Tyler McBrien
@tylermcbrien.com
Managing Editor at Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org
Signal - tylermcbrien.97
Writing in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post, Slate, Mother Jones, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and more: www.tylermcbrien.com
Signal - tylermcbrien.97
Writing in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post, Slate, Mother Jones, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and more: www.tylermcbrien.com
A “high-level” Trump admin official told the @newyorker.com that in an interview for her position “her interlocutor opened his mouth to reveal that he had a MAGA tattoo on the underside of his lower lip.”
The official said, “It’s over the top, but it’s the currency of the realm.”
The official said, “It’s over the top, but it’s the currency of the realm.”
November 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
A “high-level” Trump admin official told the @newyorker.com that in an interview for her position “her interlocutor opened his mouth to reveal that he had a MAGA tattoo on the underside of his lower lip.”
The official said, “It’s over the top, but it’s the currency of the realm.”
The official said, “It’s over the top, but it’s the currency of the realm.”
A couple years back, I wrote about how the novelty of interacting with government agencies on social media gave way to an era of skepticism on both sides.
Now we have official government accounts posting "womp womp, cry all you want," and calling US citizens "imbecilic morons."
Now we have official government accounts posting "womp womp, cry all you want," and calling US citizens "imbecilic morons."
November 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
A couple years back, I wrote about how the novelty of interacting with government agencies on social media gave way to an era of skepticism on both sides.
Now we have official government accounts posting "womp womp, cry all you want," and calling US citizens "imbecilic morons."
Now we have official government accounts posting "womp womp, cry all you want," and calling US citizens "imbecilic morons."
In an interview with @npr.org last month, a former head of FTO designation at State said this would be "a highly dangerous step" and former counsel for domestic terrorism at DOJ predicted it would have "a cascading effect across civil society."
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
In an interview with @npr.org last month, a former head of FTO designation at State said this would be "a highly dangerous step" and former counsel for domestic terrorism at DOJ predicted it would have "a cascading effect across civil society."
At @lawfaremedia.org, we spent a month tracking down public info on domestic deployments of National Guard, Reserve, and Active-Duty troops.
What we found—and what we didn't—revealed a disturbing lack of transparency on how and why military forces are being used on U.S. soil.
What we found—and what we didn't—revealed a disturbing lack of transparency on how and why military forces are being used on U.S. soil.
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
At @lawfaremedia.org, we spent a month tracking down public info on domestic deployments of National Guard, Reserve, and Active-Duty troops.
What we found—and what we didn't—revealed a disturbing lack of transparency on how and why military forces are being used on U.S. soil.
What we found—and what we didn't—revealed a disturbing lack of transparency on how and why military forces are being used on U.S. soil.
The irony? These documents are publicly available thanks to a FOIA lawsuit lodged by the rightwing publication The Daily Caller.
View the documents here: vault.fbi.gov/daniel-richman
View the documents here: vault.fbi.gov/daniel-richman
November 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The irony? These documents are publicly available thanks to a FOIA lawsuit lodged by the rightwing publication The Daily Caller.
View the documents here: vault.fbi.gov/daniel-richman
View the documents here: vault.fbi.gov/daniel-richman
NEW: @annabower.bsky.social reviewed a tranche of FOIA docs from an online public FBI vault which suggest that Dan Richman—the person "at the FBI" who Comey allegedly "authorized" to anonymously leak to the press—may not have been officially employed by the Bureau at the time in question.
November 7, 2025 at 8:04 PM
NEW: @annabower.bsky.social reviewed a tranche of FOIA docs from an online public FBI vault which suggest that Dan Richman—the person "at the FBI" who Comey allegedly "authorized" to anonymously leak to the press—may not have been officially employed by the Bureau at the time in question.
NEW: Former federal employees released another Shadow Report—this time on the State Dept's Women, Peace, and Security program—after the US gov failed to deliver its report to Congress, which it was legally obligated to do by 10/31 per the 2017 WPS Act (co-sponsored by Rubio and signed by Trump).
November 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
NEW: Former federal employees released another Shadow Report—this time on the State Dept's Women, Peace, and Security program—after the US gov failed to deliver its report to Congress, which it was legally obligated to do by 10/31 per the 2017 WPS Act (co-sponsored by Rubio and signed by Trump).
