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Elizabeth Saunders

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by Elizabeth Saunders

profsaunders.bsky.social
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 · 16h
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
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

by Elizabeth Saunders

profsaunders.bsky.social
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
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
44 220 440

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

qjurecic.bsky.social
I truly don't understand what people thought was going to happen
marydudziak.bsky.social
Mary Dudziak @marydudziak.bsky.social · 1d
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.
170 530 2.7K

by Elizabeth Saunders

profsaunders.bsky.social
👇👇👇👇👇👇
lindsaypcohn.bsky.social
Lindsay P Cohn @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social · 1d
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

by Mary L. Dudziak — Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Stephen M. Walt, Will Jennings , and 5 more

marydudziak.bsky.social
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
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 · 1d
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 · 1d
Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.
27 88 380

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders

anthonymkreis.bsky.social
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 · 1d
Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.
35 170 610

by Elizabeth Saunders

profsaunders.bsky.social
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
Texas proudly invading Illinois.

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

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

lindsaypcohn.bsky.social
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: Elizabeth Saunders, Jan W. Mueller, Brendan Nyhan , and 1 more

radiofreetom.bsky.social
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
*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-...
21 41

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law , and 9 more

bgrueskin.bsky.social
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
79 1.7K 5.5K

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Juan Cole, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

bcfinucane.bsky.social
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!!!!
82 350 1K

by Elizabeth Saunders

profsaunders.bsky.social
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 19 31

by Keith E. Whittington — Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders

kewhittington.bsky.social
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: Elizabeth Saunders, Kori Schake

susancolbourn.net
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
📚 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...
1 1

by Elizabeth Saunders — Reposted by: David R. Miller

profsaunders.bsky.social
What?????????
anthonyclark.bsky.social
Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 6d
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
1 10 25

by Elizabeth Saunders — Reposted by: Brendan Nyhan

profsaunders.bsky.social
This is lawless, inhumane, and cruel. It’s also official government policy personally endorsed by the president and his cabinet. The president may be immune but those who serve him are not.
walterolson.bsky.social
Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 6d
“ABC7 spoke to Pertissue Fisher, a woman who lives in the building. She said ICE agents took everyone in the building, including her, and asked questions later….’They was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other.’”

It can’t happen here, you say. But it is happening.
ICE agents raid South Shore apartments; Trump says Chicago could become military training ground
ICE agents raided a South Shore apartment building overnight as the city braces for a possible military deployment.
abc7chicago.com
2 19 54

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders

violanorth.bsky.social
There are a hundred other crimes and inhumane actions this admin is committing, but as a quick 'n easy slogan, "I will end these criminals who are bankrupting our country and violently kidnapping our neighbors" is hard to beat.
1 7 37

by Elizabeth Saunders — Reposted by: David Darmofal

profsaunders.bsky.social
“Authoritarianism succeeds by making dissent costly. When the authoritarian gale sends citizens running for cover, civil society organizations must anchor democratic principles.”

A must-read from my colleague and amazing writer Turkuler Isiksel.

democracyproject.org/posts/civil-...
Civil Society Institutions Under Authoritarian Encroachment
A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.
democracyproject.org
16 32

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Mark A. Lemley, Will Jennings , and 9 more

shipwreck75.bsky.social
President Trump says he is meeting today with Russ Vought, OMB director and "of PROJECT 2025 Fame," to discuss cuts to "Democrat Agencies."
91 220 840

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Anna O. Law, Gavin A. Schmidt , and 7 more

reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Surreal moment for America. Needless to say, if the normal police ever pulled something like this — pulling every single person out of an apartment building and handcuffing them to run warrant checks — they would be sued into oblivion.

Yet ICE is going to get away with it entirely.
"It was scary, because I had never had a gun in my face," Fisher said. "They asked my name and my date of birth and asked me, did I have any warrants? And I told them, 'No, 'Ididn't." Fisher said she was handcuffed before being released around 3 a.m., and she was told that if anyone had any kind of warrant out for them, even if it was unrelated to immigration, they would not be released.
220 2.8K 5.6K

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Jonathan Wolff, Diane Ravitch , and 7 more

anthonyclark.bsky.social
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
6 690 1.2K

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, James Q. Wilson, Nicholas A. Christakis , and 20 more

walterolson.bsky.social
“ABC7 spoke to Pertissue Fisher, a woman who lives in the building. She said ICE agents took everyone in the building, including her, and asked questions later….’They was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other.’”

It can’t happen here, you say. But it is happening.
ICE agents raid South Shore apartments; Trump says Chicago could become military training ground
ICE agents raided a South Shore apartment building overnight as the city braces for a possible military deployment.
abc7chicago.com
140 2.1K 3.3K

by Elizabeth Saunders — Reposted by: Jason Lyall

profsaunders.bsky.social
The great @kschake.bsky.social does not mince words about what Trump and Hegseth did yesterday in that packed auditorium.
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 6d
Kori Schake: “Yesterday morning, Trump and Hegseth behaved reprehensibly. Their speeches…were tantamount to incitement—a genuinely dangerous effort to suborn the military’s oath and condition them for using violence against their fellow Americans.” foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/01/t...
Trump’s Speech to Generals Was Incitement to Violence Against Americans
Military leaders’ quiet professionalism offers hope amid a maelstrom.
foreignpolicy.com
11 36

Reposted by: Elizabeth Saunders, Kori Schake, Steven Heydemann , and 3 more

robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Kori Schake: “Yesterday morning, Trump and Hegseth behaved reprehensibly. Their speeches…were tantamount to incitement—a genuinely dangerous effort to suborn the military’s oath and condition them for using violence against their fellow Americans.” foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/01/t...
Trump’s Speech to Generals Was Incitement to Violence Against Americans
Military leaders’ quiet professionalism offers hope amid a maelstrom.
foreignpolicy.com
7 110 280

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