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Elizabeth N. Saunders

@profsaunders.bsky.social

18K followers 3.2K following 2.2K posts

Professor of Political Science & Director of the Saltzman Institute of War & Peace Studies, Columbia. New Book: The Insiders' Game: How Elites Make War and Peace https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691215808/the-insiders-game .. more

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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · Feb 5

Hard to think through problems when we are in a mode where the current problem gets eaten by a bigger problem within hours.

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Jacob T. Levy, Simon Lester

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 2h

Given the now fifth U.S. strike in the Caribbean, reposting my recent essay in @justsecurity.org.

There’s a word for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict.

www.justsecurity.org/120568/carib...

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

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Paul Guinnessy @paulguinnessy.bsky.social · 8h

It's all triage in the DC metro area for nonprofits offering help, like meals, and thanks to Trump's cuts donations are down and also so is food bank support from the feds.

D.C. nonprofits face breaking point amid job cuts and shutdown

41% of DMV households affected by federal layoffs are food-insecure.

www.axios.com

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Joshua S. Weitz, David H. Kaye , and 2 more Elizabeth Saunders, Joshua S. Weitz, David H. Kaye, Janet Murray, Aaron Sojourner

NPR @npr.org · 11h

Tom Bowman has held his Pentagon press pass for 28 years. He says the Pentagon's new media policy makes it impossible to be a journalist, which means finding out what's really going on behind the scenes and not accepting wholesale what any government or administration says. n.pr/4q87Jwb

Opinion: Why I'm handing in my Pentagon press pass

n.pr

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Elizabeth Saunders

Michael Feola @feolski.bsky.social · 18h

This is it. This is the moment for full, industry-wide co-ordinated action. From the rarefied air of the elites to the community colleges to the regionals. One word in response: absolutely fucking no.

Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT

The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...

www.bloomberg.com

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Karl Jacoby @karl-jacoby.bsky.social · 23h

Student government leaders of MIT, UVA, U of AZ, Dartmouth, UPenn, Brown, and Vanderbilt united in their opposition to the "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 1d

www.instagram.com/p/DPm507ljBJ...

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

s. eek smith 👻 @sesmith.lol · 1d

This special education news is really devastating and we're going to learn more in the coming days as we get more info and people figure out exactly what it means, but a reminder that disabled people are entitled to a free appropriate public education.

Amid shutdown, Trump administration guts department overseeing special education

Multiple sources tell NPR that, as part of the Trump administration's latest reduction-in-force, the U.S. Department of Education has gutted the office that handles special education.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 3d

The rupture “raises fresh doubts about whether Trump, operating with a hollowed-out national security team and a fragmented China strategy, is prepared for Beijing’s latest power play.”

@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Senate Press Gallery @senatepress.bsky.social · 4d

Senate adopted by voice vote: Kaine amendment #3337 to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq.

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, David R. Miller

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 5d

Just 'cause it has to be said every now and then.

GOP Senators and Representatives are obviously okay with...everything...that's happening.

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · 5d

America needs "solidarity among groups who disagree ferociously on many questions, but who agree on the need to keep America democratic and rebuild institutions and social connections to make democracy more robust," explains @himself.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | Where Trump Is Vulnerable and How to Act on It

www.nytimes.com

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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 5d

This speech from @marisakabas.bsky.social is really worth reading.

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 5d

New — I was fortunate to speak in front of students and faculty at Grinnell College in Iowa tonight about the business of independent journalism, the current state of media under Trump 2.0, and billionaire control.

I published my full speech because I thought it might resonate beyond campus:

Truth, morality and independence in journalism under the second Trump regime

My full remarks to students and faculty at Grennell College.

www.thehandbasket.co

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Blair Fix, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 5d

Truth, morality and independence in journalism under the second Trump regime

My full remarks to students and faculty at Grennell College.

www.thehandbasket.co

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Justin Lewis, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 5d

An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

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Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Lisa W. Fazio, Elizabeth Saunders , and 11 more Kim L. Scheppele, Lisa W. Fazio, Elizabeth Saunders, James Q. Wilson, Will Jennings, Gavin A. Schmidt, Simon Chapman, Juan Cole, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman, Brian Keegan, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Clark Gray

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 6d

The elimination of USAID is a moral atrocity and all involved made a choice to enable, and then lie about, ending the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) - Mohammed Taher clutched the lifeless body of his 2-year-old son and wept. Ever since his family's food rations stopped arriving at their internment camp in Myanmar in April, the father had watched helplessly as his once-vibrant baby boy weakened, suffering from diarrhea and begging for food.
On May 21, exactly two weeks after Taher's little boy died, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat before Congress and declared: "No one has died" because of his government's decision to gut its foreign aid program. Rubio also insisted: "No children are dying on my watch."
That, Taher says, "is a lie."

