Charlie Savage
@charliesavage.bsky.social
The New York Times national security and legal reporter. Not the Welsh footballer, Roddy Doyle character or 19th Century adventurer in Fiji.
Trump y compañía dicen que Maduro lidera un ‘cártel’. Esto es lo que significa
Los venezolanos acuñaron un término para referirse a los generales corrompidos por el dinero del narcotráfico: “Cártel de los Soles”. Estados Unidos se lo tomó literalmente.
www.nytimes.com/es/2025/11/1...
Los venezolanos acuñaron un término para referirse a los generales corrompidos por el dinero del narcotráfico: “Cártel de los Soles”. Estados Unidos se lo tomó literalmente.
www.nytimes.com/es/2025/11/1...
November 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Trump y compañía dicen que Maduro lidera un ‘cártel’. Esto es lo que significa
Los venezolanos acuñaron un término para referirse a los generales corrompidos por el dinero del narcotráfico: “Cártel de los Soles”. Estados Unidos se lo tomó literalmente.
www.nytimes.com/es/2025/11/1...
Los venezolanos acuñaron un término para referirse a los generales corrompidos por el dinero del narcotráfico: “Cártel de los Soles”. Estados Unidos se lo tomó literalmente.
www.nytimes.com/es/2025/11/1...
Trump Team Calls Maduro a ‘Cartel’ Boss. That Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think.
Venezuelans coined a figure of speech for the phenomenon of generals corrupted by drug money: “Cartel de los Soles.” Then the US started talking about it as a literal organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
Venezuelans coined a figure of speech for the phenomenon of generals corrupted by drug money: “Cartel de los Soles.” Then the US started talking about it as a literal organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
Trump Team Calls Maduro a ‘Cartel’ Boss. That Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Trump Team Calls Maduro a ‘Cartel’ Boss. That Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think.
Venezuelans coined a figure of speech for the phenomenon of generals corrupted by drug money: “Cartel de los Soles.” Then the US started talking about it as a literal organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
Venezuelans coined a figure of speech for the phenomenon of generals corrupted by drug money: “Cartel de los Soles.” Then the US started talking about it as a literal organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
Good piece by @rachelmorris.bsky.social about the liberal faculty lounge chin-stroking origins of what became a politically potent nativist argument about the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship. (Aside: I am sorry to hear that Peter Schuck, whose torts class I took 23 years ago, is ailing.)
Forty years ago, two liberal professors published a "provocative" book about immigration that sold poorly and got terrible reviews. It also inadvertently handed Trump the legal argument he's using to attack birthright citizenship. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
The Liberal Scholars Who Influenced Trump’s Attack on Birthright Citizenship
The President’s executive order took inspiration from an esoteric legal argument from 1985, by two Yale professors. They have some regrets.
www.newyorker.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Good piece by @rachelmorris.bsky.social about the liberal faculty lounge chin-stroking origins of what became a politically potent nativist argument about the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship. (Aside: I am sorry to hear that Peter Schuck, whose torts class I took 23 years ago, is ailing.)
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
DOJ filing shows prosecution considers Comey telling Graham he didn't remember getting a memo w/ the 'Clinton plan' thing to be part of the case. Grand jury no-billed the attempted perjury charge but they think it's still evidence for obstruction charge. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
DOJ filing shows prosecution considers Comey telling Graham he didn't remember getting a memo w/ the 'Clinton plan' thing to be part of the case. Grand jury no-billed the attempted perjury charge but they think it's still evidence for obstruction charge. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Walter Isaacson and I discussed Dick Cheney's presidential power legacy and how he paved the way for Donald Trump despite being adversaries. This aired tonight on PBS's Amanpour & Co. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuH6...
NYT Reporter: “Dick Cheney’s Presidential Power Push Paved Way for Trump” | Amanpour and Company
YouTube video by Amanpour and Company
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Walter Isaacson and I discussed Dick Cheney's presidential power legacy and how he paved the way for Donald Trump despite being adversaries. This aired tonight on PBS's Amanpour & Co. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuH6...
