Recently, spoke to the Monterey community at MIIS on the topic of "Branding the Enemy" — who gets labeled a terrorist in the U.S., and who decides, and how #Trump is doing things differently in this space. Chapter 6 of my book Terror Disrupted w/ @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org goes deep on this.

CTEC Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social is now part of the GTSC Homeland Security Today Counterterrorism Editorial Board

Hello Middlebury and @cityofmonterey.bsky.social - please join on April 7 for this timely discussion that is free to the public. Sign up at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

A new paper I have published through @ctecmiis.bsky.social examines the full U.S. designation record against #Hamas linked charities (2003 to 2026) and proposes two structures to break the cycle of episodic enforcement. www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac... #sanctions #terrorism #Iran

New from CTEC: Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social examines two decades of U.S. sanctions against Hamas-linked charities. The record reveals bursts of sanctions followed by long silences in which Hamas rebuilt Read the paper: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac... #Hamas #Iran #Terrorism

If you are interested in issues related large language models, Artificial Intelligence and intersections with illicit activity, pls join a @rusi.bsky.social webinar that I will be speaking at: my.rusi.org/events/webin... Would love to see former/current students there! You can register below:

www.instagram.com/reel/DVdryri... Time to get off of the sidelines.

The judge’s antics in this case are also making me think these defendants aren’t going to have a fair trial.

CTEC shoutout: @npr.org / @oyousef.bsky.social referenced J.M. Berger’s “lawful extremism” work—how extremist-coded rhetoric can migrate into state messaging with plausible deniability. www.npr.org/2026/02/16/n...

Thrilled to announce Noor Almusahwi as our next Michael Donnelly Fellow (Spring 2026). Noor brings deep experience on human rights and digital security—paired with rigorous research on terrorism, political violence, and rule of law. Congrats, Noor! www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

I wrote a new @rusi.bsky.social briefing on LLM-enabled terrorist financing: risks, likely pathways, and practical mitigations. #Terror #Finance #AI #LLM www.projectcraaft.eu/research-bri...

Can’t thank @universitypress.cambridge.org enough for its patience. Terror Disrupted focuses on CTF tools but also the financing of groups like ISIS and more broadly, the radical right. Thanks to Dan Byman, Bruce Hoffman @jessmarindavis.bsky.social and Ali Soufan for their endorsements.

Important reporting by @newyorksun.bsky.social. Time to increase the pressure on the Taliban in this case.

As always great work by CTEC’s senior researcher, Isabela Bernardo. Give her latest report a read!

Appreciated the chance to join late last week @msnownews.bsky.social to discuss the tragic attack in DC. I was very clear that we lacked any evidence that this was “terrorism” - a far too often used word to describe violence.

Appreciated the chance to speak with the @washingtonpost.com about recent terrorist-related policy decisions made by the Trump Admin. I can’t recall a time when 4 FTOS were added to the list and not one death has been attributed to them. That is bonkers. That is politics.

I joined NPR’s Kera News to discuss the Prairieland ICE shooting and what the DOJ’s case could mean for future “#Antifa” prosecutions. The violence was real—but linking it to a centralized Antifa structure is a stretch. We need more evidence, not more labels. 🔗 www.keranews.org/criminal-jus...

New from CTEC, our Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , is featured on NPR discussing the controversial topic of whether #antifa should be designated as a terrorist organization. His expertise adds critical context to this evolving discussion. Listen to the segment: www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...

I spoke with NPR's Morning Edition about the latest debate over designating #Antifa as a foreign terrorist organization. If pursued, the impact will be profound. Listen here: www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...

I appreciated the chance to join @ajepodcasts.bsky.social - The Take - to discuss the recent Trump Admin focus on Antifa. You can find the convo at YT, Apple, and Spotify YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYE... Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/.../why-is...... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5RRk...

My latest for @latimes.com. Simply put, Trump’s recent order on domestic terrorism is more about politics than national security. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

Appreciated the time that @keranews.org @npr.org took to examine the underlying motives behind this deadly attack against a DHS ICE facility. Check it out 👇

🚨OUT NOW🚨 Trump keeps talking about cracking down on “left wing terror networks” in the US. This appears like a blatant move to crackdown on his enemies – so what is the real state of domestic terrorism in America? @jason-blazakis.bsky.social & @jacobjarvis.bsky.social discuss 👉 linktr.ee/bunker_pod

🚨 New Op-Ed in the @inquirer.com Inquirer 🚨by CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social . Trump’s new order labeling #Antifa a “domestic terrorist organization” isn’t about public safety — it’s about political power. Read Here: www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

Thanks to @oyousef.bsky.social for capturing why a terrorist designation of #Antifa shouldn't be in the cards and why such a maneuver by #Trump would be illegal. I wrote about this in detail for @slate.com in 2020. Read my Slate piece and the great article below by NPR... slate.com/news-and-pol...

