CTEC
@ctecmiis.bsky.social
Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Find us here: https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec
Find us here: https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec
BLUF: The Trump admin will add 4 European “violent Antifa” groups US FTO list on 20 November. CTEC Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social notes, for @washingtonpost.com, the groups “don’t have one fatality associated with their activity.” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Trump recasts foreign terror list to focus on ‘Antifa,’ cartels
The administration is making an unprecedented expansion, designating entities in Europe and Latin America not typically a focus of U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
BLUF: The Trump admin will add 4 European “violent Antifa” groups US FTO list on 20 November. CTEC Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social notes, for @washingtonpost.com, the groups “don’t have one fatality associated with their activity.” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
CTEC Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined @npr.org Texas outlet, KERA News, to discuss the federal prosecution of the Prairieland ICE shooting and what it means for future “Antifa” terrorism cases.
🔗 www.keranews.org/criminal-jus...
🔗 www.keranews.org/criminal-jus...
How will Trump’s DOJ prosecute ‘antifa?’ The Prairieland ICE shooting trial could be the playbook
“Antifa” is now at the center of the Justice Department's case against two people charged for their alleged roles in a North Texas ICE detention center shooting. How it plays out in court could be ind...
www.keranews.org
November 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
CTEC Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined @npr.org Texas outlet, KERA News, to discuss the federal prosecution of the Prairieland ICE shooting and what it means for future “Antifa” terrorism cases.
🔗 www.keranews.org/criminal-jus...
🔗 www.keranews.org/criminal-jus...
New from CTEC, our Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , is featured on NPR discussing the controversial topic of whether #antifa should be designated as a terrorist organization. His expertise adds critical context to this evolving discussion. Listen to the segment:
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
As Trump talks of designating antifa a foreign terrorist group, experts see danger
The designation would have, as one domestic terrorism expert told NPR, a "cascading effect across civil society, including social media organizations, civic organizations and everything in between."
www.npr.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
New from CTEC, our Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , is featured on NPR discussing the controversial topic of whether #antifa should be designated as a terrorist organization. His expertise adds critical context to this evolving discussion. Listen to the segment:
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
CTEC Executive Director and Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Prof. @jason-blazakis.bsky.social recently chatted with @inkstickmedia.com about Trump's recent executive action against domestic terrorism. Check out the full article at: inkstickmedia.com/trumps-terro...
Trump's 'Terrorism' Narrative Puts Dissent in the Crosshairs
Donald Trump's administration is accusing its opponents of supporting terrorism, but cities around the US are fighting back.
inkstickmedia.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
CTEC Executive Director and Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Prof. @jason-blazakis.bsky.social recently chatted with @inkstickmedia.com about Trump's recent executive action against domestic terrorism. Check out the full article at: inkstickmedia.com/trumps-terro...
CTEC Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined @ajepodcasts.bsky.social The Take to discuss the recent #Trump Admin focus on #Antifa. You can find the discussion at:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYE...
Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/.../why-is......
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5RRk...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYE...
Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/.../why-is......
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5RRk...
Why is Trump targeting antifa under terrorism laws? | The Take
YouTube video by Al Jazeera English
www.youtube.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
CTEC Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined @ajepodcasts.bsky.social The Take to discuss the recent #Trump Admin focus on #Antifa. You can find the discussion at:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYE...
Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/.../why-is......
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5RRk...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYE...
Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/.../why-is......
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5RRk...
Recently, CTEC Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social wrote for the @latimes.com an op-ed that points to the dangers of Trump's recent "domestic terrorism" order- it is more about politics than it is about national security. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
October 14, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Recently, CTEC Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social wrote for the @latimes.com an op-ed that points to the dangers of Trump's recent "domestic terrorism" order- it is more about politics than it is about national security. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Recently, CTEC Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @keranews.org @npr.org about the recent attack against an ICE facility in Texas. TLDR of it is this, pinning the attack on ideology misses the mark: www.keranews.org/news/2025-10...
Dallas ICE shooting: Politics and ideology — or notoriety and fame?