How Cheney’s Presidential Power Push Paved the Way for Trump to Go Further
Donald J. Trump and Dick Cheney became adversaries, but the former vice president set the stage for Mr. Trump’s bid to expand his executive authority.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Donald J. Trump and Dick Cheney became adversaries, but the former vice president set the stage for Mr. Trump’s bid to expand his executive authority.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
How Cheney’s Presidential Power Push Paved the Way for Trump to Go Further
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:07 PM
How Cheney’s Presidential Power Push Paved the Way for Trump to Go Further
Donald J. Trump and Dick Cheney became adversaries, but the former vice president set the stage for Mr. Trump’s bid to expand his executive authority.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Donald J. Trump and Dick Cheney became adversaries, but the former vice president set the stage for Mr. Trump’s bid to expand his executive authority.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
My first book, Takeover, was about Dick Cheney's quest to expand presidential power (or "restore" it, as he saw it, to the level it had reached when Nixon was president, before Watergate). First two chapters, including Cheney's rise, free here: charliesavage.com/books/takeov...
Begin Reading “Takeover” by Charlie Savage - Charlie Savage
CHAPTER ONE Inside the Bunker 1. As the United States of America reeled, Vice President Dick Cheney took control. At a quarter past ten o'clock on the morning of September 11, 2001, a choking cloud of...
charliesavage.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My first book, Takeover, was about Dick Cheney's quest to expand presidential power (or "restore" it, as he saw it, to the level it had reached when Nixon was president, before Watergate). First two chapters, including Cheney's rise, free here: charliesavage.com/books/takeov...
War Powers Law Does Not Apply to Trump’s Boat Strikes, Administration Says
The stance deepened the idea that a Vietnam-era law, which says congressionally unauthorized deployments into “hostilities” must end after 60 days, does not apply to airstrike campaigns.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/u...
The stance deepened the idea that a Vietnam-era law, which says congressionally unauthorized deployments into “hostilities” must end after 60 days, does not apply to airstrike campaigns.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/u...
War Powers Law Does Not Apply to Trump’s Boat Strikes, Administration Says
www.nytimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:37 AM
War Powers Law Does Not Apply to Trump’s Boat Strikes, Administration Says
The stance deepened the idea that a Vietnam-era law, which says congressionally unauthorized deployments into “hostilities” must end after 60 days, does not apply to airstrike campaigns.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/u...
The stance deepened the idea that a Vietnam-era law, which says congressionally unauthorized deployments into “hostilities” must end after 60 days, does not apply to airstrike campaigns.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/u...
Why Trump’s Boat Killings Would Be Hard to Prosecute
Even if critics who call President Trump’s boat attacks “murder” are right as a matter of law, it would not be easy to get the matter into a court.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/u...
Even if critics who call President Trump’s boat attacks “murder” are right as a matter of law, it would not be easy to get the matter into a court.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/u...
Why Trump’s Boat Killings Would Be Hard to Prosecute
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Why Trump’s Boat Killings Would Be Hard to Prosecute
Even if critics who call President Trump’s boat attacks “murder” are right as a matter of law, it would not be easy to get the matter into a court.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/u...
Even if critics who call President Trump’s boat attacks “murder” are right as a matter of law, it would not be easy to get the matter into a court.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/u...
