Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social
Terrorism, conflict, crime. @uniessexgov.bsky.social. Via Ohio, Camp Lejeune, PGH, CDMX. Co-authored book: "Insurgent Terrorism." https://sites.google.com/site/brianjphillips/home
Pinned
Who Are the Terrorism Researchers? A Study of Scholars in an Evolving Field, 1970–2019
Debates rage about diversity and representation. How diverse is terrorism studies? How has it changed over time? This article analyzes data on the nearly 2,000 terrorism scholars in the Web of Scie...
doi.org
Who creates terrorism research? Which countries produce the most? How have these things changed over time? Check out my recent article.
doi.org/10.1080/1057...
doi.org/10.1080/1057...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
[wtf?]Former professor requested thousands from Jeffrey Epstein Foundation to fund campus rape policy conference – The Daily Texan
thedailytexan.com/2026/02/10/f...
thedailytexan.com/2026/02/10/f...
Former professor requested thousands from Jeffrey Epstein Foundation to fund campus rape policy conference
Content warning: This story contains discussion of pedophilia, sexual assault, harassment, rape and suicide. A former UT Classics professor requested over $10,000 from Jeffrey Epstein’s charitable org...
thedailytexan.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:39 PM
[wtf?]Former professor requested thousands from Jeffrey Epstein Foundation to fund campus rape policy conference – The Daily Texan
thedailytexan.com/2026/02/10/f...
thedailytexan.com/2026/02/10/f...
I grew up in Ohio not knowing any Puerto Ricans - until I joined the Marines. Of course the USMC is quite diverse, with many Puerto Ricans serving.
At Parris Island I kept seeing a certain flag on a cars, and I thought, "Wow there are a lot of Ohioans here!" There are, but it was the PR flag.
At Parris Island I kept seeing a certain flag on a cars, and I thought, "Wow there are a lot of Ohioans here!" There are, but it was the PR flag.
February 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM
I grew up in Ohio not knowing any Puerto Ricans - until I joined the Marines. Of course the USMC is quite diverse, with many Puerto Ricans serving.
At Parris Island I kept seeing a certain flag on a cars, and I thought, "Wow there are a lot of Ohioans here!" There are, but it was the PR flag.
At Parris Island I kept seeing a certain flag on a cars, and I thought, "Wow there are a lot of Ohioans here!" There are, but it was the PR flag.
What on earth is happening at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum website? Hacked? Wrong caption?
February 8, 2026 at 4:06 PM
What on earth is happening at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum website? Hacked? Wrong caption?
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Scoop: A white supremacist accused of arson of a civil rights landmark in Tennessee has now been charged with providing material support to Hezbollah for allegedly giving the group a list names of individuals associated with Israel.
www.courtwatch.news/p/162-nazis-...
www.courtwatch.news/p/162-nazis-...
#162: Nazis 🤝Hezbollah
Things took a surprising turn in one Tennessee arson case. Plus: Judge orders deported families returned, Biden-era Congressional warrants will stay hidden, Minneapolis U.S. Attorneys office stops inv...
www.courtwatch.news
February 6, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Scoop: A white supremacist accused of arson of a civil rights landmark in Tennessee has now been charged with providing material support to Hezbollah for allegedly giving the group a list names of individuals associated with Israel.
www.courtwatch.news/p/162-nazis-...
www.courtwatch.news/p/162-nazis-...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
They closed the CIA World Factbook and deleted it entirely.
February 4, 2026 at 10:06 PM
They closed the CIA World Factbook and deleted it entirely.
I’m reminded that there are many alternatives to buying things on Amazon. Many other places/people to give money to.
That Jeff Bezos's Amazon gave Brett Ratner, someone photographed with Jeffrey Epstein and in the Epstein Files, $75 million to make a doc about Melania Trump, while he chooses to destroy The Washington Post, says about all you need to know.
February 4, 2026 at 10:31 PM
I’m reminded that there are many alternatives to buying things on Amazon. Many other places/people to give money to.
A jury couldn't agree that Palestine Action members committed violent crimes; no convictions.
This raises questions about why PA was was proscribed, declared a terrorist group. PA members haven't been found guilty of violence, hurting people. (The closest thing is "criminal damage" in past cases.)
This raises questions about why PA was was proscribed, declared a terrorist group. PA members haven't been found guilty of violence, hurting people. (The closest thing is "criminal damage" in past cases.)
Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary at Israeli defence firm site
Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary at Israeli defence firm site
None of the six activists were convicted of any offence over break-in at Elbit Systems factory near Bristol in 2024
Six Palestine Action activists have been cleared of committing aggravated burglary over a break-in at an Israeli defence firm’s UK site.
Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin were accused of threatening unlawful violence and using sledgehammers as weapons after a prison van was driven into Elbit Systems’ factory in Filton, near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:06 PM
A jury couldn't agree that Palestine Action members committed violent crimes; no convictions.
This raises questions about why PA was was proscribed, declared a terrorist group. PA members haven't been found guilty of violence, hurting people. (The closest thing is "criminal damage" in past cases.)
This raises questions about why PA was was proscribed, declared a terrorist group. PA members haven't been found guilty of violence, hurting people. (The closest thing is "criminal damage" in past cases.)
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
When - and why - does ethnicity matter more than unity inside armed groups? 🤔
Read the new #JOGSS article by Makena Micheni to unpack how ethnic identity becomes foregrounded in multi-ethnic militant organisations
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jogs...
Read the new #JOGSS article by Makena Micheni to unpack how ethnic identity becomes foregrounded in multi-ethnic militant organisations
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jogs...
February 4, 2026 at 11:14 AM
When - and why - does ethnicity matter more than unity inside armed groups? 🤔
Read the new #JOGSS article by Makena Micheni to unpack how ethnic identity becomes foregrounded in multi-ethnic militant organisations
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jogs...
Read the new #JOGSS article by Makena Micheni to unpack how ethnic identity becomes foregrounded in multi-ethnic militant organisations
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jogs...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Was the #Trump administration right to use the term "domestic terrorism" to describe protesters in #Minneapolis, including Alex Pretti?
In short, no. My colleague @hoffmanbruce.bsky.social and I address this important question in a @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social Q&A.
In short, no. My colleague @hoffmanbruce.bsky.social and I address this important question in a @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social Q&A.
Five questions about domestic terrorism and the violence in Minneapolis | School of Foreign Service | Georgetown
In January 2026, two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot by U.S. federal agents in Minneapolis as part of local protests against U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and...
sfs.georgetown.edu
February 3, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Was the #Trump administration right to use the term "domestic terrorism" to describe protesters in #Minneapolis, including Alex Pretti?
In short, no. My colleague @hoffmanbruce.bsky.social and I address this important question in a @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social Q&A.
In short, no. My colleague @hoffmanbruce.bsky.social and I address this important question in a @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social Q&A.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
1/ BREAKING: Government documents reviewed by ProPublica identify Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, as the two who fired their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.propublica.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:12 PM
1/ BREAKING: Government documents reviewed by ProPublica identify Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, as the two who fired their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
While crime in London was dropping
Wowsers look at what happened to posts on Twitter/X about London crime after monetisation of posts was introduced…
economist.com/britain/2026...
economist.com/britain/2026...
February 1, 2026 at 10:03 AM
While crime in London was dropping
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Me, a middle aged professional: better proof read for tone and content before I click send.
The people running the entire world: lol cu n fl 4 crimes
The people running the entire world: lol cu n fl 4 crimes
January 31, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Me, a middle aged professional: better proof read for tone and content before I click send.
The people running the entire world: lol cu n fl 4 crimes
The people running the entire world: lol cu n fl 4 crimes
Interesting piece on the 63-year-old Londoner who a bombed a ULEZ (ultra low emission zone) camera, and the online community cheering him on
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Ulez bomber: the retired electrician who turned bomb-making extremist
Shy 63-year-old’s decision to blow up London traffic camera linked to online conspiracy theories and Islamophobia
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Interesting piece on the 63-year-old Londoner who a bombed a ULEZ (ultra low emission zone) camera, and the online community cheering him on
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
I wrote something... Hope it’s helpful ☮️
I’ve studied Nonviolent protection movements in war zones for 2 decades. Here’s what I’m seeing in the U.S.
theconversation.com/anti-ice-pro...
I’ve studied Nonviolent protection movements in war zones for 2 decades. Here’s what I’m seeing in the U.S.
theconversation.com/anti-ice-pro...
Anti-ICE protesters are following same nonviolent playbook used by people in war zones across the world to fight threats to their communities
Americans are learning and doing the kind of work that civilians in war zones worldwide have done for decades: dealing with threats by organizing to help protect their neighbors and communities.
theconversation.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:48 PM
I wrote something... Hope it’s helpful ☮️
I’ve studied Nonviolent protection movements in war zones for 2 decades. Here’s what I’m seeing in the U.S.
theconversation.com/anti-ice-pro...