Shooting at Dallas ICE field office that killed detainees follows pattern for political assassins whose motives are less about ideology and more about notoriety.
www.keranews.org
October 8, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Recently, CTEC Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @keranews.org @npr.org about the recent attack against an ICE facility in Texas. TLDR of it is this, pinning the attack on ideology misses the mark: www.keranews.org/news/2025-10...
Recently, Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined the @bunkerpod.bsky.social to discuss Trump's crackdown on progressives under the guise of counter-terrorism. Listen in:
🚨OUT NOW🚨
Trump keeps talking about cracking down on “left wing terror networks” in the US. This appears like a blatant move to crackdown on his enemies – so what is the real state of domestic terrorism in America? @jason-blazakis.bsky.social & @jacobjarvis.bsky.social discuss 👉 linktr.ee/bunker_pod
Trump keeps talking about cracking down on “left wing terror networks” in the US. This appears like a blatant move to crackdown on his enemies – so what is the real state of domestic terrorism in America? @jason-blazakis.bsky.social & @jacobjarvis.bsky.social discuss 👉 linktr.ee/bunker_pod
October 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Recently, Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined the @bunkerpod.bsky.social to discuss Trump's crackdown on progressives under the guise of counter-terrorism. Listen in:
Reposted by CTEC
OPINION: "The president’s new executive order, frankly, does very little new to combat anarchist-motivated violence." — Jason Blazakis
There are many things wrong with Trump calling antifa a terror group. Here are a few of them. | Opinion
Antifa does not meet an important legal criterion for terrorist designation, namely, it's more a way of thinking than it is an organized group.
www.inquirer.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
OPINION: "The president’s new executive order, frankly, does very little new to combat anarchist-motivated violence." — Jason Blazakis
🚨 New Op-Ed in the @inquirer.com Inquirer 🚨by CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social . Trump’s new order labeling #Antifa a “domestic terrorist organization” isn’t about public safety — it’s about political power. Read Here:
www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
www.inquirer.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
🚨 New Op-Ed in the @inquirer.com Inquirer 🚨by CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social . Trump’s new order labeling #Antifa a “domestic terrorist organization” isn’t about public safety — it’s about political power. Read Here:
www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Recently, @jmberger.com, a senior research fellow at CTEC, spoke w/ the @newrepublic.com about the rise of nihilistic violent extremism (NVE). Check out the article and the implications of the FBI's use of NVE to shape its investigations: newrepublic.com/article/2008...
The Right’s Baseless Project to Link Trans People With Extremism
A campaign for the FBI to adopt a new designation of “transgender ideology–inspired violence and extremism” is less about law enforcement than politics.
newrepublic.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Recently, @jmberger.com, a senior research fellow at CTEC, spoke w/ the @newrepublic.com about the rise of nihilistic violent extremism (NVE). Check out the article and the implications of the FBI's use of NVE to shape its investigations: newrepublic.com/article/2008...
Recently, CTEC Senior Research Fellow @jmberger.com spoke with @washingtonpost.com about online radicalization and meme culture in the wake of multiple acts of violent extremist violence in the United States. Check out the full article at: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
The internet culture behind the Kirk shooting suspect’s ‘big meme’
The Charlie Kirk shooter’s engravings have been mined for clues of a motive. For those steeped in meme culture, they show only that he was “terminally online.”
www.washingtonpost.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Recently, CTEC Senior Research Fellow @jmberger.com spoke with @washingtonpost.com about online radicalization and meme culture in the wake of multiple acts of violent extremist violence in the United States. Check out the full article at: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
President #Trump recently said he will designate #Antifa as a terrorist group. @npr.org ran a great article on this topic with words from our Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , on why this is not an easy task. Read why: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
Can Trump label antifa a 'domestic terror group'? Legally, there's no such thing
Current law provides for the designation of some groups as "foreign terrorist organizations," but no similar process exists for domestic groups.
www.npr.org
September 22, 2025 at 1:14 PM
President #Trump recently said he will designate #Antifa as a terrorist group. @npr.org ran a great article on this topic with words from our Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , on why this is not an easy task. Read why: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...
