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Meanwhile: now we don't know how many people were killed in the 12/30 boat strike - www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releas...
Let's wait for further confirmation on this, but
January 3, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Let's wait for further confirmation on this, but
Congress was not only not consulted: even the committees that oversee the Defense Department were kept in the dark, CNN reports. cnn.it/4aHZou2
January 3, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Congress was not only not consulted: even the committees that oversee the Defense Department were kept in the dark, CNN reports. cnn.it/4aHZou2
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 clearly states that the President may not send troops into hostilities or imminent hostilities without:
- a declaration of war
- specific congressional authorization
- an attack on the United States
And that the President must consult with Congress first.
- a declaration of war
- specific congressional authorization
- an attack on the United States
And that the President must consult with Congress first.
January 3, 2026 at 9:21 AM
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 clearly states that the President may not send troops into hostilities or imminent hostilities without:
- a declaration of war
- specific congressional authorization
- an attack on the United States
And that the President must consult with Congress first.
- a declaration of war
- specific congressional authorization
- an attack on the United States
And that the President must consult with Congress first.
Venezuela government statement mentions attacks in Caracas capital district and neighboring states of La Guaira, Miranda, and Aragua.
x.com/petrogustavo...
x.com/petrogustavo...
January 3, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Venezuela government statement mentions attacks in Caracas capital district and neighboring states of La Guaira, Miranda, and Aragua.
x.com/petrogustavo...
x.com/petrogustavo...
Sorry, that was in the linked tweet but not clear from my post. See x.com/Southcom/sta...
January 2, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Sorry, that was in the linked tweet but not clear from my post. See x.com/Southcom/sta...
It should really bother all of us that the United States government left an unknown number of people floating in an ocean more than 2 days ago, and this seems to be the only information available about the search.
x.com/Southcom/sta...
x.com/Southcom/sta...
January 2, 2026 at 1:36 AM
It should really bother all of us that the United States government left an unknown number of people floating in an ocean more than 2 days ago, and this seems to be the only information available about the search.
x.com/Southcom/sta...
x.com/Southcom/sta...
I'm sorry, but they did another one today. That's 10 people killed in the past 3 days, plus whatever survivors of yesterday's attack who don't get rescued.
Just an orgy of slaughter to end the year. 32 deaths in December.
Just an orgy of slaughter to end the year. 32 deaths in December.
January 1, 2026 at 2:33 AM
I'm sorry, but they did another one today. That's 10 people killed in the past 3 days, plus whatever survivors of yesterday's attack who don't get rescued.
Just an orgy of slaughter to end the year. 32 deaths in December.
Just an orgy of slaughter to end the year. 32 deaths in December.
This boat strike, in an unspecified ocean, had an unknown number of survivors. We are closely following what happens next.
This makes 31 attacks, and at least 110 killed.
This makes 31 attacks, and at least 110 killed.
December 31, 2025 at 10:43 PM
This boat strike, in an unspecified ocean, had an unknown number of survivors. We are closely following what happens next.
This makes 31 attacks, and at least 110 killed.
This makes 31 attacks, and at least 110 killed.
In La Guajira, the 2nd-poorest of Colombia's 32 departments, fishermen aren't venturing far from shore for fear of being murdered by the United States. One has "occasionally seen drones flying above his boat."
From the NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/w...
From the NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/w...
December 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
In La Guajira, the 2nd-poorest of Colombia's 32 departments, fishermen aren't venturing far from shore for fear of being murdered by the United States. One has "occasionally seen drones flying above his boat."
From the NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/w...
From the NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/w...
Ali G meets LL Cool J meets Col Lockjaw
December 30, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Ali G meets LL Cool J meets Col Lockjaw
That's 30 boat attacks now, with a total of 107 victims.
Like a dark mystery novel with a serial killer who delights in his murders by posting videos after each one.
Like a dark mystery novel with a serial killer who delights in his murders by posting videos after each one.
December 30, 2025 at 2:05 AM
That's 30 boat attacks now, with a total of 107 victims.
Like a dark mystery novel with a serial killer who delights in his murders by posting videos after each one.
Like a dark mystery novel with a serial killer who delights in his murders by posting videos after each one.