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
I remember when South America was not among the top ten US defense priorities. It was so long ago.... 2024.
The Pentagon’s new "two-war construct” is going to be WWIII-prepping for China ("great-power competition”) and a large-scale occupation for Latin America. This would make the trillion-dollar budget permanent, and provide a new impetus for horizonless increases in military spending
As rumors of a U.S. war on Venezuela swirl, military documents show plans to feed a buildup of troops in the region for years.
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I remember when South America was not among the top ten US defense priorities. It was so long ago.... 2024.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
I've got writing deadlines, marking deadlines and teaching prep to do for later in the week, not to mention admin tasks and an overflowing email inbox, but let's put all that aside and admire Oxford college cats
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
College cats of Oxford
Once upon a time, we featured an image of Magdalen's kitten, Ozymandias, in our newsletter. We figured it might be a gentle contrast to our regular diet of planning and local politics.
The grey ball ...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I've got writing deadlines, marking deadlines and teaching prep to do for later in the week, not to mention admin tasks and an overflowing email inbox, but let's put all that aside and admire Oxford college cats
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
Watch this space
Trump begins process of labeling Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist reut.rs/3JXpYV4
Trump begins process of labeling Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday began the process of designating certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, a move that would bring sanctions against one of the Arab world's oldest and most influential Islamist movements.
reut.rs
November 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Watch this space
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
In this paper we use data from Argentina to contribute to the debate about the dangers of polarisation. We explore if partisans rely on regime stereotypes to stigmatise rivals; are more emotional in victory/defeat; and display conditional democratic commitments
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Strong Partisans, Conditional Democrats? Partisanship and Reactions to Electoral Outcomes in Argentina - Ezequiel Gonzalez-Ocantos, Carlos Meléndez, 2025
Partisans who back self-interested illiberal measures jeopardize democracy. We explore important precursors of support for backsliding using survey and focus gr...
journals.sagepub.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 AM
In this paper we use data from Argentina to contribute to the debate about the dangers of polarisation. We explore if partisans rely on regime stereotypes to stigmatise rivals; are more emotional in victory/defeat; and display conditional democratic commitments
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
2025 has already been a record-breaking year for US terrorist designation, and things aren't slowing down. The current president is a big fan of this instrument.
Trump moves to designate some Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist groups www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump moves to sanction some Muslim Brotherhood chapters
The executive order calls for a report into whether to label the group a terrorist organisation.
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
2025 has already been a record-breaking year for US terrorist designation, and things aren't slowing down. The current president is a big fan of this instrument.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
TODAY the U.S. adds the Venezuelan network "Cartel de los Soles" to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
TODAY the U.S. adds the Venezuelan network "Cartel de los Soles" to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
The Trump admin has now designated 24 (!) groups as FTOs this year.
For perspective, in the 8 years of GW Bush, the 9/11 years, Bush only added 15 groups to the list.
If you get asked to review... please respond!!! And if you agree to review, please turn in the review. If it's a little late, that's ok, but let the journal know.
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
I'm still relatively new to this journal associate editor business, but it already sucks… I've had a paper on my desk for more than a month now:
Reviewers invited: 12
Of those…
Declined: 5
No response: 7
Reviewers invited: 12
Of those…
Declined: 5
No response: 7
November 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
If you get asked to review... please respond!!! And if you agree to review, please turn in the review. If it's a little late, that's ok, but let the journal know.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
New article with @draege.bsky.social out in Scandinavian Political Studies: “Asymmetric Influence: Politicians Can Fuel but Not Dampen Conflict.” We test whether politicians in one of the world’s least polarized democracies, Norway, can calm conflict as effectively as they can inflame it. #polisky
Asymmetric Influence: Politicians Can Fuel but Not Dampen Conflict
Research from the deeply polarized United States suggests that the impact of elite communication is asymmetrical: antagonistic messages often heighten divisions, while positive appeals fail to dampen...