We are thrilled to announce that Olivia Kilborn is CTEC’s Michael Donnelly Fellow for Fall 2025. She’ll study the rhetoric connecting eco-fascist subcultures and far-right European parties—work with real implications for counter-extremism practice. Read more: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
The Michael Donnelly CTEC Research Fellowship
www.middlebury.edu
September 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
We are thrilled to announce that Olivia Kilborn is CTEC’s Michael Donnelly Fellow for Fall 2025. She’ll study the rhetoric connecting eco-fascist subcultures and far-right European parties—work with real implications for counter-extremism practice. Read more: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
CTEC Exec Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, joined @npr.org on All Things Considered to reflect on the 24th Anniversary of #9/11 and how the counterterrorism mission of the USG has evolved. He joined @colinpclarke.bsky.social & @oyousef.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/09/11/n...
www.npr.org/2025/09/11/n...
What counterterrorism looks like in the U.S. 24 years after 9/11
The Sept. 11 attacks of 24 years ago led to unprecedented investment in counterterrorism resources. Today, the terrorism landscape is more complex than ever, and some say the country is less prepared.
www.npr.org
September 12, 2025 at 5:16 AM
CTEC Exec Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, joined @npr.org on All Things Considered to reflect on the 24th Anniversary of #9/11 and how the counterterrorism mission of the USG has evolved. He joined @colinpclarke.bsky.social & @oyousef.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/09/11/n...
www.npr.org/2025/09/11/n...
New CTEC publication: "Hermetic Hatred" demonstrates how antisemitism survives by adapting its narrative architecture—from theology to politics to today’s platforms. Maps key tropes, transmission routes, and practical takeaways for policy & T&S.
www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
Hermetic Hatred: How Antisemitism's Architectural Framework Survives Theology, Politics, and Progress
This article examines antisemitism not as sporadic prejudice, but as a sophisticated ideological architecture that has preserved its structural integrity across nearly two millennia while adapting its...
www.middlebury.edu
September 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
New CTEC publication: "Hermetic Hatred" demonstrates how antisemitism survives by adapting its narrative architecture—from theology to politics to today’s platforms. Maps key tropes, transmission routes, and practical takeaways for policy & T&S.
www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
New from CTEC: Binary Breeding Grounds: How the Manosphere Manufactures Modern Antisemitism. A review on how misogynist online ecosystems braid antisemitic frames via recommender systems & influencer escalation—and what platforms, researchers, and educators can do. www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
Binary Breeding Grounds: How the Manosphere Manufactures Modern Antisemitism
This study examines how the manosphere has become a digital breeding ground for modern antisemitism, systematically integrating conspiracy theories with masculine grievance narratives. Through analysi...
www.middlebury.edu
August 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
New from CTEC: Binary Breeding Grounds: How the Manosphere Manufactures Modern Antisemitism. A review on how misogynist online ecosystems braid antisemitic frames via recommender systems & influencer escalation—and what platforms, researchers, and educators can do. www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
CTEC's founding Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, has a forthcoming book coming out that examines counterterrorist financing. Terror Disrupted, published [email protected], will hit bookshelves and online market places in early 2026.
August 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
CTEC's founding Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, has a forthcoming book coming out that examines counterterrorist financing. Terror Disrupted, published [email protected], will hit bookshelves and online market places in early 2026.
New from CTEC: Paula Granger’s “Crowdsourced Political Violence.” Online spaces lower barriers to mobilization—fostering leaderless resistance. Literature review with practical takeaways for researchers, platforms and policymakers: methods, gaps, next steps. Read: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
Crowdsourced Political Violence: A Literature Review on How the Internet Embodies Leaderless Resistance and Empowers Lone Actors
One of the most significant challenges and changes in political violence in modern times is not necessarily ideological but structural. The DHS and FBI identify lone offenders and small groups—particu...