After Law Firm Deals With Trump, D.C. Bar Warns of Ethical Jeopardy
The bar group’s ethics committee says firms that make a deal with the government may need to get waivers from clients with opposing interests.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
The bar group’s ethics committee says firms that make a deal with the government may need to get waivers from clients with opposing interests.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
After Law Firm Deals With Trump, D.C. Bar Warns of Ethical Jeopardy
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
After Law Firm Deals With Trump, D.C. Bar Warns of Ethical Jeopardy
The bar group’s ethics committee says firms that make a deal with the government may need to get waivers from clients with opposing interests.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
The bar group’s ethics committee says firms that make a deal with the government may need to get waivers from clients with opposing interests.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
U.S. Military Kills Six People in Latest Boat Strike in the Caribbean
The Trump administration has acknowledged 10 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats from South America, which have killed 43 people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
The Trump administration has acknowledged 10 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats from South America, which have killed 43 people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
U.S. Military Kills Six People in Latest Boat Strike in the Caribbean
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
U.S. Military Kills Six People in Latest Boat Strike in the Caribbean
The Trump administration has acknowledged 10 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats from South America, which have killed 43 people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
The Trump administration has acknowledged 10 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats from South America, which have killed 43 people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
Gift link
The Peril of a White House That Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law
The White House has made no legal argument explaining its bald claim that the president has wartime power to summarily kill people suspected of smuggling drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
The Peril of a White House That Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law
The White House has made no legal argument explaining its bald claim that the president has wartime power to summarily kill people suspected of smuggling drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
The Peril of a White House That Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Gift link
The Peril of a White House That Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law
The White House has made no legal argument explaining its bald claim that the president has wartime power to summarily kill people suspected of smuggling drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
The Peril of a White House That Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law
The White House has made no legal argument explaining its bald claim that the president has wartime power to summarily kill people suspected of smuggling drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...
U.S. Strikes Boat in Pacific, Expanding Operation Against Drug Running Suspects
It was the eighth known strike, and the first outside of the Caribbean, in the Trump administration’s campaign against what it says are boats carrying drugs bound for the United States.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
It was the eighth known strike, and the first outside of the Caribbean, in the Trump administration’s campaign against what it says are boats carrying drugs bound for the United States.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
U.S. Strikes Boat in Pacific, Expanding Operation Against Drug Running Suspects
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
U.S. Strikes Boat in Pacific, Expanding Operation Against Drug Running Suspects
It was the eighth known strike, and the first outside of the Caribbean, in the Trump administration’s campaign against what it says are boats carrying drugs bound for the United States.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
It was the eighth known strike, and the first outside of the Caribbean, in the Trump administration’s campaign against what it says are boats carrying drugs bound for the United States.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
U.S. Attacks More Boats as Tensions With Venezuela Rise: What’s Happened So Far
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, while striking vessels that it says are trafficking drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, while striking vessels that it says are trafficking drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
U.S. Attacks More Boats as Tensions With Venezuela Rise: What’s Happened So Far
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:03 AM
U.S. Attacks More Boats as Tensions With Venezuela Rise: What’s Happened So Far
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, while striking vessels that it says are trafficking drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, while striking vessels that it says are trafficking drugs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
Ecuador Rejects Prosecution of Survivor of U.S. Strike on Vessel
The country has freed the man, one of two survivors of a U.S. military strike on a submersible vessel last week, defying President Trump’s claim that he would be held and prosecuted.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
The country has freed the man, one of two survivors of a U.S. military strike on a submersible vessel last week, defying President Trump’s claim that he would be held and prosecuted.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
Ecuador Rejects Prosecution of Survivor of U.S. Strike on Vessel
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Ecuador Rejects Prosecution of Survivor of U.S. Strike on Vessel
The country has freed the man, one of two survivors of a U.S. military strike on a submersible vessel last week, defying President Trump’s claim that he would be held and prosecuted.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
The country has freed the man, one of two survivors of a U.S. military strike on a submersible vessel last week, defying President Trump’s claim that he would be held and prosecuted.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
U.S. Detains 2 Survivors of Latest Military Strike in Caribbean
The capture of prisoners presents a major new set of legal and policy problems for the Trump administration in its escalating campaign.
w/ Eric Schmitt, h/t @reuters.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
The capture of prisoners presents a major new set of legal and policy problems for the Trump administration in its escalating campaign.
w/ Eric Schmitt, h/t @reuters.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
U.S. Detains 2 Survivors of Latest Military Strike in Caribbean
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
U.S. Detains 2 Survivors of Latest Military Strike in Caribbean
The capture of prisoners presents a major new set of legal and policy problems for the Trump administration in its escalating campaign.
w/ Eric Schmitt, h/t @reuters.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
The capture of prisoners presents a major new set of legal and policy problems for the Trump administration in its escalating campaign.
w/ Eric Schmitt, h/t @reuters.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
How the Bolton Indictment Compares to Trump’s Classified Documents Case
Some charges against the onetime national security adviser resemble the dropped case against President Trump, but there are also differences.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...