dx.doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:42 AM
New article with @draege.bsky.social out in Scandinavian Political Studies: “Asymmetric Influence: Politicians Can Fuel but Not Dampen Conflict.” We test whether politicians in one of the world’s least polarized democracies, Norway, can calm conflict as effectively as they can inflame it. #polisky
4%
UPDATE: Americans who use
YouTube 84%
Facebook 71%
Instagram 50%
TikTok 37%
WhatsApp 32%
Reddit 26%
Snapchat 25%
X (Twitter) 21%
Threads 8%
Bluesky 4%
Truth Social 3%
Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/
YouTube 84%
Facebook 71%
Instagram 50%
TikTok 37%
WhatsApp 32%
Reddit 26%
Snapchat 25%
X (Twitter) 21%
Threads 8%
Bluesky 4%
Truth Social 3%
Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/
November 23, 2025 at 10:43 PM
4%
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Online Neo-Nazi group using children’s video game for recruiting and propaganda.
globalextremism.org/post/online-...
globalextremism.org/post/online-...
Online Neo-Nazi Group Using Children’s Video Games For Recruiting And Propaganda
A disturbing trend is emerging on Roblox, a platform with tens of millions of young users: online white supremacist groups are using children’s video games to recruit and spread propaganda. The “Blues...
globalextremism.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Online Neo-Nazi group using children’s video game for recruiting and propaganda.
globalextremism.org/post/online-...
globalextremism.org/post/online-...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
📊 Poll drop: Latin Americans' trust in the U.S. has collapsed under Trump. Why? Because the "war on drugs" is now a pretext for regime change.
The #DonroeDoctrine is reshaping #LatinAmerica.
👇 Here's what you need to know:
sinfiltroya.substack.com/p/the-donroe...
The #DonroeDoctrine is reshaping #LatinAmerica.
👇 Here's what you need to know:
sinfiltroya.substack.com/p/the-donroe...
☕️ The Donroe Doctrine: Trump's Ultimatum to Latin America
When Drug War Becomes Regime Change: The Logic Behind Trump's Venezuela Gambit
sinfiltroya.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
📊 Poll drop: Latin Americans' trust in the U.S. has collapsed under Trump. Why? Because the "war on drugs" is now a pretext for regime change.
The #DonroeDoctrine is reshaping #LatinAmerica.
👇 Here's what you need to know:
sinfiltroya.substack.com/p/the-donroe...
The #DonroeDoctrine is reshaping #LatinAmerica.
👇 Here's what you need to know:
sinfiltroya.substack.com/p/the-donroe...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Another point: the Trump admin is REALLY using terrorist designation a lot this term. Unprecedented increase in FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Another point: the Trump admin is REALLY using terrorist designation a lot this term. Unprecedented increase in FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
There are now 90 groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list. In the mid-2010s, there were around 60 FTOs.
TODAY: the US added four European leftist/anarchist groups to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
TODAY: the US added four European leftist/anarchist groups to its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
IAF is a loose network, not an organization. Also it's not clear that any of these groups have killed anyone, but apparently they have injured some people, like Antifa Ost attacking Neo-Nazis. 🧵
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Another 120 people have been charged under the Terrorism Act for holding signs reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action", bringing the total people prosecuted in London to 254
At an initial glance the oldest person was born in 1939 and the youngest in 2004. Many are pensioners
At an initial glance the oldest person was born in 1939 and the youngest in 2004. Many are pensioners
November 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Another 120 people have been charged under the Terrorism Act for holding signs reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action", bringing the total people prosecuted in London to 254
At an initial glance the oldest person was born in 1939 and the youngest in 2004. Many are pensioners
At an initial glance the oldest person was born in 1939 and the youngest in 2004. Many are pensioners
Not sure I've seen a McDonalds flag fly at half-mast before.
Good morning from Camp Justice at Guantánamo Bay, where the flags are at half-mast across the installation for Dick Cheney. At the war court today we expect testimony related to prosecution efforts to use double hearsay at the eventual USS Cole trial.
