• U.S.-Israel-Iran War • Sudan War • Series: Syria in Transition • FISA Section 702 • Tech Governance • Trump Executive Actions • U.S. Military • U.S. Boat Strikes • Foreign Investment • Presidential Records • Hungary • Mexico / Enforced Disappearances • Azerbaijan / Civil Society

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -National Parks Conservation Association sues Interior Department’s decision to allow renewed mining in Mojave National Preserve, alleging the government skipped required environmental review

The U.S. has built an investment security architecture of unprecedented breadth. Whether it functions as a coherent system depends on a functioning NSC, writes Eric Johnson. On what that means for the future of U.S. investment security: www.justsecurity.org/136608/missi...

The Framers included a structural check on standing armies and military power in the Constitution. Matthew B. Lawrence and Mark Nevitt (@marknevitt.bsky.social) argue it is now time for its revival:

African countries are rapidly launching AI governance frameworks, championing “development-oriented” & “inclusive” approaches. But, Samuel Ugwumba argues, these frameworks reproduce extractive dynamics & fail to do the one thing that governance must: protect the people they claim to serve.

Syria’s history of division and political exclusion must be accounted for in its transitional period, writes Deyaa Alrwishdi. Read here for more critical context framing the transition, and how the interim government can do better to prioritize genuine reconciliation: #Syria #TransitionalJustice

In Response to the Letter by International Law Experts on Iran War By Geoffrey S. Corn, Dick Jackson, Chris Jenks and Michael W. Meier Authors have each served as Senior Law of War Advisor for U.S. Army www.justsecurity.org/136527/respo...

Massacres, rapes, displacement, starvation, disappearances – 3 years of the #SudanWar have generated a litany of international crimes. Jehanne Henry hears the stories from refugees across the border: www.justsecurity.org/136456/sudan...

The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has referred the situation in Mexico to the UNGA for the first time. Hélène Tigroudja writes that this presents a unique opportunity for urgent, coordinated action to address victims’ rights, combat impunity, and reduce future disappearances.

#Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, is moving fast to take over from Viktor Orban within weeks, pledging to end 16 years of democratic backsliding. @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social talks with Viola Gienger about how this election result happened and what’s ahead:

With Supreme Court hearings on Cisco scheduled for April 28, Harold Hongju Koh writes: The Court has no principled reason to immunize U.S. corporations who aid and abet gross human rights abuses. #SCOTUS #HumanRights #CorporateAccountability

Today's news roundup: -Israeli security cabinet discuss Lebanon ceasefire -Trump admin pushes nations to sign ‘trade over aid’ declaration -Pentagon approaches US automakers to boost weapons production -Danish Refugee Council warns 4 million face displacement 👇 www.justsecurity.org/136493/early...

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -Ousted NTSB member Alvin Brown files quo warranto petition, challenges DeLeeuw seat & says removal was racially motivated -Judge grants limited discovery in DOGE/SSA data access case -Nurses & health groups sue EPA for failing to issue air quality designations

Before renewing FISA this week, Congress must question whether Section 702 is behind workplace immigration raids, with warrantless surveillance concealed from the businesses targeted. From Patrick Eddington: #FISA www.justsecurity.org/136360/count...

The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel said the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, contradicting decades of Supreme Court precedent. Why they got it wrong, from former OLC Assistant Attorney General Chris Fonzone:

U.S. assistance to Kurdish rebels for regime change in Iran risks further U.S. international law violations, writes Sanmay Moitra, and – as history shows – generating blowback that threatens the very goals it seeks to achieve.

Today's news roundup: -Iran used Chinese spy satellite, acquired in 2024, to target US bases -US eases bank sanctions on Venezuela -US suggests Cuba complicit in helping Russia fight Ukraine -Italy's Meloni suspends defence cooperation deal with Israel 👇 www.justsecurity.org/136359/early...

Three years of #CivilWar, going into a fourth with no end in sight, #Sudan is the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. Quscondy Abdulshafi joins Viola Gienger on the latest episode of the JS Podcast to discuss how #Sudan got here and the international efforts – and failures – to stop it:

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -D.C. Cir halts contempt inquiry into whether officials violated court orders in the deportation flights to El Salvador’s CECOT prison -Court approves dismissal after admin agrees to keep Pride flag flying at Stonewall -Government appeals rulings in Ruiz v. ICE

The Trump DOJ released a report today claiming Biden-era FACE Act enforcement was weaponized against religious Americans. Regan Rush and Megan Marks interrogate the report's five central claims. Each fails when measured against the actual enforcement record.

Bogus “Antifa” Designations and FBI Warrantless Access to Americans’ Communications: Guarding FISA Section 702’s “Back Door” By @rgoodlaw.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/136232/antif...

Federal law has detailed procedures for fighting fraud. The Trump administration is skipping all of them, writes Reed Shaw— invoking “fraud” to freeze billions in federal benefits. Why this gap is a legal liability: www.justsecurity.org/136098/trump...

Almost 1,000 days have passed since #Azerbaijan authorities arrested economist and #AntiCorruption campaigner Gubad Ibadoghlu. Now, his brother, too, is under house arrest. Emin Bayramli appeals for his father’s and uncle’s release: www.justsecurity.org/136173/azerb...

Today's news roundup: -Stonewall to display Pride flag after Trump admin reverses course -DOJ ‘weaponization’ report accuses Biden admin of biased prosecutions against anti-abortion protesters -US, Iranian teams may return to Islamabad for talks this week 👇 www.justsecurity.org/136273/early...

Updated now with 50th strike on April 13, 2026.

