Reiss Center on Law and Security

The Trump Admin has sent a war powers report on Iran to Congress, its 6th report this term.
Amidst shifting explanations for the war, it's an important document for the public.
Now analyzed and available on our #WarPowersResolutionReportingProject site:
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org/reports/2026...

Top Questions the Trump Administration Needs to Answer on War with Iran Congress and journalists should demand answers to these questions, many of which should have been answered prior to the war beginning

With senior US officials briefing Congress on Tuesday about Iran war plans.

I teamed up with @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @k8brannen.bsky.social

Top Questions the Trump Administration Needs to Answer on War with Iran

Also plenty of questions for journalists (and the public) here.

🧵1/

White House's "War Powers Report" to Congress for attack on Iran.⬇️

Two conspicuous absences:

1. The word "imminent" appears nowhere. There is thus no justification in the Report for proceeding without prior congressional authorization.

2. No reference to wellbeing/protection of Iranian people.

The Trump Administration’s Theory of Constitutional War Powers The OLC memorandum justifying operations in Venezuela provides insight into the administration’s decision-making process on the use of force.

On today's reading list: two new pieces by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows over at @justsecurity.org.

@becingber.bsky.social on constitutional war powers: www.justsecurity.org/131538/trump...

@tessbridgeman.bsky.social on supply chain risk designations: www.justsecurity.org/132851/anthr...

Top Experts' Backgrounder: Military Action Against Iran and US Domestic Law Experts who advised a president answer basic questions on when action against Iran would be lawful, and what options Congress has to oppose it.

Top Experts’ Backgrounder: Military Action Against Iran and US Domestic Law

www.justsecurity.org/64645/war-po...

Timeline of Boat Strikes and Related Actions A timeline that chronicles major events in the Trump administration’s campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers.

Today marks 44 U.S. strikes in Operation Southern Spear, with at least 150 killed.

@rcls-nyu.bsky.social’s Jeremy Chin, Margaret Lin, Aidan Arasasingham, & Marie Miller track the latest + more on Congressional action👇

www.justsecurity.org/124002/timel...

Reupping in light of today's House hearing⬇️

An illuminating read from our Reiss Center faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, in Q&A with @ichotiner.bsky.social, about ICE tactics, the Fourth Amendment, and the courts.
With important data from the @justsecurity.org presumption-of-regularity tracker.
Read in @newyorker.com 👇

We @rcls-nyu.bsky.social were honored to host the founders of the Alliance for Diplomacy & Justice, w/ a packed room of @nyulaw.bsky.social students.

The fmr senior diplomats reflected on their work w/in US natsec & foreign policy, and on reinvigorating a rights-based approach for the future.

Europe’s Rearmament Paradox The European countries most able to fill Washington’s military role are those that most want to stay at its side.

In @foreignpolicy.com, Faculty Co-Director Stephen Holmes argues there's an emerging paradox in European defense spending: waning allies are least willing to front the cost of American protection.

foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/28/e...

New commentary & analysis by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty co-director @weissmann.substack.com about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, on The Bulwark podcast👇

Legal Obstacles to U.S. Acquisition of Greenland Any acquisition of Greenland by the United States would directly violate fundamental principles of international law.

An expert international law analysis of the insurmountable legal obstacles of any US acquisition of Greenland, from the non-use of force to the right of self-determination.

By @mikeschmitt.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social

www.justsecurity.org/129374/legal...

Legal Obstacles to U.S. Acquisition of Greenland Any acquisition of Greenland by the United States would directly violate fundamental principles of international law.

Teamed up with the great @mikeschmitt.bsky.social on why international law would not allow (& States must reject) any acquisition of Greenland:

-following the threat or use of force

-without respecting the self-determination rights of the people of #Greenland

www.justsecurity.org/129374/legal...

Consolidation of Power A new episode of Main Justice, with a special guest

Listen to our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social senior fellow @becingber.bsky.social lay out the stakes & explain the law re US actions in Venezuela.
With our faculty co-director @weissmann.substack.com & Mary McCord on their Main Justice podcast:
substack.com/@ghost22/not...

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And ➡️@becingber.bsky.social:
bsky.app/profile/beci...

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➡️ From @tessbridgeman.bsky.social:
bsky.app/profile/tess...

1/ DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel has released a redacted version of its memo re the legality of US operations in #Venezuela.

For important & breaking analysis, see these 🧵's from @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows/former senior govt lawyers.

War Powers, Venezuela, Drug Boats, and Congress Trump's unauthorized military interventions should spur Congress to reassert its constitutional prerogatives over the use of force.

"In our view, the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution is on firm ground...both the text and historical and modern practice make the statute’s constitutionality clear."
-@rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows @tessbridgeman.bsky.social & @bcfinucane.bsky.social:
www.justsecurity.org/128517/war-p...

As US actions against sanctioned vessels ramp up, listen to @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Senior Fellow & Visiting Scholar, speak with expert Rob McLaughlin about the legal issues surrounding the seizure and boarding of merchant ships.
At the @justsecurity.org podcast:

Congress, the President, and Military Force in Venezuela Experts write the president did not have authority to undertake Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela without congressional authorization.

1/ With Brian Egan, me, and @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, here's what you need to know about Congress, the President, and the use of force in Venezuela.

Bottom line: Congressional authorization was required for the operation removed Maduro from power

www.justsecurity.org/128211/congr...

Congress, the President, and Military Force in Venezuela Experts write the president did not have authority to undertake Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela without congressional authorization.

It was an honor to work with Brian Egan and Tess Bridgeman on this important piece.

- The President did not have constitutional authority for the Venezuela operation.

- It also violated the "supreme Law of the Land" - UN Charter, which the Senate passed 89-2.

Justice Dept. Memo Approved Military Incursion Into Venezuela as Lawful

Honored to have my war powers scholarship referenced by @charliesavage.bsky.social in @nytimes.com.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...

Reposting with the correct link for the @rcls-nyu.bsky.social War Powers Resolution reporting project searchable database and interactive graphics:

warpowers.lawandsecurity.org

War powers 🧵👇

Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers, Operation Southern Spear, Operation Absolute Resolve Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.

9/ Stay tuned for an update to the @rcls-nyu.bsky.social WPR database w/this report.

For analysis and resources on "US Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers, Operation Southern Spear, and Operation Absolute Resolve" here's @justsecurity.org's collection:

www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...

My thoughts with Just Security colleagues @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social on Saturday's U.S. operations into Venezuela and the international law issues they raised.

International Law and the U.S. Military and Law Enforcement Operations in Venezuela Experts survey the international law issues of Operation Absolute Resolve.

I joined two great legal experts, @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, on this analysis

In this thread, I highlight 3 items you may not see covered in same way, if at all, elsewhere.

Panama 'precedent,' safeguards for Heads of State, Venezuelan nationals new legal protections in US

Pleased to speak with @charliesavage.bsky.social about how the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela breaches the UN Charter and the Take Care Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

With news breaking about the Maduro capture operation: read important analysis by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social over @justsecurity.org 👇

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