Some charges against the onetime national security adviser resemble the dropped case against President Trump, but there are also differences.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...
How the Bolton Indictment Compares to Trump’s Classified Documents Case
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
How the Bolton Indictment Compares to Trump’s Classified Documents Case
Some charges against the onetime national security adviser resemble the dropped case against President Trump, but there are also differences.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...
Some charges against the onetime national security adviser resemble the dropped case against President Trump, but there are also differences.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...
U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says
In a social media post, the president said the people aboard a boat were suspected of smuggling drugs for an unspecified group his team had labeled terrorists.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...
In a social media post, the president said the people aboard a boat were suspected of smuggling drugs for an unspecified group his team had labeled terrorists.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...
U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says
In a social media post, the president said the people aboard a boat were suspected of smuggling drugs for an unspecified group his team had labeled terrorists.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...
In a social media post, the president said the people aboard a boat were suspected of smuggling drugs for an unspecified group his team had labeled terrorists.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...
The Mortgage Fraud Case Against Letitia James, Explained
An indictment brought by a novice prosecutor and Trump loyalists against one of the president’s foes centers on a 2020 house purchase.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
An indictment brought by a novice prosecutor and Trump loyalists against one of the president’s foes centers on a 2020 house purchase.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
The Mortgage Fraud Case Against Letitia James, Explained
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
The Mortgage Fraud Case Against Letitia James, Explained
An indictment brought by a novice prosecutor and Trump loyalists against one of the president’s foes centers on a 2020 house purchase.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
An indictment brought by a novice prosecutor and Trump loyalists against one of the president’s foes centers on a 2020 house purchase.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
Trump Baselessly Claims He ‘Took the Freedom of Speech Away’ From Flag Burners
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...
Trump Baselessly Claims He ‘Took the Freedom of Speech Away’ From Flag Burners
www.nytimes.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Trump Baselessly Claims He ‘Took the Freedom of Speech Away’ From Flag Burners
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...
Comey’s Two Legal Challenges to His Indictment, Explained
A lawyer for the former F.B.I. director said he would accuse the Justice Department of malicious and selective prosecution and contend that a U.S. attorney was illegally appointed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...
A lawyer for the former F.B.I. director said he would accuse the Justice Department of malicious and selective prosecution and contend that a U.S. attorney was illegally appointed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...
Comey’s Two Legal Challenges to His Indictment, Explained
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Comey’s Two Legal Challenges to His Indictment, Explained
A lawyer for the former F.B.I. director said he would accuse the Justice Department of malicious and selective prosecution and contend that a U.S. attorney was illegally appointed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...
A lawyer for the former F.B.I. director said he would accuse the Justice Department of malicious and selective prosecution and contend that a U.S. attorney was illegally appointed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...
Trump, Drug Cartels, Venezuela and War: What We Know
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, while attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, while attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
Trump, Drug Cartels, Venezuela and War: What We Know
www.nytimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Trump, Drug Cartels, Venezuela and War: What We Know
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, while attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, while attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself
It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself
www.nytimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself
It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...
I turned on Alexa+, Amazon's new AI enhanced voice assistant, yesterday. While eating dinner a few minutes ago, asked for an update on the Cubs-Padres game and it said this. In real life, the Cubs were up 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth. So Alexa+, like other AIs, hallucinates and is unreliable.
October 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I turned on Alexa+, Amazon's new AI enhanced voice assistant, yesterday. While eating dinner a few minutes ago, asked for an update on the Cubs-Padres game and it said this. In real life, the Cubs were up 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth. So Alexa+, like other AIs, hallucinates and is unreliable.