banner
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
220K followers 270 following 1.3K posts
https://www.youtube.com/@RGoodLaw Co-editor-in-chief @justsecurity.org. Chaired Prof at NYU Law. Former Chaired Prof Harvard. Former Special Counsel Defense Dept. https://www.justsecurity.org/author/goodmanryan
www.youtube.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
2/ "'By this logic, any small, medium or big group that is trafficking drugs into the US — the administration could claim it amounts to an attack against the United States and respond with lethal force,' said a former Pentagon lawyer who has had the [DOJ] opinion described to them."
4 24 120
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
"At the Pentagon, some military lawyers, including international law experts within DoD’s Office of General Counsel, have raised concerns about the legality of the lethal strikes on suspected drug traffickers....

Multiple current and former JAGs ... told CNN that the strikes do not appear lawful."
Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, according to multiple peop...
www.cnn.com
54 340 840
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
Judge in Illinois case on National Guard: "If I were the government, I would strongly consider taking a pause on this until Thursday."

The court "declined to quickly issue a temporary order ... while urging the government to delay the controversial plan until she rules."
Judge Won’t Immediately Block Trump Troop Deployment to Illinois
A federal judge declined to quickly issue a temporary order blocking the Trump administration’s plan to deploy National Guard members to Chicago to counter protests against the US immigration crackdow...
news.bloomberglaw.com
22 47 150
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
2/ In that case (Newsom v. Trump), Judge Breyer held that such activities meant this:

"In short, Defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act."

(Note for lay readers: Breyer's opinion does not bind Trump administration in Illinois; a new case in Illinois now raises Posse Comitatus, to be decided.)
3 38 120
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
On the left:

Sept 2: Judge Breyer opinion (in CA case) showing DoD's own instructions of actions that violate Posse Comitatus Act (eg "crowd control").

On the right:

Sept 26: DHS request to DoD for military forces in Chicago "in direct support of ... access control, and crowd control."
13 260 670
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
* Adjutant Generals
1 1 21
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
2/ Audio version via Just Security's Out Loud series

www.buzzsprout.com/2509956/epis...
"Trump’s Outline of a Domestic War: The Real Message from Quantico" by Janine Davidson - Just Security: Out Loud
www.buzzsprout.com
1 13 45
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
What was the real message at Quantico?

Janine Davidson (former Undersecretary of the Navy and former Chair of Department of Defense Policy Board) discusses:

The domestic paradigm shift in President Trump's addressing Active Duty military leaders with National Guard Adjunct Generals excluded.
Trump’s Outline of a Domestic War
Former Undersecretary of Navy discusses import of President Trump's remarks to active duty military leaders at Quantico.
www.justsecurity.org
11 85 200
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d
From Chicago to Caracas

I sat down with Bill Kristol (@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social) for conversation about crosscutting developments

- overuse of military force at home and abroad

- National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 and targeting of Americans' First Amendment activity
America’s Lawless Wars—From Chicago to Caracas (w/ Ryan Goodman)
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
4 34 88
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
3/ The new Temporary Restraining Order bars the deployment by the Trump administration of any federalized National Guard -- eg California or Texas National Guard -- in Portland.
7 36 210
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
2/ Your reminder that Judge Immergut was appointed to the bench by President Trump.
8 52 310
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
Judge Immergut in Oregon v Trump now:

"I grant plaintiffs second motion for a TRO."

Federalized Texas and California Guard to Portland is a "DIRECT CONTRAVENTION" of court's TRO from Saturday.

Both on 12406 statute and Tenth Amendment grounds.
23 190 660
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
A most important question is the timing of this Secretary Hegseth Memorandum

On 10/4/2025 at 3:40 p.m. Judge Immergut signed her opinion which held that the President exceeded his authority by federalizing the (Oregon) National Guard because the situation did not meet the statute's conditions:
6 88 550
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
This represents a major escalation.

President Trump effort to mobilize TEXAS National Guard for deployment in Portland and Chicago.

Court filing just entered in Oregon v. Trump⬇️
110 630 1.8K
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
"Additionally, California Military Department Executive Leadership learned that all 300 federalized California National Guard personnel will be imminently deployed to Portland."
5 35 130
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
State of play:

"As of 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 5 one transport carrying approximately 100 federalized California National Guard personnel had already departed from Los Angeles to Portland, with additional transport scheduled for later in the day."
4 36 140
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
I assume the judge will not be happy with this

"After this Court issued a temporary restraining order...Army Northern Command communicated to the California Military Department Executive Leadership that they intended to send 200 of the federalized California National Guard personnel...to Portland.”
43 370 1K
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d
Just in:

State of California joins Oregon and Portland in Amended Complaint in wake of President Trump's alleged effort to send federalized California National Guard troops to Portland - despite Judge's Saturday evening temporary restraining order.

Key:⤵️
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
14 220 1K
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 4d
2/ Making it plain:

"However, the focus of the administration’s attacks has been boats from Venezuela. The surge of overdose deaths in recent years has been driven by fentanyl, which drug trafficking experts say comes from Mexico, not South America."

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
7 19 110
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 4d
Many of us Americans are profoundly concerned about the staggering number of fentanyl deaths in U.S.

That may affect how one thinks about these military strikes.

Now ask the question: When Sec. Hegseth says "narcotics," why does he not say what type?

Most likely answer: It's not fentanyl.
48 70 270
Reposted by Ryan Goodman
tessbridgeman.bsky.social
Tess Bridgeman @tessbridgeman.bsky.social · 4d
Mary McCord, former Acting Assistant AG for National Security, and I teamed up on Qs Senators should ask #Bondi at her Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, on strikes that have killed 17 people to date.

The implications are serious. Consider a few of the Qs:

www.justsecurity.org/121862/ask-b...
What the Senate Judiciary Committee Should Ask A.G. Bondi on Drug Cartel Strikes
Annotated questions the Senate Judiciary Committee could ask Attorney General Pam Bondi on lethal strikes against drug cartels.
www.justsecurity.org
11 110 260
Reposted by Ryan Goodman
martylederman.bsky.social
Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social · 4d
On why Trump's determination that the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels is (i) wrong; and (ii) insufficient, in any event, to make legal the strikes against vessels in the Caribbean.

www.justsecurity.org/121844/trump...
Legal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Notice to Congress on “Armed Conflict” with Drug Cartels
Top legal expert analyzes the Trump administration's notice to Congress of an "armed conflict" with drug cartels.
www.justsecurity.org
18 170 520
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 5d
2/ "The administration has also stressed that about 100,000 Americans annually die from overdoses.

However, the focus of the...attacks has been boats from Venezuela. The surge of overdose deaths...has been driven by fentanyl that drug trafficking experts say comes from Mexico, not South America."
7 29 130
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 5d
“This is not stretching the envelope,” Geoffrey Corn said. “This is shredding it."

On administration's confidential note to Congress

Completely right.

Drug cartels not = "armed conflict"
The people killed are civilians

Corn is retired judge advocate general, former Army law-of-war senior adviser
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
17 120 320
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 6d
To explain importance of Ed Whelan's analysis: This could invalidate indictment of James Comey.

Halligan was only USG attorney to sign the indictment.

If her appointment was invalid, so may be that indictment.

DOJ could've fixed, but the statute of limitations has now apparently expired.
Re: Was Lindsey Halligan Validly Appointed as United States Attorney? | National Review
Some further reinforcing comments on my post last Friday in which I explained why, based on the facts as I understand them, I believe that Lindsey Halligan has not been validly appointed as United …
www.nationalreview.com
46 340 1.2K