November 20, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Not sure I've seen a McDonalds flag fly at half-mast before.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
"Texas governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization"
Terrorist designation/proscription by sub-national entities.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Terrorist designation/proscription by sub-national entities.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Texas governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization
Texas Republican Gov_ Greg Abbott has signed a proclamation declaring the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U_S_ a “foreign terrorist organization.”
abcnews.go.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:53 PM
"Texas governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization"
Terrorist designation/proscription by sub-national entities.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Terrorist designation/proscription by sub-national entities.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
"Making terrorist content findable: search engines as a key to mitigating Salafi-jihadi persistent presence on the internet." by Lakomy and Fisher
And look a the photo that comes up in the Bsky preview! Ha.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
And look a the photo that comes up in the Bsky preview! Ha.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Making terrorist content findable: search engines as a key to mitigating Salafi-jihadi persistent presence on the internet - Security Journal
This study focuses on the role played by search engines in accessing Salafi-jihadi terrorist content on the surface web and beyond. It argues that due to the very nature of the World Wide Web, search ...
link.springer.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
"Making terrorist content findable: search engines as a key to mitigating Salafi-jihadi persistent presence on the internet." by Lakomy and Fisher
And look a the photo that comes up in the Bsky preview! Ha.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
And look a the photo that comes up in the Bsky preview! Ha.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
Marjorie Taylor Greene has been disliked by the left for years and years and had never had to fear for her life. She's been disliked by the right for 1 day and now has to hire security.
November 18, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Marjorie Taylor Greene has been disliked by the left for years and years and had never had to fear for her life. She's been disliked by the right for 1 day and now has to hire security.
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
"The intervention on behalf of the Tates was not the first time those around #Trump took an interest in legal issues involving the brothers." @robert-faturechi.bsky.social
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 8:58 PM
"The intervention on behalf of the Tates was not the first time those around #Trump took an interest in legal issues involving the brothers." @robert-faturechi.bsky.social
Reposted by Brian J. Phillips
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Opinion | Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression
The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Readers of French: I had a nice chat with France24 about Cartel de los Soles, the Venezuelan network (not an organization) that the US is designating a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
It will be the 14th criminal group added to the FTO list... this year!
www.france24.com/fr/am%C3%A9r...
It will be the 14th criminal group added to the FTO list... this year!
www.france24.com/fr/am%C3%A9r...
Maduro "parrain de la drogue" : comment Trump veut en finir avec le président vénézuélien
Les États-Unis ont annoncé l’inscription du Cartel de los Soles sur la liste des organisations terroristes. Donald Trump accuse Nicolas Maduro d’en être le chef. Il affirme même qu'une partie du gouve...
www.france24.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Readers of French: I had a nice chat with France24 about Cartel de los Soles, the Venezuelan network (not an organization) that the US is designating a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
It will be the 14th criminal group added to the FTO list... this year!
www.france24.com/fr/am%C3%A9r...
It will be the 14th criminal group added to the FTO list... this year!
www.france24.com/fr/am%C3%A9r...
ICYMI, the US this week will designate the “Informal Anarchist Federation” a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
It’s a movement, a call sign. It’s a meme! It’s not an organization.
US allies keep declaring white supremacists as terrorists, while the US focuses on gangs and now anarchist movements.
It’s a movement, a call sign. It’s a meme! It’s not an organization.
US allies keep declaring white supremacists as terrorists, while the US focuses on gangs and now anarchist movements.
NYT article on the State Dept designation of four foreign “antifa” groups as terrorists. FINALLY someone points out that three of them are simply not “antifa” at all, while the fourth is not a structured group.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
As Trump Targets Antifa in U.S., Rubio Labels European Groups as Terrorists
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
ICYMI, the US this week will designate the “Informal Anarchist Federation” a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
It’s a movement, a call sign. It’s a meme! It’s not an organization.
US allies keep declaring white supremacists as terrorists, while the US focuses on gangs and now anarchist movements.
It’s a movement, a call sign. It’s a meme! It’s not an organization.
US allies keep declaring white supremacists as terrorists, while the US focuses on gangs and now anarchist movements.