Congrats Olivia! Looking forward to seeing the results of your research.

Will #neverforget.

New CTEC publication: "Hermetic Hatred" demonstrates how antisemitism survives by adapting its narrative architecture—from theology to politics to today’s platforms. Maps key tropes, transmission routes, and practical takeaways for policy & T&S. www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

The latest by @ctecmiis.bsky.social maps the transmission routes that allow for the spread of #antisemitism. 📖👇🏻

Check out the latest paper from @middleburycollege.bsky.social @ctecmiis.bsky.social that explores intersections between violent misogyny and antisemitism. 📖👇🏻

Very excited to be working with @universitypress.cambridge.org on this forthcoming book, Terror Disrupted, which examines, amongst other things, countering the financing of groups like ISIS, al-Qa'ida, and the extreme far right. Preorder: www.amazon.com/Terror-Disru...

Fantastic piece by Paula Granger featured by @ctecmiis.bsky.social. Give it a read👇🏻

Today @ctecmiis.bsky.social published a guest author essay by @djrosenthal.bsky.social that examines the importance of strategic reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Check out this must read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social just published for @justsecurity.org a piece looking at #Trump Admin decisions recently to delist HTS as an FTO in #Syria. Check it out at: www.justsecurity.org/117191/trump...

As always, appreciate the chance to work with @justsecurity.org

Key points, amongst many, include that HTS is still listed as a terrorist group per US law. As is jawlani, per state dept EO 13224 designation, and of course HTS and jawlani still listed at the UN. HTS not out of the woods yet.

Sadly, the #Trump Admin is sleeping on the transnational far-right threat. Active Clubs on the rise - in places like #Sweden - and they have links to U.S. based violent extremists. Groups like the Nordic Resistance Front remain a threat and are circumventing State Dept #sanctions. Read more below 🔽

I am heading back to states today and was sure to add this to my photo library.

Also, the CT Bureau at State Dept is losing amazing people to the "reduction in force" the process or "early retirements" (who can blame someone for retiring early from a chaotic administration). This will take years of rebuilding post Trump Admin. It will also make the US less safe.

Worth the read.

Recently, CTEC Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with Maine's Kennebec Journal regarding the challenge of stochastic violence and the spillover in schools across the United States: www.centralmaine.com/2025/04/20/h...

The #socialmedia companies have to do much better. Last year, the Houthis paid for a blue check from X….

Great to join @colinpclarke.bsky.social on this piece for the @latimes.com. Bottom line - you cant ignore any form of ideological terrorism. The latest intel threat assessment by the IC misses the mark, likely b/c of political appointees driving the process. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

One of my former grad researchers - Michael Burton - is trying to complete his Russian language studies and needs your help! Michael is extremely talented and among the strongest grad students I've worked with. He also would make a great hire! www.gofundme.com/f/completing...

Wrote recently for @lawfare.bsky.social on the situation in #Syria and what it would take for HTS to be removed from the #terrorist list. The recent surge of violence in Syria which, to me, reinforces the need to be cautious about delisting HTS. More at: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...

Overall - major shift of focus of USG's #counterterrorism policy - to western hem. There will be more SST listings, starting with Venezuela, in the days/weeks/months ahead. Trump can't executive order that, just as w/ the cartel terror designations. It requires a distinct action by the State Dept.

Likely a lot of disagreement with me on this one, but my latest for @wsj.com on the downsides of Trump's decision today to designate the Mexican drug cartels and a two criminal gangs as 'terrorists'. www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...

If you look fast I was on Fox News briefly (as in seconds..) to talk about the one small benefit of the FTO designation of the Mexico cartels as terrorists. Of course lots more to it than that! www.foxnews.com/video/636904...

State Dept FTO actions on #Mexicandrugcartels as terrorists pre-published in the FRN (attached). MS-13 and TdA also listed as FTOs. Very interesting on MS-13 given it was founded in the US and State Dept hasn't designated a group with such a clear US nexus before.

#Gobirds!