I’ve studied Nonviolent protection movements in war zones for 2 decades. Here’s what I’m seeing in the U.S.
theconversation.com/anti-ice-pro...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
The list of designated terrorist groups has grown at an unprecedented rate. Counter-terror policies are being stretched to include drug cartels – with serious international consequences, as we saw in Venezuela at the beginning of January.
apple.news/A2ctexD9jR2K...
apple.news/A2ctexD9jR2K...
Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys — The Conversation UK
The US now counts drug runners as terrorists, expanding the number of groups is it targeting.
apple.news
January 29, 2026 at 2:28 PM
The list of designated terrorist groups has grown at an unprecedented rate. Counter-terror policies are being stretched to include drug cartels – with serious international consequences, as we saw in Venezuela at the beginning of January.
apple.news/A2ctexD9jR2K...
apple.news/A2ctexD9jR2K...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
"Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys"
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys
The US now counts drug runners as terrorists, expanding the number of groups is it targeting.
theconversation.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:20 PM
"Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys"
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Terrorist financing is shifting from large transfers to AI-driven micro-transactions.
Pattern evasion, not anonymity, is now the core problem for AML systems
GNET
gnet-research.org/2026/01/28/a...
Pattern evasion, not anonymity, is now the core problem for AML systems
GNET
gnet-research.org/2026/01/28/a...
“Agentic Smurfing”: How AI-Autonomous Micro-Laundering is Outpacing Traditional Terrorist Financing Detection - GNET
gnet-research.org
January 29, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Terrorist financing is shifting from large transfers to AI-driven micro-transactions.
Pattern evasion, not anonymity, is now the core problem for AML systems
GNET
gnet-research.org/2026/01/28/a...
Pattern evasion, not anonymity, is now the core problem for AML systems
GNET
gnet-research.org/2026/01/28/a...
"Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys"
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys
The US now counts drug runners as terrorists, expanding the number of groups is it targeting.
theconversation.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:20 PM
"Trump 2.0: overhaul of counter-terrorism policy massively expands US list of bad guys"
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
I wrote about how the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list radically changed in the past year- growing faster than ever, and now including drug-trafficking orgs.
theconversation.com/trump-2-0-ov...
Fascinating and a bit scary use of text analysis.
"Terry Pratchett’s novels may have held clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis, our new study suggests"
theconversation.com/terry-pratch...
"Terry Pratchett’s novels may have held clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis, our new study suggests"
theconversation.com/terry-pratch...
Terry Pratchett’s novels may have held clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis, our new study suggests
The author’s vocabulary narrowed a decade before diagnosis – a clue that could transform early dementia detection.
theconversation.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Fascinating and a bit scary use of text analysis.
"Terry Pratchett’s novels may have held clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis, our new study suggests"
theconversation.com/terry-pratch...
"Terry Pratchett’s novels may have held clues to his dementia a decade before diagnosis, our new study suggests"
theconversation.com/terry-pratch...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Matt Goodwin makes a living out of railing against university educated elites & his whole schtick is "he was the first person in his family to go to university", which is a bit weird given that his Dad, now being heavily invoked for his Manchester connection, appears to have a string of degrees.
January 27, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Matt Goodwin makes a living out of railing against university educated elites & his whole schtick is "he was the first person in his family to go to university", which is a bit weird given that his Dad, now being heavily invoked for his Manchester connection, appears to have a string of degrees.
"The United States proscription of Hezbollah: a critical discourse analysis (1985–1997)." By Karime Ahmad Borraschi Cheaito
doi.org/10.1080/1753...
doi.org/10.1080/1753...
doi.org
January 27, 2026 at 3:40 PM
"The United States proscription of Hezbollah: a critical discourse analysis (1985–1997)." By Karime Ahmad Borraschi Cheaito
doi.org/10.1080/1753...
doi.org/10.1080/1753...
Protest is powerful. Neighbors videotaping is necessary. Progress is possible.
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Gregory Bovino Gets Demoted
The Border Patrol chief was the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown on cities governed by Democrats.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Protest is powerful. Neighbors videotaping is necessary. Progress is possible.
Just the headline from this WSJ piece. The shooting is so obviously unjustified.
But will there be any change or accountability?
But will there be any change or accountability?
January 26, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Just the headline from this WSJ piece. The shooting is so obviously unjustified.
But will there be any change or accountability?
But will there be any change or accountability?
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
WSJ:
Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents
See how immigration officers escalated a fatal confrontation Saturday
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents
See how immigration officers escalated a fatal confrontation Saturday
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
January 25, 2026 at 9:26 AM
WSJ:
Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents
See how immigration officers escalated a fatal confrontation Saturday
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents
See how immigration officers escalated a fatal confrontation Saturday
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...