The Trump Admin has sent a war powers report on Iran to Congress, its 6th report this term. Amidst shifting explanations for the war, it's an important document for the public. Now analyzed and available on our #WarPowersResolutionReportingProject site: warpowers.lawandsecurity.org/reports/2026...

With senior US officials briefing Congress on Tuesday about Iran war plans. I teamed up with @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @k8brannen.bsky.social Top Questions the Trump Administration Needs to Answer on War with Iran Also plenty of questions for journalists (and the public) here. 🧵1/

White House's "War Powers Report" to Congress for attack on Iran.⬇️ Two conspicuous absences: 1. The word "imminent" appears nowhere. There is thus no justification in the Report for proceeding without prior congressional authorization. 2. No reference to wellbeing/protection of Iranian people.

On today's reading list: two new pieces by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows over at @justsecurity.org. @becingber.bsky.social on constitutional war powers: www.justsecurity.org/131538/trump... @tessbridgeman.bsky.social on supply chain risk designations: www.justsecurity.org/132851/anthr...

Top Experts’ Backgrounder: Military Action Against Iran and US Domestic Law www.justsecurity.org/64645/war-po...

Today marks 44 U.S. strikes in Operation Southern Spear, with at least 150 killed. @rcls-nyu.bsky.social’s Jeremy Chin, Margaret Lin, Aidan Arasasingham, & Marie Miller track the latest + more on Congressional action👇 www.justsecurity.org/124002/timel...

Reupping in light of today's House hearing⬇️

An illuminating read from our Reiss Center faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, in Q&A with @ichotiner.bsky.social, about ICE tactics, the Fourth Amendment, and the courts. With important data from the @justsecurity.org presumption-of-regularity tracker. Read in @newyorker.com 👇

We @rcls-nyu.bsky.social were honored to host the founders of the Alliance for Diplomacy & Justice, w/ a packed room of @nyulaw.bsky.social students. The fmr senior diplomats reflected on their work w/in US natsec & foreign policy, and on reinvigorating a rights-based approach for the future.

In @foreignpolicy.com, Faculty Co-Director Stephen Holmes argues there's an emerging paradox in European defense spending: waning allies are least willing to front the cost of American protection. foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/28/e...

New commentary & analysis by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty co-director @weissmann.substack.com about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, on The Bulwark podcast👇

An expert international law analysis of the insurmountable legal obstacles of any US acquisition of Greenland, from the non-use of force to the right of self-determination. By @mikeschmitt.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/129374/legal...

Teamed up with the great @mikeschmitt.bsky.social on why international law would not allow (& States must reject) any acquisition of Greenland: -following the threat or use of force -without respecting the self-determination rights of the people of #Greenland www.justsecurity.org/129374/legal...

Listen to our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social senior fellow @becingber.bsky.social lay out the stakes & explain the law re US actions in Venezuela. With our faculty co-director @weissmann.substack.com & Mary McCord on their Main Justice podcast: substack.com/@ghost22/not...

1/ DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel has released a redacted version of its memo re the legality of US operations in #Venezuela. For important & breaking analysis, see these 🧵's from @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows/former senior govt lawyers.

"In our view, the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution is on firm ground...both the text and historical and modern practice make the statute’s constitutionality clear." [email protected] fellows @tessbridgeman.bsky.social & @bcfinucane.bsky.social: www.justsecurity.org/128517/war-p...

As US actions against sanctioned vessels ramp up, listen to @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Senior Fellow & Visiting Scholar, speak with expert Rob McLaughlin about the legal issues surrounding the seizure and boarding of merchant ships. At the @justsecurity.org podcast:

1/ With Brian Egan, me, and @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, here's what you need to know about Congress, the President, and the use of force in Venezuela. Bottom line: Congressional authorization was required for the operation removed Maduro from power www.justsecurity.org/128211/congr...

It was an honor to work with Brian Egan and Tess Bridgeman on this important piece. - The President did not have constitutional authority for the Venezuela operation. - It also violated the "supreme Law of the Land" - UN Charter, which the Senate passed 89-2.

Honored to have my war powers scholarship referenced by @charliesavage.bsky.social in @nytimes.com. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...

Reposting with the correct link for the @rcls-nyu.bsky.social War Powers Resolution reporting project searchable database and interactive graphics: warpowers.lawandsecurity.org

War powers 🧵👇

9/ Stay tuned for an update to the @rcls-nyu.bsky.social WPR database w/this report. For analysis and resources on "US Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers, Operation Southern Spear, and Operation Absolute Resolve" here's @justsecurity.org's collection: www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...

My thoughts with Just Security colleagues @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social on Saturday's U.S. operations into Venezuela and the international law issues they raised.

I joined two great legal experts, @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, on this analysis In this thread, I highlight 3 items you may not see covered in same way, if at all, elsewhere. Panama 'precedent,' safeguards for Heads of State, Venezuelan nationals new legal protections in US

Pleased to speak with @charliesavage.bsky.social about how the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela breaches the UN Charter and the Take Care Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

With news breaking about the Maduro capture operation: read important analysis by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social over @justsecurity.org 👇

At year’s end, we’re reflecting on all that’s happened in 2025. Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social programs & research mapped growing faultlines in national security law and policy. Check out the work we did to meet the moment: www.lawandsecurity.org/annual-highl...

