Amidst claims that there may be a deal to end Trump's Iran War, let's not lose sight of the human toll of this completely unnecessary and illegal conflict. news.sky.com/video/the-vi...

'All I have left is a burnt bag': The students and teachers killed in US strike on Iranian school identified

Sky News has verified 152 of those killed when a US missile struck a primary school in Minab on the first day of the war. Using a range of information sources, the faces of all the 120 students - aged...

news.sky.com

NEW: The White House submitted a fresh War Powers report at the end of last week with respect to the US attacks on Iran on 9 June following the downing of a US Apache helicopter. This is a "salami slicing" report. Recall that the administration previously claimed hostilities with Iran... (1/n)

Pleased to speak with SkyNews about the legal & policy issues raised by the apparent US attack on a school in Minab, Iran—an attack which killed 120 children. Trump wanted to do a 'Venezuela' in Iran, but his lawless military spectacle seems to have resulted in the mass slaughter of children.

📣“We are witnessing an unacceptable normalization of this lawless campaign, and with it the Trump administration’s claim that it can execute anyone accused of a crime without any due process.” “Congress must put an end to these murders."⬇️

Annie Shiel@annieshiel.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The United States' murder campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific has now killed over 200 civilians with impunity. This normalization cannot continue. CIVIC's statement: civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...

The United States' murder campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific has now killed over 200 civilians with impunity. This normalization cannot continue. CIVIC's statement: civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...

US Murder Campaign on the High Seas Kills Over 200 Civilians

The United States has now reportedly killed at least 205 civilians in unlawful strikes against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) condemns these e...

civiliansinconflict.org

NEW: The White House has sent Congress a new letter providing more formal notification of its view that the War Powers Resolution's 60-day clock for the Iran War is no longer ticking. 1/n

Pleased to be quoted in this piece on the expiration of the 60-day clock under the War Powers Resolution. Hostilities against Iran have not ended. The president is now in violation of the War Powers Resolution (not to mention the Constitution and international law). www.bbc.com/news/article...

Hegseth says clock paused on deadline to seek approval for Iran war

The US defence secretary says the timer for the president to report to Congress "pauses or stops" in a ceasefire.

bbc.com

Read my latest with @oonahathaway.bsky.social on why the #Iran war is now triply illegal - under the U.S. Constitution, the UN Charter, and as of today, the War Powers Resolution 👇

Just Security@justsecurity.org · 3mo ago

The 60 Day Clock on the Iran War expires today, May 1. @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and @oonahathaway.bsky.social write: The war is now “triply illegal” – and the War Powers Resolution, passed by supermajorities in both chambers of Congress, now requires President Trump to terminate hostilities.

The U.S. Has Killed Almost 190 People in Boat Strikes. Five more people have been murdered since Friday. We’re tracking them all, @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2025/11/17/t...

NEW: CIVIC + over 120 groups from around the world call on all States to stop support for US extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean and Pacific or risk legal responsibility. civiliansinconflict.org/press-releas...

An Open Call to All States to Stop Facilitating US Extrajudicial Killings

125 organizations released an open call to all States to end support for US extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, and reminding States that continuing to provide support could...

civiliansinconflict.org

BREAKING: Since August 2025, the U.S. has spent at least $4.7 billion on operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, including the operation to oust Maduro. [THREAD, 1/11]

Trump Has Already Spent at Least $4.7 Billion Attacking Latin America It’s not cheap to attack Venezuela and capture its president or conduct dozens of strikes on civilian boats. theintercept.com/2026/04/23/c...

Trump Has Already Spent at Least $4.7 Billion Attacking Latin America

It’s not cheap to attack Venezuela and capture its president or conduct dozens of strikes on civilian boats.

theintercept.com

The Costs of War Project@costsofwar.bsky.social · 3mo ago

BREAKING: Since August 2025, the U.S. has spent at least $4.7 billion on operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, including the operation to oust Maduro. [THREAD, 1/11]

Huh, so international law is a thing. And this administration apparently has thoughts about illegal attacks on boats in particular.

Craig R. Brittain@craigbrittain.com · 4mo ago

Marco Rubio: "It is a violation of maritime law to impede the free flow of travel in international waters. It's illegal to hit commercial shipping and sink 'em. That's what the Nazis did in WW2 in the Atlantic. That's what they're doing to ships they don't like. These are terroristic actions."

And just now, 52 US Senators shirked their constitutional responsibilities.

Brian Finucane@bcfinucane.bsky.social · 5mo ago

If a member of Congress thinks war with Iran is so great, they should introduce an AUMF, vote for it, and own that decision. But simply allowing the executive to usurp Congress's war powers is a complete abdication of constitutional responsibility. (War with Iran is a bad idea even if authorized.)

Americans are weighed down by rising costs and disappearing jobs. Trump is failing to address these problems. Instead, he is toying with the idea of attacking Iran, needlessly jeopardizing servicemembers’ safety. I am forcing a vote on my War Powers Resolution to stop him.

Important piece by @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social. The focus here is DOD, but it has relevance to the devastation the Administration is wreaking on the executive branch legal bureaucracy and culture as a whole.

Jack Goldsmith@jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social · 5mo ago

My assessment of the damage Trump and Hegseth are doing to the DOD legal culture. open.substack.com/pub/executiv...

Amidst many crises, the #Trump admin may be on the verge of a war of choice against #Iran. It would be: -blatantly illegal (U.S. & int'l law) -hugely costly (human & financial) -has no clear end game Your elected representatives have power to stop it. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Trump appears ready to attack Iran as U.S. strike force takes shape

Although the United States and ally Israel have a decisive military advantage over Iranian forces, there are ways for Tehran to make any attack painful, officials said.

washingtonpost.com

Another disturbing example of the cruelty of the Trump administration's boat strikes campaign. ⬇️ U.S. officials allowed survivors to languish in the water and ultimately die before sending a rescue plane 45 HOURS after the strike. Congress must end this illegal and morally bankrupt campaign.

Brian Finucane@bcfinucane.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Pleased to speak to @nickturse.bsky.social about USG rescue efforts for the survivors of boat strikes. “It does not appear as if they were eager to rescue additional survivors and then be faced with the question of ‘what do we do with them?’”

Might be a tad bit late once the U.S. has attacked a NATO ally. The War Powers Resolution is notable because it provides the *minority* a mechanism for forcing votes on unauthorized military actions. Senator Tillis is in the majority which has many more tools available—and available now.

David Gura@davidgura.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), to Bloomberg TV: “If there is military action against #Greenland, I will be one of the first people to file and co-sponsor a War Powers Resolution. It will pass.”

🚨The Senate is expected to vote again tomorrow on passage of War Powers Resolution to block further unauthorized strikes on Venezuela. With Senators facing intense pressure from the Trump admin, it’s crucial they hear loud and clear from their constituents! ⬇️

The Trump administration's campaign of murderous strikes in Latin America carries grave implications -- both for people in the region, and here at home. FCNL's @hbrandon-smith.bsky.social breaks down what to know. ⬇️

Sojourners@sojo.net · 7mo ago

"History will condemn this administration’s actions. In the meantime, this extraordinarily illegal conduct by the U.S. president has extraordinary consequences—both abroad and at home." sojo.net/magazine/jan...

Grieving every life lost in Iran and urging an end to all violence and repression. Congress should act to prevent more senseless wars by the White House and support a path for diplomacy and democracy.

As the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention center enters its 25th year, its legacy of torture and human rights violation endures. We joined 100+ partners to once again demand its permanent closure, and an end to the Trump administration's shameful detention of migrants there. ⬇️ #CloseGuantanamo

Coalition Letter Calling for Closure of Prison at Guantánamo Bay | Friends Committee On National Legislation

FCNL steadfastly calls for the closure of the American military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, which enters its 25th year in operation this week. On January 9, we joined with over 100 civil society o...

fcnl.org

My friend @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and I unpacked some of the issues relating to the War Powers Resolution, ongoing US hostilities in Latin America, and how Congress can respond to unauthorized military action by the executive branch.

Just Security@justsecurity.org · 7mo ago

War powers experts @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and @bcfinucane.bsky.social explain the two sets of hostilities governed by the War Powers Resolution in Latin America, why the WPR is constitutional, and what Congress can do: www.justsecurity.org/128517/war-p...

"Although it is sometimes asserted (including recently by Vice President J.D. Vance) that every presidential administration has claimed the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional, that claim is inaccurate." 👇

Tess Bridgeman@tessbridgeman.bsky.social · 7mo ago

It's a big week for the War Powers Resolution. Read my latest with @bcfinucane.bsky.social on: -2 sets of ongoing hostilities (drug boats & #Venezuela) -the WPR's constitutionality -how Congress can respond to unauthorized military action by the President www.justsecurity.org/128517/war-p...

🚨Big News! The Senate has voted to advance a War Powers Resolution aimed at blocking President Trump from launching further military action against Venezuela. This is a major testament to the power of grassroots advocacy🙌. Let's keep up the pressure! #WarIsNotTheAnswer!

Senate votes to curb military action in Venezuela in rare Trump rebuke

An overwhelming majority of congressional Republicans are backing the president's raid in Venezuela.

axios.com

Great to speak with @theintercept.com about the lack of public support for the U.S. invasion of Venezuela, and to be quoted alongside @bcfinucane.bsky.social.

FCNL@fcnl.bsky.social · 7mo ago

“We have been saying all along that Americans don’t want war in Venezuela,” said FCNL’s @hbrandon-smith.bsky.social. The administration should “listen to the American people and bring an end to this operation.”

Honored to have my war powers scholarship referenced by @charliesavage.bsky.social in @nytimes.com. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...

Justice Dept. Memo Approved Military Incursion Into Venezuela as Lawful

nytimes.com

Pleased to speak with @theintercept.com and be quoted alongside @hbrandon-smith.bsky.social. "The U.S. did go to war with Venezuela. Just because you drag along a couple DEA agents doesn’t transform this...into a law enforcement operation.” theintercept.com/2026/01/05/c...

How Congress Blew All Their Chances to Stop Trump’s War With Venezuela

Republicans who stood in the way of four chances to pass a War Powers resolution on Venezuela now say Marco Rubio lied to them.

theintercept.com

And if there's no war with Venezuela (and hence no application of the law of war), does that mean that the US military killing Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel was just murder?