Brian Finucane
@bcfinucane.bsky.social
Senior Adviser, US Program, International Crisis Group. Editor at Just Security. Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law. Ex State Dept Lawyer. War Powers| Use of Force| Counterterrorism| Law of War| War Crimes| Arms Sales
Pinned
Brian Finucane
@bcfinucane.bsky.social
· Sep 19
Asserting a License to Kill: Why the Caribbean Strike is a Dangerous Departure from the “War on Terror”
An absence of credible legal basis for the Caribbean strike suggests the Trump admin is asserting a prerogative to kill outside the law.
www.justsecurity.org
My analysis in @justsecurity.org on Trump's asserted license to kill. 2/n
www.justsecurity.org/120568/carib...
www.justsecurity.org/120568/carib...
Almost like these schemes are not fully thought through all the way
January 10, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Almost like these schemes are not fully thought through all the way
Another notable aspect of the Greenland nonsense is that as far as I can tell Trump hasn't mentioned Greenland becoming a state.
What he may have in mind could be something more akin to Greenland becoming his personal fief, perhaps like the Belgian Congo for King Leopold.
What he may have in mind could be something more akin to Greenland becoming his personal fief, perhaps like the Belgian Congo for King Leopold.
And why is ownership of Greenland important for the U.S.?
“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success.”
“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success.”
January 10, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Another notable aspect of the Greenland nonsense is that as far as I can tell Trump hasn't mentioned Greenland becoming a state.
What he may have in mind could be something more akin to Greenland becoming his personal fief, perhaps like the Belgian Congo for King Leopold.
What he may have in mind could be something more akin to Greenland becoming his personal fief, perhaps like the Belgian Congo for King Leopold.
Really enjoyed my discussion with @mjsdc.bsky.social about war powers, international law, and how the Trump administration has repurposed the “terrorism” framing, starting around 26:30 here.
Have a listen.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Have a listen.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Renee Good and Trump’s Age of Immunity
Podcast Episode · Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · 01/10/2026 · 1h 1m
podcasts.apple.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Really enjoyed my discussion with @mjsdc.bsky.social about war powers, international law, and how the Trump administration has repurposed the “terrorism” framing, starting around 26:30 here.
Have a listen.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Have a listen.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Reposted by Brian Finucane
I’ve been asked for parting words in a few interviews this week, so here they are:
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
January 10, 2026 at 2:54 AM
I’ve been asked for parting words in a few interviews this week, so here they are:
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
I’ve been asked for parting words in a few interviews this week, so here they are:
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
January 10, 2026 at 2:54 AM
I’ve been asked for parting words in a few interviews this week, so here they are:
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
Defeatism is self fulfilling.
You have agency.
This is your Republic to keep.
Let your elected representatives know how you feel.
Nazi propaganda, can’t think of any reason that might be of contemporary relevance…
In Nazi Germany, Goebbels picked an infant picture for a magazine cover to show the ideal Aryan baby. The only hitch? The baby was Jewish. Hessy Levinsons Taft's amazing story by @mikerosenwald.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...
Hessy Levinsons Taft, Jewish Baby on Cover of Nazi Magazine, Dies at 91
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Nazi propaganda, can’t think of any reason that might be of contemporary relevance…
Sorry, what’s the latest from Ghorman, er Minnesota?
January 10, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Sorry, what’s the latest from Ghorman, er Minnesota?
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Referred to this as the Access Hollywood approach to foreign policy on a podcast today.
January 9, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Referred to this as the Access Hollywood approach to foreign policy on a podcast today.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Honored to have my war powers scholarship referenced by @charliesavage.bsky.social in @nytimes.com.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
Justice Dept. Memo Approved Military Incursion Into Venezuela as Lawful
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Honored to have my war powers scholarship referenced by @charliesavage.bsky.social in @nytimes.com.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
Reposted by Brian Finucane
How does Donald Trump's lust for oil drive his foreign policy (in Venezuela and beyond)? @bcfinucane.bsky.social breaks it down, sharing his experience serving as a State Department legal advisor during Trump's first term.
