Brian Fishman
@brianfishman1.bsky.social
National security, technology, California. Cinder co-founder, led DOI at FB, created Palantir disaster relief, Research Director at CTC @ West Point.
This data is reliable.
Tremendous research from Daniel Byman and Riley McCabe finds that "2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumber those from the violent far right." But don't miss the broader picture — depicted in the below graph... www.csis.org/analysis/lef...
September 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
This data is reliable.
I know Bluesky is still not foreign policy / national security central, but for those of us involved in CT land, this is some mind-blowing stuff right here.
Lots of ISIS dudes rolling over in their graves right now.
Lots of ISIS dudes rolling over in their graves right now.
David Petraeus greeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Concordia Summit in NYC. When Petraeus was a 3-star in Iraq in 2004-6, Sharaa was fighting the US as a member of the al-Qaida branch there; when Petraeus was a 4-star, Sharaa was teaching fellow Camp Bucca detainees classical Arabic
September 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I know Bluesky is still not foreign policy / national security central, but for those of us involved in CT land, this is some mind-blowing stuff right here.
Lots of ISIS dudes rolling over in their graves right now.
Lots of ISIS dudes rolling over in their graves right now.
Awful and unacceptable.
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/11/e...
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/11/e...
‘Radicalized’ Evergreen High School shooter appeared to hold antisemitic, violent views in online accounts
Armed with a revolver, the 16-year-old shooter systematically reloaded and fired as he wandered the school, trying to find new targets, police say.
www.denverpost.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Awful and unacceptable.
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/11/e...
www.denverpost.com/2025/09/11/e...
Political violence is unacceptable. Full stop.
September 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Political violence is unacceptable. Full stop.
I have deep respect for West Point, having taught there for four years. These days, they are not living up to their principles.
SCOOP: West Point alumni group cancels award ceremony for Tom Hanks
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
West Point alumni group cancels award ceremony for Tom Hanks
The decision follows a series of political controversies involving the Trump administration that have rattled the prestigious military institution.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I have deep respect for West Point, having taught there for four years. These days, they are not living up to their principles.
If you don't test your AI at the bar, does it even count?
August 20, 2025 at 6:57 PM
If you don't test your AI at the bar, does it even count?
Reposted by Brian Fishman
Since security guarantees are back in discussion, for those interested in the requirements, tasks, and what a European deterrence force might look like - check out this piece from back in March with Jack Watling. warontherocks.com/2025/03/will...
Willpower, Not Manpower, is Europe’s Main Limitation for a Force in Ukraine - War on the Rocks
Following a dramatic meeting in the White House, U.S. military support for Ukraine is perilously uncertain. Sustaining Ukraine in this war, and
warontherocks.com
August 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Since security guarantees are back in discussion, for those interested in the requirements, tasks, and what a European deterrence force might look like - check out this piece from back in March with Jack Watling. warontherocks.com/2025/03/will...
Awful.
"The teen had boasted online about his plans to livestream the attack after becoming radicalised on social media aged 13. [...] The boy created his own 'manifesto' on his mobile phone in which he said he would 'die for my land.'" @connorgillies.bsky.social @news.sky.com news.sky.com/story/greeno...
Hitler-inspired boy planned terror attack at mosque, and pretended to convert to Islam to gain access
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously pleaded guilty under the terrorism act at the High Court in Glasgow.
news.sky.com
August 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Awful.
I had the luck to edit this back in the day. Lots of really valuable information in here - definitely worth the read.
Some precedent for this archive.org/details/PATC...
August 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I had the luck to edit this back in the day. Lots of really valuable information in here - definitely worth the read.
This undermines U.S. national security. I taught in SOSH & was always proud of USMA's willingness to stand up to political pressure. The institution protected our independence and thereby the quality of the education we provided cadets. Politicizing education and our military is garbage.
Army Secretary forces West Point to rescind appointment given to Easterly cyberscoop.com/jen-easterly...
Army Secretary forces West Point to rescind appointment given to Easterly
The United States Military Academy abruptly ended the appointment of Jen Easterly to a high-profile academic position in West Point’s Department of Social Sciences, according to a memorandum issued We...
cyberscoop.com
July 30, 2025 at 6:58 PM
This undermines U.S. national security. I taught in SOSH & was always proud of USMA's willingness to stand up to political pressure. The institution protected our independence and thereby the quality of the education we provided cadets. Politicizing education and our military is garbage.
I don’t know if @jmberger.com will be right or wrong, but he’s thought about this as much as anyone.
A few more words than this, as a couple of people have posed questions. One of the most common drivers of change in an extremist movement's ideology is a legitimacy challenge, and that's what's happening in Trumpland right now. 1/x
Also worth noting that extremist movements are most dangerous when their ideologies are in flux, so that's something to look forward to.
July 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I don’t know if @jmberger.com will be right or wrong, but he’s thought about this as much as anyone.
In the wake of the Texas floods, some self-described veterans have seemingly lost their minds and are attacking weather radars. But a reminder that there are far more veterans continuing their service in this moment.
teamrubiconusa.org/news-and-sto...
teamrubiconusa.org/news-and-sto...
Volunteers Begin Delivering Disaster Relief for Texas Floods
Veteran-led nonprofit Team Rubicon has begun deploying Greyshirts to Kerr and Tom Green counties for disaster relief for Texas floods.
teamrubiconusa.org
July 10, 2025 at 10:23 PM
In the wake of the Texas floods, some self-described veterans have seemingly lost their minds and are attacking weather radars. But a reminder that there are far more veterans continuing their service in this moment.
teamrubiconusa.org/news-and-sto...
teamrubiconusa.org/news-and-sto...
