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
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.
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. 🧵
In 1966, a young man started the Political Science PhD program at the University of Wisconsin. He did ok, publishing an article in the American Political Science Review.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
November 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
In 1966, a young man started the Political Science PhD program at the University of Wisconsin. He did ok, publishing an article in the American Political Science Review.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
However, he dropped out of the PhD program to take a job in Washington.
About 30 years later, he was elected Vice President.
A little bit of London
October 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A little bit of London
Look at the years in this graph. The gap between dots is the same whether it's 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or 4 months. Ahh!!!! 😱😱😱 #dataviz
October 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Look at the years in this graph. The gap between dots is the same whether it's 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or 4 months. Ahh!!!! 😱😱😱 #dataviz
University of Essex campus in autumn. The last pic is of the fruit of a strawberry tree- it’s edible and delicious! Also apparently the national tree of Italy?
October 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
University of Essex campus in autumn. The last pic is of the fruit of a strawberry tree- it’s edible and delicious! Also apparently the national tree of Italy?
No!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
October 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
No!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
It’s like the old joke about the Holy Roman Empire… it’s none of those things!
The US designated transnational gang Barrio 18 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
September 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The US designated transnational gang Barrio 18 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
This is big news because there's a large *US-based* component of the gang in Los Angeles. (All other FTOs are, uh, foreign.)
Prediction: this will be used to imprison and/or deport even more people in LA.
Still a lot of misunderstanding in the press of what the "designation" of antifa as a terrorist org means.
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Still a lot of misunderstanding in the press of what the "designation" of antifa as a terrorist org means.
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
This quote from an NPR article (via @jessmarindavis.bsky.social) is helpful. There is no legal framework to stop funding to a domestic "terror" org.
Article here: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
Some news agencies seem to misunderstand this.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
September 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Some news agencies seem to misunderstand this.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
The designation does not cite any legal authority like Executive Order 13224 or the FTO status. There are no financial sanctions or membership bans. The latter would face substantial constitutional challenges.
You probably missed it - the US govt just added FOUR new groups to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
September 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
You probably missed it - the US govt just added FOUR new groups to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
For decades, there have been about 2 new FTOs per year. This year, the Trump admin has added 18 (EIGHTEEN) new FTOs.
Can CT practitioners really pursue so many groups? Is this only talk?
Saying you designate something doesn’t necessarily have a legal meaning. (See pic 2.) There is no US *domestic* terrorist list.
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
September 18, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Saying you designate something doesn’t necessarily have a legal meaning. (See pic 2.) There is no US *domestic* terrorist list.
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
However, like FTO designation, this weird declaration does serve as a focal point, telling agencies what to prioritize. (A mostly nonviolent movement.)
For a bit of context, it's the largest yearly increase in FTOs since the list started in 1997. And it's only September!
But even more than the quantitative spike, the idea of considering gangs and drug cartels "terrorist organizations" is a fundamental change to counter-terrorism.
But even more than the quantitative spike, the idea of considering gangs and drug cartels "terrorist organizations" is a fundamental change to counter-terrorism.
September 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
For a bit of context, it's the largest yearly increase in FTOs since the list started in 1997. And it's only September!
But even more than the quantitative spike, the idea of considering gangs and drug cartels "terrorist organizations" is a fundamental change to counter-terrorism.
But even more than the quantitative spike, the idea of considering gangs and drug cartels "terrorist organizations" is a fundamental change to counter-terrorism.
Good points, but I'd suggest the storming of the Capitol deserves its own line.
These are dangerous times in the US, and voices of calm and reason like this are needed - not incitement. What will we get from US political leaders?
These are dangerous times in the US, and voices of calm and reason like this are needed - not incitement. What will we get from US political leaders?
September 11, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Good points, but I'd suggest the storming of the Capitol deserves its own line.
These are dangerous times in the US, and voices of calm and reason like this are needed - not incitement. What will we get from US political leaders?
These are dangerous times in the US, and voices of calm and reason like this are needed - not incitement. What will we get from US political leaders?
ICYMI, the US has two new Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Los Lobos and Los Choneros! They're from Ecuador.
There are now 12 criminal groups on the 80-group FTO list. All added this year.
www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
There are now 12 criminal groups on the 80-group FTO list. All added this year.
www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
September 8, 2025 at 1:41 PM
ICYMI, the US has two new Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Los Lobos and Los Choneros! They're from Ecuador.
There are now 12 criminal groups on the 80-group FTO list. All added this year.
www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
There are now 12 criminal groups on the 80-group FTO list. All added this year.
www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
Late summer in Essex
August 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Late summer in Essex
Do people post travel pics on here? Not enough, it seems to me. Anyway, here’s heather in Scotland and Northern England
August 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Do people post travel pics on here? Not enough, it seems to me. Anyway, here’s heather in Scotland and Northern England
Why do scholars sometimes not share data when requested? Interesting answers... from Tedersoo et al. 2021 in Nature. see link below
July 16, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Why do scholars sometimes not share data when requested? Interesting answers... from Tedersoo et al. 2021 in Nature. see link below
I understand why some people just stop paying attention to the news. Jeez.
July 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I understand why some people just stop paying attention to the news. Jeez.
Learned a lot at the @socterres.bsky.social meeting at Royal Holloway. Great folks, valuable research. Lovely area, too. I hope to attend STR again soon.
July 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Learned a lot at the @socterres.bsky.social meeting at Royal Holloway. Great folks, valuable research. Lovely area, too. I hope to attend STR again soon.
An argument, just published, for why Mexican cartels should be designated US Foreign Terrorist Organizations. (They were designated a few months back.)
Will it work?
Will it work?
June 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
An argument, just published, for why Mexican cartels should be designated US Foreign Terrorist Organizations. (They were designated a few months back.)
Will it work?
Will it work?
Private “solutions” to public problems
June 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Private “solutions” to public problems
An example of Google's "AI Overview" mixing up facts, presenting some libel, totally false.
In 3 acts:
In 3 acts:
June 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
An example of Google's "AI Overview" mixing up facts, presenting some libel, totally false.
In 3 acts:
In 3 acts: