A backgrounder is someone who conducts background checks.
Bloomington police announce arrests in sex trafficking bust: "Rashad Johnson out of Maple Grove. This is the most disturbing arrest that we've had here. He is a backgrounder for ICE, Homeland Security, and federal agencies."
February 10, 2026 at 9:40 PM
A backgrounder is someone who conducts background checks.
Please share this fact sheet on Ukraine with anyone who needs it
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
February 23, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Please share this fact sheet on Ukraine with anyone who needs it
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
Bloomington police announce arrests in sex trafficking bust: "Rashad Johnson out of Maple Grove. This is the most disturbing arrest that we've had here. He is a backgrounder for ICE, Homeland Security, and federal agencies."
February 10, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Bloomington police announce arrests in sex trafficking bust: "Rashad Johnson out of Maple Grove. This is the most disturbing arrest that we've had here. He is a backgrounder for ICE, Homeland Security, and federal agencies."
February 22, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors
An Expert Backgrounder by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
An Expert Backgrounder by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
www.justsecurity.org
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors
An Expert Backgrounder by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
An Expert Backgrounder by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
Interactive Map: Hundreds of Known Russian Military Objects Are in Range of ATACMS: www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
November 17, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Interactive Map: Hundreds of Known Russian Military Objects Are in Range of ATACMS: www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
Some facts about the war. (RT’ed by a former ambassador to Russia)
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
February 22, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Some facts about the war. (RT’ed by a former ambassador to Russia)
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
No way around this: On Monday, November 3, the Trump administration's lethal military operations against suspected drug cartels will be prohibited by Congress.
Recommended reading:
This new Expert Backgrounder which discusses the history and scope of the War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock.
Recommended reading:
This new Expert Backgrounder which discusses the history and scope of the War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock.
Expert Backgrounder on War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock for Boat Strikes Expiring Monday
Expert backgrounder on how War Powers Resolution works in application to U.S. military operations against suspected drug cartels.
www.justsecurity.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:39 PM
No way around this: On Monday, November 3, the Trump administration's lethal military operations against suspected drug cartels will be prohibited by Congress.
Recommended reading:
This new Expert Backgrounder which discusses the history and scope of the War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock.
Recommended reading:
This new Expert Backgrounder which discusses the history and scope of the War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock.
According to ISW, Europe is ramping up artillery ammunition production in response to growing threats.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
April 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
According to ISW, Europe is ramping up artillery ammunition production in response to growing threats.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
Expert Backgrounder on War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock for Boat Strikes Expiring Monday | By Rebecca Ingber and Jessica Thibodeau, former State Department attorneys with deep experience on Executive Branch practice
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
Expert Backgrounder on War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock for Boat Strikes Expiring Monday
Expert backgrounder on how War Powers Resolution works in application to U.S. military operations against suspected drug cartels.
www.justsecurity.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Expert Backgrounder on War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock for Boat Strikes Expiring Monday | By Rebecca Ingber and Jessica Thibodeau, former State Department attorneys with deep experience on Executive Branch practice
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
I teamed up with two phenomenal experts - @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social - for this Expert Backgrounder.
To provide the public, lawmakers, other decision-makers with the best legal advice on this most serious issue.
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors
To provide the public, lawmakers, other decision-makers with the best legal advice on this most serious issue.
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
www.justsecurity.org
December 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I teamed up with two phenomenal experts - @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social - for this Expert Backgrounder.
To provide the public, lawmakers, other decision-makers with the best legal advice on this most serious issue.
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors
To provide the public, lawmakers, other decision-makers with the best legal advice on this most serious issue.
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors
9/ For the last point about international human rights being the correct body of law:
See section entitled, "Applying International Human Rights Law to the Alleged Facts" in this article written by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and me
See section entitled, "Applying International Human Rights Law to the Alleged Facts" in this article written by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and me
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
www.justsecurity.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:35 AM
9/ For the last point about international human rights being the correct body of law:
See section entitled, "Applying International Human Rights Law to the Alleged Facts" in this article written by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and me
See section entitled, "Applying International Human Rights Law to the Alleged Facts" in this article written by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and me
"This is the most disturbing arrest we've had here" Maple Grove ICE Backgrounder Arrested in Prostitution
Sting.
Sting.
February 10, 2026 at 11:04 PM
"This is the most disturbing arrest we've had here" Maple Grove ICE Backgrounder Arrested in Prostitution
Sting.
Sting.
An indispensable backgrounder on federal immunity and Trump's secret police. It's not what Stephen Miller thinks it is.
Today's "One First" explains why Stephen Miller is wrong that ICE officers have "federal immunity" from prosecution for all actions they take in their official duties, and that anyone attempting to prosecute them is committing a felony.
Supremacy Clause immunity is a thing, but it's *not* absolute:
Supremacy Clause immunity is a thing, but it's *not* absolute:
186. When Can States Prosecute Federal Officers?
Stephen Miller claims that ICE officers have "immunity" for anything they do while enforcing immigration law. Even as an argument about *state* criminal prosecutions, that claim is overstated at best.
www.stevevladeck.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
An indispensable backgrounder on federal immunity and Trump's secret police. It's not what Stephen Miller thinks it is.
2/ Expert backgrounder on the PrSM and U.S. weapons review: www.justsecurity.org/135490/preci...
Hegseth's Defense Department's flat denial from March 31 (now appears to be provably false)⤵️
Hegseth's Defense Department's flat denial from March 31 (now appears to be provably false)⤵️
April 11, 2026 at 12:54 AM
2/ Expert backgrounder on the PrSM and U.S. weapons review: www.justsecurity.org/135490/preci...
Hegseth's Defense Department's flat denial from March 31 (now appears to be provably false)⤵️
Hegseth's Defense Department's flat denial from March 31 (now appears to be provably false)⤵️
ISW believes that Putin shows no willingness to end the war in Ukraine despite significant losses over the past three years.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
February 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
ISW believes that Putin shows no willingness to end the war in Ukraine despite significant losses over the past three years.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
JUST SECURITY: “.. If actually issued, these orders irresponsibly and unlawfully placed all those involved in the attack in serious legal jeopardy. If the reporting is accurate, those orders should, as a matter of law, have been refused.”
@justsecurity.org
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
@justsecurity.org
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
www.justsecurity.org
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
JUST SECURITY: “.. If actually issued, these orders irresponsibly and unlawfully placed all those involved in the attack in serious legal jeopardy. If the reporting is accurate, those orders should, as a matter of law, have been refused.”
@justsecurity.org
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
@justsecurity.org
www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...
“The administration must release the OLC opinion(s), the Strike Bridge communications, and videos…Until then, this action stands as an unlawful attack on defenseless persons that violates the letter and spirit of the laws of war and of peacetime law enforcement.”
www.justsecurity.org/126802/exper...
www.justsecurity.org/126802/exper...
Expert Backgrounder: Law on Targeting Shipwrecked Traffickers
Expert Backgrounder on how, under different scenarios, international law and U.S. past practices apply to Sept. 2 boat strike on survivors.
www.justsecurity.org
December 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
“The administration must release the OLC opinion(s), the Strike Bridge communications, and videos…Until then, this action stands as an unlawful attack on defenseless persons that violates the letter and spirit of the laws of war and of peacetime law enforcement.”
www.justsecurity.org/126802/exper...
www.justsecurity.org/126802/exper...
From the backgrounder to today's announcement. This is a big deal for/in Alberta.
May 15, 2026 at 8:49 PM
From the backgrounder to today's announcement. This is a big deal for/in Alberta.
“Under past administrations, lawyers and policymakers inside the Executive have exercised oversight over the use of force. It is possible members of Congress have grown to rely on those internal constraints and lost their muscle memory to check the President.”
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
Expert Backgrounder on War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock for Boat Strikes Expiring Monday
Expert backgrounder on how War Powers Resolution works in application to U.S. military operations against suspected drug cartels.
www.justsecurity.org
November 2, 2025 at 1:34 AM
“Under past administrations, lawyers and policymakers inside the Executive have exercised oversight over the use of force. It is possible members of Congress have grown to rely on those internal constraints and lost their muscle memory to check the President.”
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...
They need to do a long backgrounder with Madison Cawthorn first
August 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM
They need to do a long backgrounder with Madison Cawthorn first
Let's say it all together:
Do not follow illegal orders.
"Just following orders" is not a defense.
Do not follow illegal orders.
"Just following orders" is not a defense.
Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder
An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.
www.justsecurity.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Let's say it all together:
Do not follow illegal orders.
"Just following orders" is not a defense.
Do not follow illegal orders.
"Just following orders" is not a defense.
ISW reports Ukrainian forces advanced in Toretsk. On May 3-4, fighting continued in Kursk, where Russian troops failed to push through and dislodge Ukrainian units.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
May 5, 2025 at 8:33 AM
ISW reports Ukrainian forces advanced in Toretsk. On May 3-4, fighting continued in Kursk, where Russian troops failed to push through and dislodge Ukrainian units.
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder...
