Natasha Bertrand
@natashabertrand.bsky.social
CNN national security correspondent. Send tips/pics of your dog(s) to [email protected]
Signal: Natashabertrand.12
https://www.cnn.com/profiles/natasha-bertrand-profile
Signal: Natashabertrand.12
https://www.cnn.com/profiles/natasha-bertrand-profile
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Trump admin officials told Congress that the US is not currently planning to launch strikes inside Venezuela and doesn’t have a legal justification that would support attacks against land targets right now—but they’re seeking one from DOJ, per US official. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
Trump admin tells Congress it currently lacks legal justification to strike Venezuela | CNN Politics
The “execute order” that launched the US military campaign against suspected drug boats in September also does not extend to land targets, the briefers said, according to the sources.
edition.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Trump admin officials told Congress that the US is not currently planning to launch strikes inside Venezuela and doesn’t have a legal justification that would support attacks against land targets right now—but they’re seeking one from DOJ, per US official. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
New: The Pentagon cleared giving Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles after assessing that it would not negatively impact US stockpiles, despite Trump suggesting earlier this month that the US might not have enough to give away. Final decision largely political now. edition.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
Pentagon cleared giving Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles, leaving final decision to Trump | CNN Politics
The Pentagon has given the White House the green light to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles after assessing that it would not negatively impact US stockpiles, leaving the final politic...
www.cnn.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:17 PM
New: The Pentagon cleared giving Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles after assessing that it would not negatively impact US stockpiles, despite Trump suggesting earlier this month that the US might not have enough to give away. Final decision largely political now. edition.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
NEW: National Guard troops deployed in Washington, DC, will remain mobilized in the city at least through February 2026. Hegseth extended their orders on Monday. edition.cnn.com/2025/10/29/p...
Exclusive: National Guard orders in DC extended through February 2026 | CNN Politics
National Guard troops deployed in Washington, DC will remain mobilized in the city at least through February 2026, according to people familiar with the Guard’s orders.
edition.cnn.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:27 AM
NEW: National Guard troops deployed in Washington, DC, will remain mobilized in the city at least through February 2026. Hegseth extended their orders on Monday. edition.cnn.com/2025/10/29/p...
NEW: The Department of Homeland Security is funneling $10 billion through the Navy to help facilitate the construction of a sprawling network of migrant detention centers across the US in an arrangement aimed at getting the centers built faster. www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
Looking to speed up building network of migrant detention centers, Trump administration turns to the US Navy | CNN Politics
The Department of Homeland Security is funneling $10 billion through the Navy to help facilitate the construction of a sprawling network of migrant detention centers across the US in an arrangement ai...
www.cnn.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
NEW: The Department of Homeland Security is funneling $10 billion through the Navy to help facilitate the construction of a sprawling network of migrant detention centers across the US in an arrangement aimed at getting the centers built faster. www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
Great video by @averyschmitz.bsky.social (with some narration help by me 🤭) taking a look at what the US military has built up in the Caribbean.
October 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Great video by @averyschmitz.bsky.social (with some narration help by me 🤭) taking a look at what the US military has built up in the Caribbean.
The US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months. Here’s what’s been positioned as Trump pressures Venezuela (and, increasingly, Colombia): www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/w...
Here’s what the US military has positioned in the Caribbean as Trump pressures Venezuela | CNN
The US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months, conducting training missions off the coast of Venezuela, reopening a...
www.cnn.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months. Here’s what’s been positioned as Trump pressures Venezuela (and, increasingly, Colombia): www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/w...
Reposted by Natasha Bertrand
Great segment here with @rgoodlaw.bsky.social.
Also, important observations from @natashabertrand.bsky.social about the dynamics of lawyering within DoD on the Caribbean strikes, including the sidelining of actual experts and reliance on the OLC license to kill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L062...
Also, important observations from @natashabertrand.bsky.social about the dynamics of lawyering within DoD on the Caribbean strikes, including the sidelining of actual experts and reliance on the OLC license to kill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L062...
Trump authorizes CIA operations in Venezuela
YouTube video by CNN
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Great segment here with @rgoodlaw.bsky.social.
Also, important observations from @natashabertrand.bsky.social about the dynamics of lawyering within DoD on the Caribbean strikes, including the sidelining of actual experts and reliance on the OLC license to kill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L062...
Also, important observations from @natashabertrand.bsky.social about the dynamics of lawyering within DoD on the Caribbean strikes, including the sidelining of actual experts and reliance on the OLC license to kill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L062...
Breaking: At least one US military strike in the Caribbean targeted Colombians on a boat leaving from Colombia, sources tell us.
The deliberate targeting of Colombians suggests the US military’s campaign is wider than previously believed www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
The deliberate targeting of Colombians suggests the US military’s campaign is wider than previously believed www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
At least one US military strike on alleged drug trafficking boat in Caribbean targeted Colombians | CNN Politics
At least one US military strike in the Caribbean over the last two months targeted Colombian nationals on a boat that had left from Colombia, according to two people briefed by the Pentagon about the ...
www.cnn.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Breaking: At least one US military strike in the Caribbean targeted Colombians on a boat leaving from Colombia, sources tell us.