I had a great conversation with Joey Kellner on the @lawfaremedia.org podcast about how shared reality and consensus on sources of truth and information dissolves when a superpower declines—a situation totally exceptional to the Soviet collapse with no bearing on our present…. right?
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I had a great conversation with Joey Kellner on the @lawfaremedia.org podcast about how shared reality and consensus on sources of truth and information dissolves when a superpower declines—a situation totally exceptional to the Soviet collapse with no bearing on our present…. right?
Fantastic poster from Vito Marcantonio's (ultimately unsuccessful) bid for NYC mayor on the American Labor Party ticket in the 1949 election
(h/t @dlondonwortel.bsky.social)
(h/t @dlondonwortel.bsky.social)
November 4, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Fantastic poster from Vito Marcantonio's (ultimately unsuccessful) bid for NYC mayor on the American Labor Party ticket in the 1949 election
(h/t @dlondonwortel.bsky.social)
(h/t @dlondonwortel.bsky.social)
A report released today by @publiccitizen.bsky.social looked at 24 disclosed corporate donors and found that:
- over the past 5 years 16 of them entered into government contracts totaling $279 billion
- 14 of them are facing fed enforcement activities and/or had them suspended by Trump admin
- over the past 5 years 16 of them entered into government contracts totaling $279 billion
- 14 of them are facing fed enforcement activities and/or had them suspended by Trump admin
November 4, 2025 at 3:32 AM
A report released today by @publiccitizen.bsky.social looked at 24 disclosed corporate donors and found that:
- over the past 5 years 16 of them entered into government contracts totaling $279 billion
- 14 of them are facing fed enforcement activities and/or had them suspended by Trump admin
- over the past 5 years 16 of them entered into government contracts totaling $279 billion
- 14 of them are facing fed enforcement activities and/or had them suspended by Trump admin
As of today (by my count) Sen. Blumenthal has sent letters to all 43 donors to Trump's ballroom project who were previously anonymous but now public—plus 3 firms contracted by the White House—seeking info on the terms of contributions and why they were not previously disclosed
November 4, 2025 at 3:18 AM
As of today (by my count) Sen. Blumenthal has sent letters to all 43 donors to Trump's ballroom project who were previously anonymous but now public—plus 3 firms contracted by the White House—seeking info on the terms of contributions and why they were not previously disclosed
INBOX: @justfutureslaw.bsky.social and @ccrjustice.org sued the Trump admin to compel disclosure of ICE/CBP's use of surveillance tech developed by two Israeli companies, Paragon and Cellebrite, after the legal groups claimed the govt improperly denied initial FOIA requests to see the contracts.
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
INBOX: @justfutureslaw.bsky.social and @ccrjustice.org sued the Trump admin to compel disclosure of ICE/CBP's use of surveillance tech developed by two Israeli companies, Paragon and Cellebrite, after the legal groups claimed the govt improperly denied initial FOIA requests to see the contracts.
Odd thing to say from someone who publicly supported offering free legal services to immigrants and said:
"Immigration is a good thing, immigration brings in new people with new talents, new cultures, and they add to society, they bring a new asset to society, they don’t detract, look at New York.”
"Immigration is a good thing, immigration brings in new people with new talents, new cultures, and they add to society, they bring a new asset to society, they don’t detract, look at New York.”
October 30, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Odd thing to say from someone who publicly supported offering free legal services to immigrants and said:
"Immigration is a good thing, immigration brings in new people with new talents, new cultures, and they add to society, they bring a new asset to society, they don’t detract, look at New York.”
"Immigration is a good thing, immigration brings in new people with new talents, new cultures, and they add to society, they bring a new asset to society, they don’t detract, look at New York.”
The guy who Cuomo said “doesn’t understand New York culture” was just endorsed by possibly one of the most New York sounding unions ever.
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 AM
The guy who Cuomo said “doesn’t understand New York culture” was just endorsed by possibly one of the most New York sounding unions ever.
After countless posters, many sleepless nights, and a few helpful strangers…
PENNY HAS BEEN FOUND ❤️❤️❤️
PENNY HAS BEEN FOUND ❤️❤️❤️
October 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
After countless posters, many sleepless nights, and a few helpful strangers…
PENNY HAS BEEN FOUND ❤️❤️❤️
PENNY HAS BEEN FOUND ❤️❤️❤️
One of the reasons the Trump administration is now trying to remove Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia is "its national language is English," a fact that the president seemingly learned for the first time about three months ago.