www.middlebury.edu
August 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
New from CTEC: Paula Granger’s “Crowdsourced Political Violence.” Online spaces lower barriers to mobilization—fostering leaderless resistance. Literature review with practical takeaways for researchers, platforms and policymakers: methods, gaps, next steps. Read: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
Reposted by CTEC
Today @ctecmiis.bsky.social published a guest author essay by @djrosenthal.bsky.social that examines the importance of strategic reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Check out this must read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
Where the Olives and Sunflowers Grow: Strategic Reconciliation in the Israel-Palestinian Conflict
This article argues that achieving lasting peace in the Israel-Palestinian conflict necessitates moving beyond purely political solutions to embrace reconciliation, which is generally neglected. While...
www.middlebury.edu
August 5, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Today @ctecmiis.bsky.social published a guest author essay by @djrosenthal.bsky.social that examines the importance of strategic reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Check out this must read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
Hot off of the CTEC press from guest author @djrosenthal.bsky.social is an in-depth paper that examines the need for strategic reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians. DJ's a former NSC CT Director at the Obama White House and his piece can be read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
CTEC Publications
Research published by CTEC.
www.middlebury.edu
August 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Hot off of the CTEC press from guest author @djrosenthal.bsky.social is an in-depth paper that examines the need for strategic reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians. DJ's a former NSC CT Director at the Obama White House and his piece can be read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...
CTEC Executive Director and @middleburycollege.bsky.social Prof @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @npr.org about the normalization of political violence and how it has emboldened extremists. www.keranews.org/news/2025-07...
Shooting at Alvarado ICE facility, other attacks: The new normal?
More than a dozen people face federal charges over a shooting at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado. Experts say political violence has become more common.
www.keranews.org
July 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
CTEC Executive Director and @middleburycollege.bsky.social Prof @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @npr.org about the normalization of political violence and how it has emboldened extremists. www.keranews.org/news/2025-07...
CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social just published for @justsecurity.org a piece looking at #Trump Admin decisions recently to delist HTS as an FTO in #Syria. Check it out at: www.justsecurity.org/117191/trump...
Trump Administration’s Delisting of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
The move to delist HTS as an FTO is not without risk, especially when considering the lineage of the group.
www.justsecurity.org
July 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social just published for @justsecurity.org a piece looking at #Trump Admin decisions recently to delist HTS as an FTO in #Syria. Check it out at: www.justsecurity.org/117191/trump...
Reposted by CTEC
Sadly, the #Trump Admin is sleeping on the transnational far-right threat. Active Clubs on the rise - in places like #Sweden - and they have links to U.S. based violent extremists. Groups like the Nordic Resistance Front remain a threat and are circumventing State Dept #sanctions. Read more below 🔽
Recently, CTEC Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, spoke with @wired.com about the threat posed by Active Clubs and how the State Department designated #terrorist group, Nordic Resistance Movement, has adapted to #sanctions. Read more at: www.wired.com/story/socal-...
A Swedish MMA Tournament Spotlights the Trump Administration's Handling of Far-Right Terrorism
A member of a California-based fight club seems to have attended an event hosted by groups with ties to an organization the US government labeled a terrorist group. Will the Trump administration care?
www.wired.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Sadly, the #Trump Admin is sleeping on the transnational far-right threat. Active Clubs on the rise - in places like #Sweden - and they have links to U.S. based violent extremists. Groups like the Nordic Resistance Front remain a threat and are circumventing State Dept #sanctions. Read more below 🔽
Recently, CTEC Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, spoke with @wired.com about the threat posed by Active Clubs and how the State Department designated #terrorist group, Nordic Resistance Movement, has adapted to #sanctions. Read more at: www.wired.com/story/socal-...
A Swedish MMA Tournament Spotlights the Trump Administration's Handling of Far-Right Terrorism
A member of a California-based fight club seems to have attended an event hosted by groups with ties to an organization the US government labeled a terrorist group. Will the Trump administration care?
www.wired.com
July 1, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Recently, CTEC Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, spoke with @wired.com about the threat posed by Active Clubs and how the State Department designated #terrorist group, Nordic Resistance Movement, has adapted to #sanctions. Read more at: www.wired.com/story/socal-...