January 7, 2026 at 3:32 PM
How does Donald Trump's lust for oil drive his foreign policy (in Venezuela and beyond)? @bcfinucane.bsky.social breaks it down, sharing his experience serving as a State Department legal advisor during Trump's first term.
The power of the purse is the ultimate war power—including for attempts to wage war against Americans.
Sen. Tina Smith: "I don't know how I could vote for a funding bill for ICE and DHS when so much of what they are doing is illegal, is lawless."
January 10, 2026 at 12:17 AM
The power of the purse is the ultimate war power—including for attempts to wage war against Americans.
Did a podcast on war powers yesterday and was asked about ICE gunning down Renee Good.
“Horrible, heartbreaking, and sickening” was my response.
And noted how the administration smeared her with bogus accusations of “terrorism”, like the people the admin is killing at sea, and those sent to CECOT.
“Horrible, heartbreaking, and sickening” was my response.
And noted how the administration smeared her with bogus accusations of “terrorism”, like the people the admin is killing at sea, and those sent to CECOT.
January 10, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Did a podcast on war powers yesterday and was asked about ICE gunning down Renee Good.
“Horrible, heartbreaking, and sickening” was my response.
And noted how the administration smeared her with bogus accusations of “terrorism”, like the people the admin is killing at sea, and those sent to CECOT.
“Horrible, heartbreaking, and sickening” was my response.
And noted how the administration smeared her with bogus accusations of “terrorism”, like the people the admin is killing at sea, and those sent to CECOT.
Let’s just say that Rex Tillerson had views on Trump’s “take the oil” philosophy.
January 9, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Let’s just say that Rex Tillerson had views on Trump’s “take the oil” philosophy.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
And notable that in terms of managing POTUS, SecState prioritizes his pet ideological project in Latin America over say stopping this destructive nonsense about Greenland.
January 9, 2026 at 11:41 PM
And notable that in terms of managing POTUS, SecState prioritizes his pet ideological project in Latin America over say stopping this destructive nonsense about Greenland.
And notable that in terms of managing POTUS, SecState prioritizes his pet ideological project in Latin America over say stopping this destructive nonsense about Greenland.
January 9, 2026 at 11:41 PM
And notable that in terms of managing POTUS, SecState prioritizes his pet ideological project in Latin America over say stopping this destructive nonsense about Greenland.
But a nice illustration of the dynamics within the administration on Venezuela policy.
Marco Rubio hands Trump a note that was meant to be private and then Trump reads it aloud
January 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
But a nice illustration of the dynamics within the administration on Venezuela policy.
Reposted by Brian Finucane
I was shocked to learn that the answer does not lie with the United States' maritime killing spree.
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
Why overdose deaths are falling in America
Researchers point to a grocers’ favourite
www.economist.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM
I was shocked to learn that the answer does not lie with the United States' maritime killing spree.
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
Reposted by Brian Finucane
Pleased to speak with @afp.com about the US President's illegal threats towards a certain NATO ally.
"There are a lot of hurdles to incorporating Greenland into the United States."
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
"There are a lot of hurdles to incorporating Greenland into the United States."
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Trump has options in Greenland, but provocation may be the point
If President Donald Trump is serious about bolstering the US presence in Greenland, he has options -- but he may still want the most provocative one.
www.france24.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Pleased to speak with @afp.com about the US President's illegal threats towards a certain NATO ally.
"There are a lot of hurdles to incorporating Greenland into the United States."
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
"There are a lot of hurdles to incorporating Greenland into the United States."
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
This is my shocked face.
www.ft.com/content/2986...
www.ft.com/content/2986...
Exxon tells Trump Venezuela ‘uninvestable’ without big changes
US president seeks to win commitments from oil executives to invest up to $100bn
www.ft.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:06 PM
This is my shocked face.
www.ft.com/content/2986...
www.ft.com/content/2986...
Wonder whether the administration leaned on the flag state of East Timor to provide consent for the boarding.
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
U.S. Forces Seize Fifth Tanker in Campaign to Track Down Venezuelan Oil
The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the sanctioned tanker Olina in waters near Venezuela.
www.wsj.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Wonder whether the administration leaned on the flag state of East Timor to provide consent for the boarding.
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
www.wsj.com/world/americ...