October 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
One of the reasons the Trump administration is now trying to remove Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia is "its national language is English," a fact that the president seemingly learned for the first time about three months ago.
Friends in BROOKLYN and QUEENS, sweet Penny is still missing. She was last seen on Bushwick Ave / Beaver Ave.
Please share this updated poster and keep and eye out if you can
Please share this updated poster and keep and eye out if you can
October 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Friends in BROOKLYN and QUEENS, sweet Penny is still missing. She was last seen on Bushwick Ave / Beaver Ave.
Please share this updated poster and keep and eye out if you can
Please share this updated poster and keep and eye out if you can
Brooklyn friends, especially Bushwick and parts of Ridgewood, please keep an eye out for my friend’s dog Penny who ran away last night ❤️
October 22, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Brooklyn friends, especially Bushwick and parts of Ridgewood, please keep an eye out for my friend’s dog Penny who ran away last night ❤️
I hereby declare 2025 as “The Year of Politicians and Government Officials Reaching Out to Journalists in Utterly Baffling and Ill-Advised Ways.”
October 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I hereby declare 2025 as “The Year of Politicians and Government Officials Reaching Out to Journalists in Utterly Baffling and Ill-Advised Ways.”
This was all very clearly on the record, but I can't help but wonder: if you tell someone they're not a journalist, why would you then expect them to abide by the professional ethics and standards of one?
Read @annabower.bsky.social's latest in @lawfaremedia.org below 👇
Read @annabower.bsky.social's latest in @lawfaremedia.org below 👇
October 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This was all very clearly on the record, but I can't help but wonder: if you tell someone they're not a journalist, why would you then expect them to abide by the professional ethics and standards of one?
Read @annabower.bsky.social's latest in @lawfaremedia.org below 👇
Read @annabower.bsky.social's latest in @lawfaremedia.org below 👇
NEW: Zachary Evetts, one of the two men indicted last week on allegations of terrorism as part of an antifa "cell," pleads NOT GUILTY.
The other defendant, Cameron Arnold, pleaded NOT GUILTY on Friday, 10/17.
The other defendant, Cameron Arnold, pleaded NOT GUILTY on Friday, 10/17.
October 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
NEW: Zachary Evetts, one of the two men indicted last week on allegations of terrorism as part of an antifa "cell," pleads NOT GUILTY.
The other defendant, Cameron Arnold, pleaded NOT GUILTY on Friday, 10/17.
The other defendant, Cameron Arnold, pleaded NOT GUILTY on Friday, 10/17.
NEW: Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Garcia (D-CA) opened an inquiry into the "increasing detention of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents."
In a letter to DHS Sec Noem, they mention reports of "disproportionate force" and request records re: detention of US citizens. 🔽
In a letter to DHS Sec Noem, they mention reports of "disproportionate force" and request records re: detention of US citizens. 🔽
October 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
NEW: Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Garcia (D-CA) opened an inquiry into the "increasing detention of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents."
In a letter to DHS Sec Noem, they mention reports of "disproportionate force" and request records re: detention of US citizens. 🔽
In a letter to DHS Sec Noem, they mention reports of "disproportionate force" and request records re: detention of US citizens. 🔽
As of October 6, briefing in the case is delayed until further notice due to the government shutdown.
Full docket here: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71090...
Full docket here: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71090...
October 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
As of October 6, briefing in the case is delayed until further notice due to the government shutdown.
Full docket here: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71090...
Full docket here: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71090...
Found via @seamushughes.bsky.social @courtwatch.bsky.social —
In August, CSI Aviation filed a complaint in U.S. Federal Claims court against DHS after it took less than a week to award a 3-yr $915 million contract to Salus, "a company with no track record as a prime government contractor."
In August, CSI Aviation filed a complaint in U.S. Federal Claims court against DHS after it took less than a week to award a 3-yr $915 million contract to Salus, "a company with no track record as a prime government contractor."
October 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Found via @seamushughes.bsky.social @courtwatch.bsky.social —
In August, CSI Aviation filed a complaint in U.S. Federal Claims court against DHS after it took less than a week to award a 3-yr $915 million contract to Salus, "a company with no track record as a prime government contractor."
In August, CSI Aviation filed a complaint in U.S. Federal Claims court against DHS after it took less than a week to award a 3-yr $915 million contract to Salus, "a company with no track record as a prime government contractor."