Some thoughts here: www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel...

Journalists @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @wsj.com @npr.org @reuters.com: ask DOJ and DOD what the “rules for the use of force” are for the 800 NG troops sent to police D.C. Ask why they’re not publicly releasing those rules. If they tell you it’s classified, ask why apple.news/AblL2RAAUQ2u...

Ironically, it’s the very #JAGs (from the FL Nat’l Guard) who will be used as #immigration judges to speed up the process that should know that their being used in this way to enforce the federal immigration law very likely violates the #possecommitatus act. amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

@aoc.bsky.social I “designed” this shirt as a micro-protest…I wear it out because I don’t look like Trump’s stereotypical “leftist”— I’m a middle-aged white man, 22-year Army vet, lawyer, married with 3 kids—who may be a tinge embarrassed when out with me wearing it 😂. Keep up the good work, AOC!

#rebellion #insurrection #losangeles #nationalguard #trump #newsom www.lawfaremedia.org/article/defi...

Journalists, ask these 2 questions of Trump and Hegseth: (1) what is your domestic legal authority to strike Iran? (2) what is your basis under international law given Art 2(4) and Art 51 of the UN Charter? If they can’t or won’t answer, that is a story in itself #iran www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

I’ve just posted a long-overdue review of my colleague Heidi Urben’s book on partisanship in the Army and its impact on American civil-military relations. open.substack.com/pub/dmaurer/...

I was able to talk with this journalist from NPR for bit last week about the domestic deployment of troops to the border’s new “military installation” perfoming, in effect, law enforcement functions in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act www.npr.org/2025/05/06/g...

I've rezoned my Substack newsletter into 3 "neighborhoods" - each with a distinctive subject area focus and style: "Civil Civics" (free), "Courting the Law" (free), and a regularly recurring (weekly) "Rational National Security" (for paid subscribers). dmaurer.substack.com/p/introducin...

Just posted to my LinkedIn and sharing here: www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel...

@washingtonpost.com @nytimes.com the DoD (inadvertently) just acknowledged that LGBTQ+ is an “immutable characteristic” along with one’s race. www.defense.gov/News/Release...

Is anybody keeping up a running “impeachable offense” list? Not that a majority of the current House will vote for articles of impeachment now, but the midterms will be here before we know it….

“The Constitution did not create a President in the king’s image but envisioned an exec. regularly checked & balanced by other authorities. Our Founders knew from hard experience the ‘intolerable abuses’ that flow from unchecked executive power.” -Gorsuch, J., dissenting in US v. Zubaydah (2022)

A universe of 1 apple.news/A1InsOdaIQqS...

Republican Sen. Murkowski opposes Hegseth for Defense Secretary - The Wall Street Journal Good. his lack of experience @ strategic nat’l security policy-making & managing large orgs, & disrespect for basic rule of law protections against abusive, illegal use of force are good grounds for voting no

No. An “invasion” demanding military responses and military security does not include unlawful migration, drug or human trafficking. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

For Sen. Reed’s unfortunately less-than-thorough questions of Hegseth re: law of war, rules of engagement, and the role of military lawyers, go to about 1 hour 15 minutes into the hearing. Missed opportunity to call out misleading statements and BS. www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-...

“On the eve of Donald Trump's election certification, the best thing Americans can do is remember that stupidity should be embarrassing.” Call it a civic duty — the only way to depopularize a populist demagogue and the deliberately-ignorant people he surrounds is to #makestupidembarassingagain

It is unclear why President Biden didn’t address commuting any of the 4 men on military death row—which is a federal death sentence, the same as if convicted in any other federal court. In fact, the media (mostly) forgot it about that small fact too. www.cityviewnc.com/stories/pres...

You know what would convince Trump to dump Hegseth as SecDef nominee? Tell him that Hegseth will be more popular with the troops and generals than Trump will be…

As Trump continues to suggest he will use the military support a mass deportation campaign that may exceed the authority of the President to execute immigration law, I’m reposting this piece from 4 years ago… www.justsecurity.org/72164/breaki...

Fantastic simplified explanation of VA benefits… what they are, how they are earned, and what they do not imply about a veteran getting this form of compensation

During his first term, President Trump became the first U.S. president to pardon American service members for war crimes. @danmaurerlawprof.bsky.social explores what Congress can do to make these types of pardons harder to grant.

curious about what kind of SecDef Hegseth will be? Me too. He’s been public on #warcrimes, #womenincombat, and #DEI programs in the DoD. But we still don’t know his views on #congressionaloversight, plans for leading the USA’s largest employer, nuke c2, budget priorities for modernizing the force…

I’ve lost track of how many times people in Trump’s orbit have accused someone of “treason.” You’d think the legal definition and elements would be easy to find… 🤔. But the rhetorical use of the word has some definite “incitement” vibes to it. Which is the point of course. x.com/elonmusk/sta...

A few words in defense of humor: www.dogshirtdaily.com/p/on-humor-a...

I'm about to share a few thoughts on the Pete Hegseth as nominee for SECDEF. Call this a dry-run for later, more formal, comments. A thread follows 🧵

#2. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/can-...

Well, the need to define presidential “official act” just got a whole lot more pressing. Here are two not-so recent pieces of mine published by Lawfare - unfortunately, they will retain their relevance in the next administration. #1. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/norm...