One of those instances where circumstances make your work more useful than you hoped it might be…

An unplanned episode in our summer hiatus... please world let us get through the rest of January without needing to do another one!

New Called to the Bar episode: the full crew unpacks the US bombing of Venezuela and the abduction of Nicolás Maduro. UN Charter violations, head of state immunity, and why Washington no longer seems troubled by illegality. Bleak, sharp, and very 2026. #CalledToTheBar soundcloud.com/calledtotheb...

The second last episode of season 2 of #CalledToTheBar is now out where we reflect on the gangsterism of current int relations. Thanks to @drnajimagi.bsky.social, @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social, @ntinatzouvala.bsky.social, and @djag2.bsky.social for another year on.soundcloud.com/sgJtpt0AHC1d...

New #CalledToTheBar! Imogen Saunders chats with editors from the American Journal of International Law, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, and Australian Yearbook of International Law about publishing, peer review, & what makes a great article. Essential ECR listening! soundcloud.com/calledtotheb...

Episode 60 of Called to the Bar is out! I talk to senior editors Ingrid Brunk (American Jnl of International Law), Jolyon Ford (Australian Yearbook of International Law) and Liz Fisher (Oxford Jnl of Legal Studies) about publishing and what they wish we all knew… on.soundcloud.com/bp0fbjO0I1UX...

Showing that it's apparently far worse to point out political point scoring over a death than doing the political point scoring in the first place... www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

I’m watching the footy and amusing myself by sorting the teams into category by name. No surprise the bird category is out on top with 5 teams but a surprisingly strong showing from the people/mythic category, tying with cats (house & great) with 4 teams apiece. #afl

Somehow we got to 50 episodes….!? This one was a cracker to record and hopefully fun to listen to as well.

The 2026 #Jessup problem looks at What are “the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations”?. I do have a book on this, inspired by my own Jessup experience in 2003 where I kept asking the same question and no-one had a satisfactory answer! www.bloomsbury.com/au/general-p...

Send me your burning international law (or other!) questions as we plan to bumble our way through a Q&A for our 50th episode...

The court recalls that these AO are unlike any brought before it. But the CT can only act within its legal functions. Questions brought by the UNGA are much broader. Existential & self afflicted. Requires all humans and all human knowledge. Change our habits, comforts and way of life.

IL friends watching/waiting up for the #ICJAO - I join you! What better do at 11pm on a Wednesday night in Canberra....

This was a lot of fun to record - and thanks to the awesome ANZSIL crowd who came out and stopped us having to talk to an empty room...

#ANZSIL2025 #CttB A rare live recording of Called to the Bar at the ANZSIL conference. From left: @utsintlaw.bsky.social @drjessiehohmann.bsky.social, @pagingdrpaige.bsky.social, @djag2.bsky.social and @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social. @drnajimagi.bsky.social is at the edge of the shot

Great to meet in person and even better to podcast together in person soon too!!

I had a blast chairing this discussion on Rocks or Islands with @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social, @proftimstephens.bsky.social, and @djag2.bsky.social. Come for the Rock DJ joke, stay for the excellent conversation

This week's #CalledToTheBar is live! When is a rock an island, and why does it matter? A discussion chaired by @pagingdrpaige.bsky.social , featuring me and @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social with special guest @proftimstephens.bsky.social ! soundcloud.com/calledtotheb...

It appears the (wholly illegal under IHL) strike from Iran on an Isreali hospital is escalating the situation. But where was the outrage when Gaza hospitals were targeted by Israel? I am not doing whataboutisms. Both are heinous. Both are war crimes. And innocent people are suffering from both.

Just 13 sleeps to ANZSIL 2025, the world's best-sized public international law conference! Updated program available! anzsil.org/resources/Do...

A poem about robot dogs and reality...

Well this couldn’t have come at a better time www.bbc.com/news/article...

Alleged theft of goods from a supermarket should never end in death. This is horrific. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

My 16 year old son has - to my delight - requested a hand knit jumper with specific design elements (cherry blossoms, close fit, low collar). Which is why, after much text consultation, I have bought one book and two patterns to frankenjumper together. Next step - colour and yarn choice!

The BRS appeal is a doozy of a read. But basically, he's guilty as f**k and I hope the war memorial responds appropriately. www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Ju...

Good to see ICAO finding Russia responsible for the downing of MH17. Will be very interesting to read the formal decision, esp state responsibility arguments & findings... www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pag....

Israel is now openly saying they will capture and occupy all of Gaza. For an 'unspecified amount of time'. People there will be 'moved, for its own protection'. But it's not genocide, of course not. I'm sure the people are being moved to nice comfy hotels, really safe places.