This Timeline of Boat Strikes and Related Actions (including international reactions) is now updated due to 3 strikes on Monday Overview as of December 16, 2025: 25 strikes; 95 reported killed; 2 known survivors

Watch some highlights from our recent podcast episode on the vessel strikes in the Caribbean, with @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @becingber.bsky.social @rachelgoldbrenner.bsky.social. Full episode here: www.lawandsecurity.org/calendar/mur...

Operation Southern Spear: Why the Crews, Drugs, and Boats are Not Targetable A deep dive into international law applicable to US lethal operations against suspected drug boats By Mike Schmitt, Tess Bridgeman, Ryan Goodman @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @rgoodlaw.bsky.social

U.S. Boat Strike Campaign: Questions Congress Should Ask Executive Branch Officials By @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, Margaret Donovan, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/126322/boat-...

“Even under a law of armed conflict, they were all civilians, and we are not actually in armed conflict. Either way, it was all murder.” Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Faculty Co-Director & IHL expert @rgoodlaw.bsky.social speaks to @charliesavage.bsky.social @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...

Murder on the High Seas Part IV is here👇 Joined by @rachelgoldbrenner.bsky.social, @becingber.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social to break down, 3 months in: -Why the entire campaign is illegal -The "double tap" Sept 2 strike -Allies' reactions -Congress' role www.justsecurity.org/126056/the-j...

Must-read resource on the legality of the boat strikes in the Caribbean, in straightforward Q&A format. From our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and senior fellow @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, with @mikeschmitt.bsky.social. Read & refer to it, over @justsecurity.org:

Amidst the ongoing lethal campaign in the Caribbean, @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows/fmr senior govt lawyers are convening regularly to lend expertise cc @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @becingber.bsky.social @justsecurity.org 🎤 The latest: www.lawandsecurity.org/calendar/mur...

This #GivingTuesday, we hope you’ll consider a tax-deductible gift to @rcls-nyu.bsky.social. Your support helps us address #natsec challenges at home & abroad as we: ✔️Develop fact-based, relevant research ✔️Convene top experts on timely issues ✔️Train new leaders lawandsecurity.org/donate/

Great speaking with Ruth Marcus @newyorker.com for her latest on the Trump administration's strikes on suspected drug traffickers at sea and why there can be no justification for firing on the two survivors of the military's first strike on Sept 2nd 👇

Read our latest (I teamed up with @mikeschmitt.bsky.social and @rgoodlaw.bsky.social) to understand the law on: - The duty to refuse unlawful orders - Why an order to fire on shipwrecked boat survivors is clearly illegal - Why superior orders is not a defense www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...

I teamed up with two phenomenal experts - @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social - for this Expert Backgrounder. To provide the public, lawmakers, other decision-makers with the best legal advice on this most serious issue. Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors

Pleased to speak with @johnismay.bsky.social about Trump’s saber rattling towards Venezuela. “Threats of the use of force, much less an actual attack on Venezuela, would violate the U.N. Charter. Any such attack would also lack congressional authorization.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/u...

Pleased to share my new essay in @foreignaffairs.com on the broader implications of the Trump administration’s killing spree at sea. www.foreignaffairs.com/central-amer...

As news in the Caribbean/Eastern Pacific keeps coming, check out this vital resource from @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Student Scholars & @nyulaw.bsky.social students Jeremy Chin, Maggie Lin, Aidan Arasasingham. Now with updates & expanded range of relevant actions and reactions. Read @justsecurity.org:

Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social explains court ruling halting deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, DC. On @cnn.com's @outfrontcnn.bsky.social 👇 www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/u...

Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellow and former WH Deputy National Cyber Director, @camillestewartgloster.com writes in @justsecurity.org about natsec challenges and opportunities of solar energy👇

Read @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellow & counter-extremism expert @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social on new terrorism designations of "Antifa Groups", in @justsecurity.org 👇

This week, @rcls-nyu.bsky.social was honored to cosponsor the American Bar Association’s (@americanbar.org) 35th Annual Review of National Security Law Conference, featuring leading legal voices across the #natsec field. events.americanbar.org/event/2f688d...

ICYMI: Watch leading legal experts discuss & debate presidential power and the state of constitutional checks & balances. @nyulaw.bsky.social Forum cohosted by us @rcls-nyu.bsky.social w/ Bob Bauer Michael McConnell (Stanford Law) Gillian Metzger (Columbia Law) RCLS Faculty Co-Dir Trevor Morrison

⏰The War Powers clock is ticking⏰ Nov 3 🟰 60 days since reported 1st Caribbean boat strike Under War Powers Resolution, w/in 60 days if Congress does not OK strikes, POTUS “shall terminate any use of US Armed Forces” Our catalog on every War Powers Reports since 1973: warpowers.lawandsecurity.org