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Reposted by Henry Farrell

Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 6d

“This battle holds bigger lessons. The greatest weapon that the forces of regime change possess is the fear of inevitability. If everyone believes that Mr. Trump will succeed in reshaping America, he will.”

A great @himself.bsky.social column in the @nytimes.com.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Marc Lynch, Ben H. Ansell , and 11 more Dani Rodrik, Marc Lynch, Ben H. Ansell, Elizabeth Saunders, Hugo Mercier, Jacob T. Levy, Bessma Momani, Samantha Brennan, Dana R. Fisher, Kate Starbird, Brian Weatherson, Leah Stokes, Aviel Roshwald, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 6d

"It wanted to signal strength. Instead, it’s revealing its weakness. The administration’s need to break the academy is forcing it to make a desperately risky gamble." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 7d

This was a fascinating conversation @ilascolumbia.bsky.social…check out the video! 👇

Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social · 7d

Last week, SIWPS Director @profsaunders.bsky.social participated in a panel w/ María Alejandra Vélez, @gramsey.bsky.social, & @emoncada.bsky.social titled "Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America.”

Watch the recording via @ilascolumbia.bsky.social ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmtY...

Columbia ILAS | Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America

YouTube video by ILAS Columbia

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies @siwpscolumbia.bsky.social · 7d

Columbia ILAS | Drugs and Security: Shifting U.S. Policy in Latin America

YouTube video by ILAS Columbia

www.youtube.com

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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 7d

Also, residents of DC did not love it either.

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Brendan Nyhan, Silvia Secchi , and 1 more Elizabeth Saunders, Brendan Nyhan, Silvia Secchi, Peter Jacobs

Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 7d

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...

C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Rosemary A. Joyce, David R. Miller , and 2 more Elizabeth Saunders, Rosemary A. Joyce, David R. Miller, Stuart Shapiro, David Darmofal

Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 8d

I truly don't understand what people thought was going to happen

Mary Dudziak @marydudziak.bsky.social · 8d

Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected? @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...

Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected?
Circular graph showing over half answered: much more than I expected, about a quarter: more than I expected, about an eighth: similar threat to what I expected, small sliver: much less threat than I expected.

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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 8d

👇👇👇👇👇👇

Lindsay P Cohn @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social · 8d

Folks we are watching the adjudication of some of the most important constitutional issues of federalism, executive discretion, and judicial review since the 19th c

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon

Judge asked federal government lawyer: 'Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judge’s order that you disagree with?'

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Elizabeth Saunders, Will Jennings , and 5 more Stephen M. Walt, Elizabeth Saunders, Will Jennings, Jason Reifler, David R. Miller, Michael D. McDonald, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Stuart Shapiro

Mary Dudziak @marydudziak.bsky.social · 8d

Has Trump’s second term posed a greater or lesser threat to the rule of law than you expected? @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Dan Immergluck

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8d

Yeah, people need to understand that probably the single biggest reason given in Judge Immergut’s order for blocking the Guard deployment was that the facts on the ground simply did not reflect any serious issues for ICE.

In Chicago there is enough of a difference that it could impact a court case.

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 8d

I think folks should prepare themselves for the off chance that there is a different outcome in Chicago than the litigation has yielded thus far in Portland. The facts on the ground, I think, are arguably different enough.

But that’ll raise serious Posse Comitatus issues in Chicago. It’s not good.

Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 8d

Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 8d

Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 8d

Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.

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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 8d

Trump's defiance of of a (Trump-appointed) federal judge in Oregon and the Governor of Illinois over national guard troops shows again that in the realm of national security, there are no constraints left on the presidency. @foreignaffairs.com www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Imperial President at Home, Emperor Abroad

American foreign policy in an age of unrestrained executive power.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Colin F. Camerer, David R. Miller , and 6 more Elizabeth Saunders, Colin F. Camerer, David R. Miller, Gerald Friedman, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Michael D. McDonald, Brooke Harrington, Manisha Sinha, Bruce Buchan

Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 8d

Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Elizabeth Saunders, Michael D. Robinson , and 3 more Anna O. Law, Elizabeth Saunders, Michael D. Robinson, Michael A. Clemens, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Lindsay P Cohn @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social · 8d

Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon

Judge asked federal government lawyer: 'Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judge’s order that you disagree with?'

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Elizabeth Saunders, Brendan Nyhan , and 1 more Jan W. Mueller, Elizabeth Saunders, Brendan Nyhan, David R. Miller

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 8d

Once again, where is the CNO? SECNAV? After what just happened in Quantico, when will the military top brass speak up?
I asked this after the disgrace at Ft. Bragg, too.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

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Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders

Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 9d

*DEVELOPING*: I've updated my scoop with previously unreported details about the State Dept. staffer who requested the sword, NARA's response, and that the gift Trump gave King Charles III wasn't even a replica of Eisenhower's West Point Officer's Sabre:
lastcampaign.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

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