We will also have the Kirby lecture in international law delivered by Phoebe Okowa, Prof of IL at Queen Mary University and Kenya's nomination for ICJ judge. Plus the dinner and the ever popular trivia!

For those who haven't registered yet for this year's ANZSIL (ahem, me... darnprocrastination!) a reminder early bird rates close 9th May this week!! Come join @djag2.bsky.social, me and a raft of others inc. keynotes @profjmcadam.bsky.social and Tembeka Ngcukaito SC: anzsil.org.au/event-6142429

For those who haven't registered yet for this year's ANZSIL (ahem, me... darnprocrastination!) a reminder early bird rates close 9th May this week!! Come join @djag2.bsky.social, me and a raft of others inc. keynotes @profjmcadam.bsky.social and Tembeka Ngcukaito SC: anzsil.org.au/event-6142429

Here’s me with a last bit of snark about the worst election campaign we’ve seen In generations. And please don’t forget to subscribe to The Shot to support us, thanks so much 🙏🏼 #auspol2025 theshot.net.au/uncategorize...

In Pope Francis’s last public address, he preached care of the marginalized, the vulnerable, and migrants, saying: “I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves.” May we heed his wish.

Look, I'm not saying he's a curse but if I were Modi...

I cannot explain how insane US gun laws are except for this quote about the latest shooting: 'The last time FSU had an active shooter was in November 2014' The LAST TIME? That makes it seem like a hurricane or some other regular, inevitable but unpreventable thing. Guess what? IT'S NONE OF THOSE.

Suggesting a new entry for word of the year: 'to truss' (verb, regional variation: to vance) - being such a dire political leader that your mere presence causes the death of a globally beloved figurehead.

Posting again with a direct link to the episode: @explaintrade.com and I talk Trump’s tariffs but also some general trade law. Possibly a good resource for those embarking on introductory trade law studies, with only occasional (and justified!) swearing. on.soundcloud.com/HQsBk6G4zuk7...

So much fun to record this with @explaintrade.com: though some things defy explanation….

New #CalledToTheBar! We have a trade lawyer @imogenmarjorie.bsky.social speak to a trade policy expert and author @explaintrade.com about whatever the hell is going on with Trump's tariff "policy". (Oh, and we'll be taking a short Easter break - back soon!) soundcloud.com/calledtothebar

From Trump... no environmental delays. EPA really is dead. '"This is a GREAT time to move your COMPANY into the United States of America," Mr Trump said. "ZERO TARIFFS, and almost immediate Electrical/Energy hook ups and approvals. No Environmental Delays. DON’T WAIT, DO IT NOW!"'

ANZSIL registration is now open! @djag2.bsky.social and I are co-chairing the organising committee this year and we think it's going to be an awesome conference. The Conference theme is 'International Law: Silence, Forgetting and Remembrance'. anzsil.org/event-6142429

I mean I guess it's nice he acknowledges women can be lawyers? Or is it just lawyers in general give you oestrogen? Luckily we have Harold and his robots to up the testosterone.

Arizona! #50statesdinner and we had Sonoran hot dogs with chiles tornados and Arizona sunshine lemon pie 🥧 delicious!

@pagingdrpaige.bsky.social got me to swear on the podcast - but it’s for good reason! On river theft, defences and my ever enduring love for Judge Weeramantry.

News.com.au misunderstanding that fish caught in the EEZ from Head and McDonald Island is an export from Australia not an export from those islands. 'Does in fact import'.... yes. From Australia.

The Prime Minister of the Heard / McDonald Islands Speaks on Trump’s Tariffs

Realised I forgot to post Alaska as part of our #50statedinners. We had Kenai dip, homemade venison sausages (both smoked and cooked fresh), and rhubarb and raspberry cobbler for dessert. All delicious. Up next... Arizona!

Breaking now: Ministry of Economics reporting the tariffs have not caused significant changes to our trading volumes

And does this, cf to implications from Philippines/China arbitration, suggest Heard & McDonald Islands *can* actually support an economy life of their own? Art 121 of UNCLOS, it's your time to shine.

'Fair trade' as every country exports & imports the same value to any given country is bonkers. Reasons for trade deficits OR surpluses reflect the different conditions in any bilateral pair of countries including yes trade barriers but ALSO income, labour costs, goods produced, goods needed, etc.

If you are going to report how "reciprocal" these tariffs are or how they quantify trade barriers and economic injustices... ... please keep in mind they're not, becuase that would have required work. Instead just did: COUNTRY'S US SURPLUS --------------------------- = Rate% ITS EXPORTS TO US