Monarchies are authoritarian states with better branding.
July 10, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Monarchies are authoritarian states with better branding.
Turns out AI Safety matters. Cinder's customers - you've heard of them - use our product to do stuff like: remove CSAM, identify nation-states, prevent customer service chatbots from going nazi on diverse customer bases, comply with sanctions law. Almost like its just good, basic business practice.
July 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Turns out AI Safety matters. Cinder's customers - you've heard of them - use our product to do stuff like: remove CSAM, identify nation-states, prevent customer service chatbots from going nazi on diverse customer bases, comply with sanctions law. Almost like its just good, basic business practice.
I have questions.
Russia’s transport minister was found dead from a gunshot wound, the Russian authorities said on Monday, hours after the Kremlin announced he had been relieved of his duties. Law enforcement authorities said they were investigating the death as a possible suicide. https://trib.al/fLHiatK
Russia Confirms Death of Minister Hours After Kremlin Dismissed Him
Roman V. Starovoyt, the transport minister, had governed the Kursk region before Ukrainian forces occupied part of it in 2024.
trib.al
July 8, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I have questions.
The broader context here matters. Society writ large. Has not yet established who is ultimately responsible for mitigating different types of AI risk. Foundation model developers are offering an answer - that largely (but not completely) focuses on catastrophic risks. 1/n
Always comforting to hear that tech executives are thinking about how they might use their products to combat the deadly problems they foresee their products creating www.axios.com/2025/06/18/o...
OpenAI preps for models with higher bioweapons risk
Preventing harm means both the company, and society at large, need to be prepared.
www.axios.com
June 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The broader context here matters. Society writ large. Has not yet established who is ultimately responsible for mitigating different types of AI risk. Foundation model developers are offering an answer - that largely (but not completely) focuses on catastrophic risks. 1/n
This is a really important point.
The disparity btwn what’s actually happening in Los Angeles and the way it’s being mischaracterized is one of the biggest stress tests of modern media in recent memory. Botted socials, AI, old clips, declining literacy—it’s like seeing a broken emergency response system hit by a storm.
June 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
This is a really important point.
The Los Angeles situation creates a prime opportunity for disinformation designed to increase tension and both incite and justify, violence. These messages will likely target both supporters and opponents of ICE raids and Trump. Beware your own confirmation bias; it will be used against you. 1/2
June 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The Los Angeles situation creates a prime opportunity for disinformation designed to increase tension and both incite and justify, violence. These messages will likely target both supporters and opponents of ICE raids and Trump. Beware your own confirmation bias; it will be used against you. 1/2
Trump / Elon split is entertaining I guess, but the entire thing reflects a travesty for our democracy and society more generally. It reifies undermining the rule-of-law and the notion that individuals rather than predictable systems drive value, contracting, and democracy. Watch, but don't cheer.
June 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Trump / Elon split is entertaining I guess, but the entire thing reflects a travesty for our democracy and society more generally. It reifies undermining the rule-of-law and the notion that individuals rather than predictable systems drive value, contracting, and democracy. Watch, but don't cheer.
Bill Braniff is a dedicated public servant dedicated to preventing terrorism with means-tested tools that respect and protect the liberties of all Americans. He built a program that has delivered real results.
I don't know anything about Fugate, but I know he could have learned a lot from Bill.
I don't know anything about Fugate, but I know he could have learned a lot from Bill.
NEW: Meet the 22-Year-Old Trump’s Team Picked to Lead Terrorism Prevention
One year out of college and with no apparent national security expertise, Thomas Fugate is the Department of Homeland Security official tasked with overseeing the government’s main hub for combating violent extremism.
One year out of college and with no apparent national security expertise, Thomas Fugate is the Department of Homeland Security official tasked with overseeing the government’s main hub for combating violent extremism.
“The Intern in Charge”: Meet the 22-Year-Old Trump’s Team Picked to Lead Terrorism Prevention
One year out of college and with no apparent national security expertise, Thomas Fugate is the Department of Homeland Security official tasked with overseeing the government’s main hub for combating v...
www.propublica.org
June 4, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Bill Braniff is a dedicated public servant dedicated to preventing terrorism with means-tested tools that respect and protect the liberties of all Americans. He built a program that has delivered real results.
I don't know anything about Fugate, but I know he could have learned a lot from Bill.
I don't know anything about Fugate, but I know he could have learned a lot from Bill.
Good read, tho imo @jacobware.bsky.social & Zolyniak understate Mangione's intent to catalyze support for violence. May not meet "coerce" standard & perhaps reinforces that it is counterproductive to prosecute as terrorism, but places the attack in the frame under traditional terrorism definitions.
NEW: In @lawfaremedia.org, my friend and @hls.harvard.edu student Ania Zolyniak and I argue that the Manhattan DA's decision to charge Luigi Mangione with "terrorism" is a mistake, on both legal and counterterrorism grounds. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/luig...
May 27, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Good read, tho imo @jacobware.bsky.social & Zolyniak understate Mangione's intent to catalyze support for violence. May not meet "coerce" standard & perhaps reinforces that it is counterproductive to prosecute as terrorism, but places the attack in the frame under traditional terrorism definitions.
Yikes.
UK investigates possible Russian involvement in Starmer arson attacks
https://www.ft.com/content/0fb7a268-1bf6-4faf-ac60-67c53ddf1e62
https://www.ft.com/content/0fb7a268-1bf6-4faf-ac60-67c53ddf1e62
UK investigates possible Russian involvement in Starmer arson attacks
Counterterrorism police looking into fires at properties connected to prime minister keep open mind about motive
www.ft.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Yikes.