Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social
Terrorism, conflict, crime. @uniessexgov.bsky.social. Via Ohio, Camp Lejeune, PGH, CDMX. Co-authored book: "Insurgent Terrorism." https://sites.google.com/site/brianjphillips/home
This is one of the figures from the paper. I wonder how that differs from people who are aging typically, and do not have Alzheimer's.
January 28, 2026 at 11:28 AM
This is one of the figures from the paper. I wonder how that differs from people who are aging typically, and do not have Alzheimer's.
Just the headline from this WSJ piece. The shooting is so obviously unjustified.
But will there be any change or accountability?
But will there be any change or accountability?
January 26, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Just the headline from this WSJ piece. The shooting is so obviously unjustified.
But will there be any change or accountability?
But will there be any change or accountability?
The school run this morning. Damp but lovely.
January 14, 2026 at 10:51 AM
The school run this morning. Damp but lovely.
things i wish i hadn’t read
January 3, 2026 at 11:52 PM
things i wish i hadn’t read
the leader of a foreign country being charged with "possession of machine guns" (that's two words, Bondi)... how... what... and... doesn't any head of state also possess machine guns??
January 3, 2026 at 3:28 PM
the leader of a foreign country being charged with "possession of machine guns" (that's two words, Bondi)... how... what... and... doesn't any head of state also possess machine guns??
Here in Essex, the sun has set on the first day of 2026 in a remarkable way.
To quote an old band, “Maybe this year will be better than the last.” I hope it is for you.
To quote an old band, “Maybe this year will be better than the last.” I hope it is for you.
January 1, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Here in Essex, the sun has set on the first day of 2026 in a remarkable way.
To quote an old band, “Maybe this year will be better than the last.” I hope it is for you.
To quote an old band, “Maybe this year will be better than the last.” I hope it is for you.
Out of office message
December 22, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Out of office message
One more for 2025… the US government just designated another criminal group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. A Colombian drug cartel.
That makes 15 criminal groups added to the FTO list this year. Massive expansion and transformation of counter-terrorism.
That makes 15 criminal groups added to the FTO list this year. Massive expansion and transformation of counter-terrorism.
December 17, 2025 at 8:59 PM
One more for 2025… the US government just designated another criminal group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. A Colombian drug cartel.
That makes 15 criminal groups added to the FTO list this year. Massive expansion and transformation of counter-terrorism.
That makes 15 criminal groups added to the FTO list this year. Massive expansion and transformation of counter-terrorism.
Brutalism under a clear blue sky
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Brutalism under a clear blue sky
There’s no law saying it’s ok to kill someone for being a member of a US-designated terrorist organization. It’s not even a crime to be a member! (The UK criminalizes terrorist group membership, but the US, no.)
Material support of an FTO is punishable up to 20 years in prison. No death sentence.
Material support of an FTO is punishable up to 20 years in prison. No death sentence.
November 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
There’s no law saying it’s ok to kill someone for being a member of a US-designated terrorist organization. It’s not even a crime to be a member! (The UK criminalizes terrorist group membership, but the US, no.)
Material support of an FTO is punishable up to 20 years in prison. No death sentence.
Material support of an FTO is punishable up to 20 years in prison. No death sentence.
Wivenhoe sunset
November 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Wivenhoe sunset
For more info on the number of US military ships currently in the Caribbean, there's some great info here: stories.theconversation.com/tracking-the...
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
For more info on the number of US military ships currently in the Caribbean, there's some great info here: stories.theconversation.com/tracking-the...
TODAY the U.S. adds the Venezuelan network "Cartel de los Soles" to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
TODAY the U.S. adds the Venezuelan network "Cartel de los Soles" to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
Another point: the Trump admin is REALLY using terrorist designation a lot this term. Unprecedented increase in FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Another point: the Trump admin is REALLY using terrorist designation a lot this term. Unprecedented increase in FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
TODAY: the US added four European leftist/anarchist groups to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
TODAY: the US added four European leftist/anarchist groups to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
In 1966, a young man started the Political Science PhD program at the University of Wisconsin. He did ok, publishing an article in the American Political Science Review.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
November 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
In 1966, a young man started the Political Science PhD program at the University of Wisconsin. He did ok, publishing an article in the American Political Science Review.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
A little bit of London
October 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A little bit of London
Look at the years in this graph. The gap between dots is the same whether it's 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or 4 months. Ahh!!!! 😱😱😱 #dataviz
October 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Look at the years in this graph. The gap between dots is the same whether it's 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or 4 months. Ahh!!!! 😱😱😱 #dataviz
University of Essex campus in autumn. The last pic is of the fruit of a strawberry tree- it’s edible and delicious! Also apparently the national tree of Italy?
October 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
University of Essex campus in autumn. The last pic is of the fruit of a strawberry tree- it’s edible and delicious! Also apparently the national tree of Italy?
No!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
October 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
No!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
The US designated transnational gang Barrio 18 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
September 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The US designated transnational gang Barrio 18 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
Still a lot of misunderstanding in the press of what the "designation" of antifa as a terrorist org means.
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Still a lot of misunderstanding in the press of what the "designation" of antifa as a terrorist org means.
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
Some news agencies seem to misunderstand this.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
September 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Some news agencies seem to misunderstand this.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
You probably missed it - the US govt just added FOUR new groups to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
September 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
You probably missed it - the US govt just added FOUR new groups to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
Saying you designate something doesn’t necessarily have a legal meaning. (See pic 2.) There is no US *domestic* terrorist list.
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
September 18, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Saying you designate something doesn’t necessarily have a legal meaning. (See pic 2.) There is no US *domestic* terrorist list.
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)