Breaking news: High-level discussions over whether to attack Venezuela — and how — have been underway for days. It remains unclear if President Trump has decided to pursue such an escalation.

Awful: Trump's boat bombings are now being justified by a new legal memo that relies on WH's own determinations as evidence. Memo also says people can't be prosecuted for the killings. But that reveals WH knows there's legal vulnerability here, Ds tell me. New piece: newrepublic.com/article/2032...

Bryan Peeler asks in his post why does #reciprocity refuse to die. He argues that reciprocity endures as the hidden grammar of compliance and legitimacy in #warfare despite more than a century of legal reform seeking to purge it from #IHL. lieber.westpoint.edu/why-reciproc...

Thanks to everyone at the Lieber Institute for letting me write about reciprocity and IHL:

Harsh but fair.

The October issue of AJIL is now available online! This issue places special focus on the CPUS section, where members of the Board have written essays on the various policies and changes under the second Trump administration. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”

People who read the memo said it asserts that boats believed to be carrying narcotics are lawful military targets because their cargo would generate revenue that cartels could use to buy military equipment to wage the purported armed conflict. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...

'Killing Machines - Trump, the Law of War, and the Future of Military Impunity' by Thomas Gift. Sets out how Trump's defiance of the law of war will shape US military conduct in the coming years. 📚 https://cup.org/47VPKAO 📚

Jon Hamm is in Winnipeg filming a TV series, and is absolutely crushing fall chunky sweater season. (First pic at Vera Pizza, second at 529 Wellington)

Intelligence “is not for killing,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro told NBC News' Richard Engel, explaining his decision to stop sharing information with the United States in opposition to lethal strikes on boats allegedly carrying illegal drugs.

Wait...WHAT?

CANADA SPY AGENCY SAYS IT FOILED POTENTIALLY “LETHAL THREATS” LINKED TO IRAN - REPORTS

Um....

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand broke with tradition as she seemingly asserted that Canada's top diplomat doesn't weigh in on a foreign country's adherence to international law. www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...

Because they wanted a Trump presidency.

The remarkable story we discussed this morning. (No paywall but do consider subscribing.) www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-e...

SecState has views on international law and the boat strikes it seems. It is not just the Europeans, but a range of former USG national security lawyers—including former State Department attorneys—who have criticized these maritime strikes as unlawful.

There is an answer to all this:

They (and all legacy media) wanted a Trump presidency.

Seditionist says what?

There is no fixing crazy.

I want to thank CNN for reminding everyone what a douchebag Kevin O'Leary is

Huh?

Post an non-Epstein files Epstein:

Defund the police

Legal news of the day includes additional details of the OLC Murder Memo and further Epstein revelations. There’s a through line of lawlessness and impunity. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Why isn't Johnson and Johnson suing him over these claims? Can they under US law?

More reading to do!

Send troops to Ukraine.

In rare good news, Professor Phoebe Okowa has been elected to the International Court of Justice. Okowa will fill the vacancy left by Judge Yusuf's retirement and will serve until February 2027. Most expect her to stand for election to a full nine-year term thereafter.

The anti vax gang needs to know that all their political heroes and their families are fully vaccinated.

The moral failing in attempting to prove Hitler was the victim of a genetic something-something is the same as the moral failing in claiming Trump is mentally ill. Their acts are those of conscious adults who’ve justified them in writing — they’re very fundamentally victimizers, not victims

Two major issues that this OLC opinion likely addresses are: 1) Does POTUS have authority to use force w/o congressional authorization? Will no doubt cite longstanding OLC two-prong test. 2) Do these premeditated killings violate various US criminal laws? Expect supposed NIACs are critical here.

I finally processed the 2024 TRIP survey on Canadian IR, and here are the results at OpenCanada for the rankings of PhD, MA, undergrad programs and think tanks as well as views towards whether and where should Canadians get PhDs in international relations opencanada.org/the-state-of... 1/2

Why this is bad news for Biden...

JFC.

👇👇👇

Trump calls on Israeli president to pardon Bibi. Unlike Brazilian case, emphasizes he respects Israeli judicial independence, i.e. no sanctions if case isn’t dropped

Tax these people out of existence

Prosecutors in Milan have opened an investigation into Italians who allegedly paid the Bosnian Serb army for trips to Sarajevo so that they could kill citizens during the 4-year siege of the city in the 90s. Add SNIPER TOURISM to the list of obscenities. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Together with @wanshucong.bsky.social we put together a symposium on the 20th anniversary of Anghie's pathbreaking Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of IL. Our introduction is here: cil.nus.edu.sg/blog/symposi.... Terrific contributions to come including a generous response by Prof. Anghie.

Caucasian Broadcasting System

Criminal Broadcasting Service

If you're wondering what I'd like for Christmas: