Rebecca Ingber
@becingber.bsky.social
Law prof at Cardozo Law. Former U.S. State Dept a few times over. Writes on international law, war powers and national security, presidential power and bureaucracy. https://cardozo.yu.edu/directory/rebecca-ingber
The unitary executive
Josh Gerstein@joshgerstein.bsky.social · 5d agoNEW: DOJ now says it was was snookered by Interior Department into indicting Olympian David Hearn when officials "clearly" knew of multitude of issues w/reflecting pool renovation by Trump's 'pool guy.' @USAttyPirro drops the case. More via @eperezibarguen www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Given the resumption of the US blockade of Iran, I'm reposting my @justsecurity.org piece with @becingber.bsky.social from June. www.justsecurity.org/142005/block...
Blockade and Article 2(4) of the UN Charter
U.S. attacks on neutral vessels to enforce its Iran blockade point to U.S. violations of UN Charter against four different countries.
justsecurity.org
Really insightful article on the law of blockade and international law by the brilliant @becingber.bsky.social and @bcfinucane.bsky.social via @justsecurity.org Both have tremendous experience at State Department and deep academic expertise. 👇 www.justsecurity.org/142005/block...
Blockade and Article 2(4) of the UN Charter
U.S. attacks on neutral vessels to enforce its Iran blockade point to U.S. violations of UN Charter against four different countries.
justsecurity.org
The war with Iran is expanding to new fronts. @bcfinucane.bsky.social and I explore a longstanding tension between the traditional law of naval warfare and the UN Charter. -- Historically largely theoretical, but recent attacks on vessels flagged to third states are bringing it to a boiling point.
Just Security@justsecurity.org · 2mo ago"The U.S. military’s enforcement of the ongoing naval blockade of Iran may have now resulted in fresh violations of the U.N. Charter against four entirely different countries." @bcfinucane.bsky.social(Brian Finucane) and @becingber.bsky.social(Rebecca Ingber) write:
Must-read by @becingber.bsky.social Law profs in my feed especially, pay attn to the final paragraph: democracyproject.org/posts/the-wa...
The War on International Law in the United States: Rebuilding a Constituency for the Rule of Law
A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.
democracyproject.org
The war on international law didn’t start with Trump. It’s been long in coming — and largely successful. My latest on what’s at stake, how we got here, and how we might start to rebuild:
NYU Law Democracy Project@democracyproject.bsky.social · 2mo agoNew "What's Next?" essay by @becingber.bsky.social—"The War on International Law in the United States: Rebuilding a Constituency for the Rule of Law" @nyulaw.bsky.social "What's Next?" offers reforms, critiques, proposals across the ideological spectrum Read democracyproject.org/posts/the-wa...
[2/2] Watch or listen to Episode 5 of The Just Security Podcast’s series, “Murder on the High Seas,” with @becingber.bsky.social, @bcfinucane.bsky.social, Rachel Goldbrenner, and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and co-hosted by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x05c...
Murder on the High Seas Part V
YouTube video by Just Security
youtube.com
The ongoing campaign of killings at sea would be front page news every day if it weren’t for… all the other things. It still should be. And is ramping up. @becingber.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @rachelgoldbrenner.bsky.social and I get you up to speed with our latest podcast installment 👇
Just Security@justsecurity.org · 3mo agoThe Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part V With Co-Hosts @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and Rachel Goldbrenner (@rcls-nyu.bsky.social), and guests @becingber.bsky.social and @bfinucane.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/138206/just-...
It's hard to believe how much has happened since we recorded our last installment of this series in December. War in Iran, Venezuela. But this President’s summary executions at sea continue, and have now killed almost 200 people. We unpack it all here:
Murder on the High Seas Part V
Podcast Episode · The Just Security Podcast · May 7 · 52m
podcasts.apple.com
Just Security@justsecurity.org · 3mo agoThe Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part V With Co-Hosts @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and Rachel Goldbrenner (@rcls-nyu.bsky.social), and guests @becingber.bsky.social and @bfinucane.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/138206/just-...
The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part V With Co-Hosts @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and Rachel Goldbrenner (@rcls-nyu.bsky.social), and guests @becingber.bsky.social and @bfinucane.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/138206/just-...
The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part V
Tess Bridgeman and Rachel Goldbrenner are joined by Rebecca Ingber and Brian Finucane to examine escalating U.S. strikes on suspected drug traffickers.
justsecurity.org
War Powers, Trump Admin edition: -It’s not war if they don’t make contingency plans -The war powers clock restarts if the Secretary of Defense picks a new name -International law is irrelevant if the president is relying on his internal moral compass
The Bulwark@thebulwark.com · 3mo agoQ: "You've said that Operation Epic Fury is over…If the fighting resumes, are you saying it would resume under Project Freedom? I ask as it relates to the War Powers Act." Rubio: "Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation."
War Powers Reminder: As the War Powers Resolution's 60-day clock runs out for Trump's #Iran war: - The WPR does not create a 60 day law free zone - The war *already* violates the Constitution & the UN Charter, that doesn't change on May 1 - When the clock runs, the war will be *triply illegal*
@becingber.bsky.social on elected officials v. judges: “It's not actually a decision between unelected & elected. It's a decision between two different elected bodies. And a lot of those questions about war in particular, the Constitution [gave to] Congress."
The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel said the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, contradicting decades of Supreme Court precedent. Why they got it wrong, from former OLC Assistant Attorney General Chris Fonzone:
The Presidential Records Act is Constitutional
Former U.S. Assistant AG for the Office of Legal Counsel, Christopher Fonzone rebuts DOJ's claim that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional.
justsecurity.org
Congress must convene immediately to condemn Trump’s horrific threats against tens of millions of people and stop this unconstitutional war. We must prevent Trump from unleashing the catastrophic and illegal violence he is touting.
The New York Times@nytimes.com · 4mo agoPresident Trump threatened on Tuesday to wipe out a “whole civilization,” as he ramped up pressure on Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has set a deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern for Iran to end its effective blockade of the strait. Follow live updates. nyti.ms/4suBZS8
Is this some panacea? Of course not. But those who have power--even soft, indirect, or uncertain power, including the power to get noticed--have a responsibility to exercise it now. Dooming that it "won't work" is not constructive.
Where is the global outrage and condemnation as Trump threatens war crimes on a massive scale? Not just Iran, but the entire Int’l legal system is in peril. World leaders must take a stand.
If Trump bombs power plants in Iran, the humanitarian crisis will be horrific. Experts tell me to expect water shortages, closed hospitals, many deaths. “We’ve never had a US president so proudly promise to commit war crimes," Sen Chris Murphy says. 1/ (new piece) newrepublic.com/article/2087...
Trump Threatens to Kill Thousands More Iranians in Unnerving Tirades
In a blunt warning, Senator Chris Murphy tells us that “everybody in that chain of command has to think hard” about carrying out such a hideously inhumane order, which he described as “war crimes.”
newrepublic.com
The U.S. RUDs to the Genocide Convention state its understanding that “intent to destroy” requires “specific intent” and that acts committed within armed conflict w/out specific intent to destroy would not qualify as genocide. An intentionally high bar that the US President states intent on meeting.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4mo agoTrump: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will … We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end”
Law aside, I think many — states, lay people, even IR experts — had trouble at first denouncing US aggression in (and on) Iran because the Iranian regime was so monstrous to its own people. But there should never have been any illusion — Trump did not launch this war to help the Iranian people.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4mo agoQ: How would it not be a war crime to strike Iran's bridges and power plants? TRUMP: Because they killed 45,000 in the last month. They kill protesters. They are animals.
📣 Register now 📣 Facts, Pretexts, and Judicial Scrutiny of Executive Power @nyulaw.bsky.social Forum w/ @becingber.bsky.social, Judge Tom Griffith, Christopher Fonzone & @rgoodlaw.bsky.social 4/1, 1:10-2:25pm, virtual Co-hosted by @rcls-nyu.bsky.social CLE credit available RSVP: bit.ly/4rNL0VW
I'm very much looking forward to hosting this discussion on Wednesday, April 1 Panelists: Judge Tom Griffith Professor @becingber, former DOS Chris Fonzone, former head of OLC, Gen Counsel ODNI, Legal Adviser NSC Virtual and in-person 1:10-2:25pm ET RSVP: www.lawandsecurity.org/calendar/fac...
Facts, Pretexts, and Judicial Scrutiny of Executive Power - Reiss Center on Law and Security
Event Details: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 1:10–2:25 p.m. Webinar Registration This event has been approved to offer one New York State CLE credit in the category of Areas of Professional Practice Histo...
lawandsecurity.org
So many law review articles and he just tweeted it out
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4mo agoTrump: "We have a thing called a war, or as they would rather say, a military operation. It's for legal reasons. Because as a military operation, I don't need any approvals. As a war you're supposed to get approval from Congress. Something like that. So I call it a military operation."
3/ You can bet we'll add this to 5th edition of Presumption of Regularity study. Which tracks 90+ cases in which either court determined the Trump administration submitted false information or the administration admitted it. This one of the most significant. www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
The “Presumption of Regularity” in Trump Administration Litigation (4th edition)
Definitive, most comprehensive study of court cases involving Trump administration and the basis for courts no longer giving a "presumption of regularity."
justsecurity.org