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -Administration sued for failing to respond to FOIA requests regarding new Gold Card Visa Program -Judge delays order regarding Pentagon’s press restrictions for 14 days, allowing time for government to appeal

Mined and Blockaded: Iran's Unlawful Mining and the U.S. Port Blockade By @marknevitt.bsky.social, former U.S. Navy Commander With U.S. blockade going into effect on Monday, this is a must read on the legal and operational issues at stake with Iran’s mines and US actions.

The Trump administration is seeking to fund its Board of Peace via the FY27 budget request to Congress and the reallocation of other funds - but is light on crucial specifics. From Mike Mattler, questions that Congress should consider: www.justsecurity.org/136200/quest... #BoP #Gaza #Congress

Today's news roundup: -Lafarge ex-CEO sentenced to 6 years in prison for funding jihadists in Syria -Trump's peace board faces funding issues, stalling Gaza plan: Reuters -Netanyahu seeks delay in his corruption trial testimony, citing regional security issues 👇 www.justsecurity.org/136181/early...

With two U.S. military strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific over the weekend - killing 5 people and leaving 1 survivor - this Timeline is now updated.

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(1/3) Catch up on our recent analysis: • U.S.-Israel-Iran War • Crimes Against Humanity • Extremism • Congress • Tech Governance • FISA Section 702 • Hungary / Elections • South Korea / Accountability • Trump Executive Actions www.justsecurity.org/135776/diges...

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -Judge denies request to pause alleged “Somali Fast-Track Policy”; says Plaintiffs, a law firm and nonprofit, don’t have standing -Judge says new DOD press policy is an evasion attempt from prior order; orders DOD to comply -More FOIA complaints against the admin

@lbaum94.bsky.social explains that mass shootings by transgender individuals are exceedingly rare as compared to other attacks – but they garner disproportionate attention. And social media commentary often ignores other extremist motivations. www.justsecurity.org/136047/no-tr...

How can democracies best defend against foreign information manipulation without eroding the very freedoms they aim to protect? You-Hao Lai writes that Taiwan can learn from the U.S. TikTok saga and shift to an operations-driven approach to platform governance:

Mayors William Peduto and Nancy Rodkin Rotering warn that global crises are exacerbating polarization and extremism in local communities. They outline steps fellow mayors can take to build resiliency before a crisis leads to violence in American cities. www.justsecurity.org/135998/globa...

Today’s news roundup: - U.S. preparedness challenged, from disputed Kuwait strike accounts to stranded cadets. - Lebanon was initially included in the 10-point ceasefire, CBS reports. - The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed despite the ceasefire. 👇

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -Admin agrees to give back museum and library grants, rescinds employee terminations -D.C. Cir. denies Anthropic request to pause designation, but sets oral argument for May 19 -Rights orgs challenge alleged racially-motivated immigration stops & arrests in NYC

The stakes for ending the war in Iran extend beyond energy markets -- to humanitarian crises such as #Sudan, where already catastrophic conditions are worsening. Rachel George explains: www.justsecurity.org/135989/war-i...

Recent UN discussions on a proposed #CrimesAgainstHumanity treaty showed support for codifying #ForcedMarriage as a specific violation. Elise Keppler & Maryanne Koussa read the signals as states prepare proposed amendments ahead of an April 30 deadline: www.justsecurity.org/135668/crime...

Today’s news roundup: - U.S.-Iran ceasefire already fraying over Lebanon, Hormuz, and enrichment - Israel’s Lebanon strikes draw broad international condemnation - Gulf sees first overnight lull after days of Iranian strikes 👇 www.justsecurity.org/135952/early...

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates: -Judge ends the preliminary injunction since Operation Metro Surge has ended, but allows plaintiffs to seek future injunctive relief -Judge expands order allowing clergy access to the Broadview ICE detention facility while the lawsuit proceeds

Today's @justsecurity.org must-read: @marknevitt.bsky.social on the S/Hormuz as "a test of whether [conventional military] dominance can translate into control over a contested maritime chokepoint in the face of asymmetric, persistent denial. So far, it has not." www.justsecurity.org/135899/strai...

Former US Navy Commander, JAGC Mark Nevitt (@marknevitt.bsky.social) provides a legal and operational update on the Strait of Hormuz crisis, including Iran’s military role and imposition of tolls.

Today's news roundup: -Macron says more than 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access after U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal -Trump and Vance cheer on Orban at election rally -Anthropic says its new AI model is too powerful for public release 👇 www.justsecurity.org/135907/early...

Today’s Litigation Tracker updates -American Historical Ass’n & American Oversight challenge DOJ’s claim that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, warning presidential records could be lost/destroyed -Center for Biological Diversity sues over delays in protecting Alabama freshwater fish

With threats to attack power plants and other civilian infrastructure circulating between the parties to the Iran war, Eliav Lieblich (@eliavl.bsky.social) argues that so-called reprisals are much more likely to cause uncontrollable escalation: #Iran #IranWar #Civilians #LawsofWar

CBS Evening News features letter by 100 Experts published at @justsecurity.org Over 100 International Law Experts Warn: U.S. Strikes on Iran Violate UN Charter and May Be War Crimes link to letter: www.justsecurity.org/135423/profe...

Hungary’s parliamentary election on April 12 is becoming the most competitive and consequential since Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party returned to power in 2010. @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social outlines the stakes for #Hungary, the US and the EU: www.justsecurity.org/135860/hunga...

For all of Hegseth's "tough talk, he fails to recognize the true strengths of the U.S. armed forces," writes Allison McManus. www.justsecurity.org/135468/dange...