The deliberate targeting of Colombians suggests the US military’s campaign is wider than previously believed www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
The deliberate targeting of Colombians suggests the US military’s campaign is wider than previously believed www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
NEW: How the Pentagon sidelined lawyers while testing the legal limits of military action
New details here about how the Army’s top uniformed lawyer was fired just weeks after raising concerns about the use of the military domestically and mass firings of DoD employees www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
New details here about how the Army’s top uniformed lawyer was fired just weeks after raising concerns about the use of the military domestically and mass firings of DoD employees www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
How the Pentagon sidelined lawyers while testing the legal limits of military action | CNN Politics
For weeks earlier this year, the Army’s top uniformed lawyer had been raising legal concerns inside the Pentagon about some of the new policies being rolled out dictating how the military can be used ...
www.cnn.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
NEW: How the Pentagon sidelined lawyers while testing the legal limits of military action
New details here about how the Army’s top uniformed lawyer was fired just weeks after raising concerns about the use of the military domestically and mass firings of DoD employees www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
New details here about how the Army’s top uniformed lawyer was fired just weeks after raising concerns about the use of the military domestically and mass firings of DoD employees www.cnn.com/2025/10/15/p...
Reposted by Natasha Bertrand
Phenomenal story from @natashabertrand.bsky.social - these lawyers play a vital role in making sure military orders are lawful
How the Pentagon sidelined lawyers while testing the legal limits of military action | CNN Politics
For weeks earlier this year, the Army’s top uniformed lawyer had been raising legal concerns inside the Pentagon about some of the new policies being rolled out dictating how the military can be used ...
www.cnn.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Phenomenal story from @natashabertrand.bsky.social - these lawyers play a vital role in making sure military orders are lawful
New: DOJ has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers—justifying an open-ended war against suspected smugglers, now considered by the US to be enemy combatants. www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, according to multiple peop...
www.cnn.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:35 PM
New: DOJ has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers—justifying an open-ended war against suspected smugglers, now considered by the US to be enemy combatants. www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Reposted by Natasha Bertrand
this is wild: while Stephen Miller's guy was in Minnesota for his uncle's funeral, somebody was able to see his entire phone and take pictures of his Signal group chats talking about military deployments to Portland, and brought them to the Strib (gift link: www.startribune.com/trump-offici...)
October 4, 2025 at 1:12 AM
this is wild: while Stephen Miller's guy was in Minnesota for his uncle's funeral, somebody was able to see his entire phone and take pictures of his Signal group chats talking about military deployments to Portland, and brought them to the Strib (gift link: www.startribune.com/trump-offici...)
Trump has determined that the US is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels & deemed them "unlawful combatants," according to the Pentagon. DoD general counsel briefed hill yesterday. The admin has been weighing the combatant designation for months. www.cnn.com/2025/10/02/p...
Trump admin tells Congress the US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels | CNN Politics
Trump admin tells Congress the US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
www.cnn.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Trump has determined that the US is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels & deemed them "unlawful combatants," according to the Pentagon. DoD general counsel briefed hill yesterday. The admin has been weighing the combatant designation for months. www.cnn.com/2025/10/02/p...
News: Hegseth’s surprise gathering of top military brass in Virginia next week is being called so he can describe the administration’s reinvention of the Department of Defense as the “Department of War” and outline new standards for military personnel, sources say www.cnn.com/2025/09/26/p...
Hegseth’s surprise gathering of top military brass is to deliver speech on ‘warrior ethos,’ sources say | CNN Politics
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s surprise gathering of hundreds of generals and admirals in Virginia next week is being called so he can describe the administration’s reinvention of the Department ...
www.cnn.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:44 PM
News: Hegseth’s surprise gathering of top military brass in Virginia next week is being called so he can describe the administration’s reinvention of the Department of Defense as the “Department of War” and outline new standards for military personnel, sources say www.cnn.com/2025/09/26/p...
NATO allies are divided over whether to make it a policy to shoot down Russian jets that violate NATO’s airspace, with some countries including the US & Poland signaling that future violations should be met with force, while others, including Germany, urge more restraint. www.cnn.com/2025/09/25/p...
NATO divided on how to respond to repeated Russian incursions | CNN Politics
NATO allies are divided over whether the alliance should make it a policy to shoot down Russian jets that violate NATO’s airspace, with some countries including the US, Poland, and Baltic nations sign...
www.cnn.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
NATO allies are divided over whether to make it a policy to shoot down Russian jets that violate NATO’s airspace, with some countries including the US & Poland signaling that future violations should be met with force, while others, including Germany, urge more restraint. www.cnn.com/2025/09/25/p...
“The rules set out by the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seek to establish new constraints on journalists that news organizations consider unconstitutional and at odds with democratic norms.”
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/u...
The Pentagon, the Press and the Fight to Control National Security Coverage
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM
“The rules set out by the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seek to establish new constraints on journalists that news organizations consider unconstitutional and at odds with democratic norms.”
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/u...
Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, indicated that the Pentagon’s move here is illegal.
‘This policy operates as a prior restraint on publication which is considered the most serious of First Amendment violations,’ Mr. Stern said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
‘This policy operates as a prior restraint on publication which is considered the most serious of First Amendment violations,’ Mr. Stern said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
Pentagon Expands Its Restrictions on Reporter Access
www.nytimes.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, indicated that the Pentagon’s move here is illegal.
‘This policy operates as a prior restraint on publication which is considered the most serious of First Amendment violations,’ Mr. Stern said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
‘This policy operates as a prior restraint on publication which is considered the most serious of First Amendment violations,’ Mr. Stern said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...
"In a ruling dripping with derision, a federal judge has rejected President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, asserting that the rambling 85-page suit did not follow federal rules for filing civil complaints." www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/m...
Trump’s New York Times lawsuit struck down for not being ‘short, plain, direct’ | CNN Business
In a ruling dripping with derision, a federal judge has rejected President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Times. Trump has a month to refile.
www.cnn.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"In a ruling dripping with derision, a federal judge has rejected President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, asserting that the rambling 85-page suit did not follow federal rules for filing civil complaints." www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/m...
President Trump has been quietly pushing his national security officials for months to find a way to get Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan back from the Taliban, per 3 sources--possibly putting US troops back on the ground there www.cnn.com/2025/09/18/p...
Trump admin has been quietly pushing to retake Afghan base from the Taliban for months, sources say | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump has been quietly pushing his national security officials for months to find a way to get Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan back from the Taliban, three people familiar with the mat...
www.cnn.com
September 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
President Trump has been quietly pushing his national security officials for months to find a way to get Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan back from the Taliban, per 3 sources--possibly putting US troops back on the ground there www.cnn.com/2025/09/18/p...
NEW: NDAs around the Pentagon, increasingly scarce contact with Congress, a fixation on social media and public image — and a wariness of anyone who threatens it, including the Army secretary.
Secretary of Culture War: How Hegseth wields power at the Pentagon www.cnn.com/2025/09/12/p...
Secretary of Culture War: How Hegseth wields power at the Pentagon www.cnn.com/2025/09/12/p...
Secretary of Culture War: How Hegseth wields power at the Pentagon | CNN Politics
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had only been in the job for a matter of days before he angered his new boss, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
www.cnn.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
NEW: NDAs around the Pentagon, increasingly scarce contact with Congress, a fixation on social media and public image — and a wariness of anyone who threatens it, including the Army secretary.
Secretary of Culture War: How Hegseth wields power at the Pentagon www.cnn.com/2025/09/12/p...
Secretary of Culture War: How Hegseth wields power at the Pentagon www.cnn.com/2025/09/12/p...
In briefing to the hill, DoD did not present conclusive evidence that the targets of last week’s attack were members of Tren de Aragua, top Armed Services Dem and sources say. Briefers also acknowledged the boat turned around before being struck. www.cnn.com/2025/09/11/p...
Senior Democrat says Pentagon didn’t present conclusive evidence alleged drug smugglers killed in strike were gang members | CNN Politics
Defense Department officials briefing congressional staff on Tuesday about last week’s US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean did not present conclusive evidence that the targets of the attack ...
www.cnn.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In briefing to the hill, DoD did not present conclusive evidence that the targets of last week’s attack were members of Tren de Aragua, top Armed Services Dem and sources say. Briefers also acknowledged the boat turned around before being struck. www.cnn.com/2025/09/11/p...
Russia’s drone incursion into Poland marked the first time in its history that NATO planes have shot down potential threats in allied airspace, per NATO spokesperson.
German Patriots in Poland were also placed on alert, he said.
German Patriots in Poland were also placed on alert, he said.
September 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Russia’s drone incursion into Poland marked the first time in its history that NATO planes have shot down potential threats in allied airspace, per NATO spokesperson.
German Patriots in Poland were also placed on alert, he said.
German Patriots in Poland were also placed on alert, he said.
Hegseth in the Oval Office just now says the Pentagon wants "Maximum lethality -- not tepid legality.”
Comes amid questions about the legal authorities the administration relied on to strike a Venezuelan boat it accused of carrying cartel members and drugs.
Comes amid questions about the legal authorities the administration relied on to strike a Venezuelan boat it accused of carrying cartel members and drugs.
September 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Hegseth in the Oval Office just now says the Pentagon wants "Maximum lethality -- not tepid legality.”
Comes amid questions about the legal authorities the administration relied on to strike a Venezuelan boat it accused of carrying cartel members and drugs.
Comes amid questions about the legal authorities the administration relied on to strike a Venezuelan boat it accused of carrying cartel members and drugs.
Trump will sign an executive order tomorrow making the “department of war” the “secondary” name for DoD, until Hegseth can propose a legislative solution for a more permanent change. Hegseth to also be renamed Sec of War…
September 4, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Trump will sign an executive order tomorrow making the “department of war” the “secondary” name for DoD, until Hegseth can propose a legislative solution for a more permanent change. Hegseth to also be renamed Sec of War…