CTEC

Where the Olives and Sunflowers Grow: Strategic Reconciliation in the Israel-Palestinian Conflict This article argues that achieving lasting peace in the Israel-Palestinian conflict necessitates moving beyond purely political solutions to embrace reconciliation, which is generally neglected. While...

Today @ctecmiis.bsky.social published a guest author essay by @djrosenthal.bsky.social that examines the importance of strategic reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Check out this must read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

Hot off of the CTEC press from guest author @djrosenthal.bsky.social is an in-depth paper that examines the need for strategic reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians. DJ's a former NSC CT Director at the Obama White House and his piece can be read at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

Shooting at Alvarado ICE facility, other attacks: The new normal? More than a dozen people face federal charges over a shooting at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado. Experts say political violence has become more common.

CTEC Executive Director and @middleburycollege.bsky.social Prof @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @npr.org about the normalization of political violence and how it has emboldened extremists. www.keranews.org/news/2025-07...

Trump Administration’s Delisting of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham The move to delist HTS as an FTO is not without risk, especially when considering the lineage of the group.

CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social just published for @justsecurity.org a piece looking at #Trump Admin decisions recently to delist HTS as an FTO in #Syria. Check it out at: www.justsecurity.org/117191/trump...

Sadly, the #Trump Admin is sleeping on the transnational far-right threat. Active Clubs on the rise - in places like #Sweden - and they have links to U.S. based violent extremists. Groups like the Nordic Resistance Front remain a threat and are circumventing State Dept #sanctions. Read more below 🔽

A Swedish MMA Tournament Spotlights the Trump Administration's Handling of Far-Right Terrorism A member of a California-based fight club seems to have attended an event hosted by groups with ties to an organization the US government labeled a terrorist group. Will the Trump administration care?

Recently, CTEC Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, spoke with @wired.com about the threat posed by Active Clubs and how the State Department designated #terrorist group, Nordic Resistance Movement, has adapted to #sanctions. Read more at: www.wired.com/story/socal-...

Tammy Palacios Tammy Palacios, Senior Research Fellow

We are excited to announce that Tammy Palacios is now a senior research fellow at CTEC.

Tammy is a leading expert on AQ & ISIS and constructs actionable frameworks for effective & sustainable CT.

Learn more about Tammy's background at: www.middlebury.edu/institute/pe...

Israel bombardea Teherán sin resistencia tras hacerse con el "control completo" de su cielo: Irán ya pide negociar Las fuerzas israelíes buscan replicar en Teherán el método de combate de Gaza y Beirut para erosionar a la cúpula de la República Islámica y retrasar lo máximo posible su programa nuclear. Más informa...

Recently, CTEC's senior research analyst and expert on Israel national security, Michael Broschowitz, provided analysis for El Espanol on the current conflict between Israel and Iran. Check it out:
www.elespanol.com/mundo/orient...

Trump administration is minimizing white supremacist threat, officials warn Coming changes at the state department follow pattern of moving resources away from programs that focus on preventing far-right violence

Recently, CTEC Exec Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, chatted with @tessowen.bsky.social of the @theguardian.com about recent State Dept. decisions on minimizing the importance of far-right violent extremism as a threat to US national security interests. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Hostility spills over in Gardiner-area school district Targeting people based on their beliefs at school board and other local municipal meetings is becoming more common, driving the political divide, Jason Blazakis says.

Recently, CTEC Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with Maine's Kennebec Journal regarding the challenge of stochastic violence and the spillover in schools across the United States: www.centralmaine.com/2025/04/20/h...

Amid US conflict, Houthis leverage Western social media to spread their message Working around Western sanctions, a network of Houthi-connected media organizations is flooding X, Facebook and Instagram with propaganda content, much of it designed to incite violence.

The situation in #Yemen remains tense. Recently, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, CTEC's Executive Director, spoke with Kharon regarding the use of social media by the State Department designated #terrorist group, the #Houthis. Check it out: www.kharon.com/brief/houthi...

Contributor: The Trump administration is ignoring far-right terrorism. That only makes it more dangerous Undermining counterterrorism leaves the U.S. much more vulnerable to an attack than at any time in recent memory.

Latest opinion piece for @latimes.com by @middleburycollege.bsky.social CTEC Ex. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social (co-author @colinpclarke.bsky.social) on the dangers of politicizing intelligence. Check it out: www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

Recently, CTEC Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social wrote for @lawfare.bsky.social on the HTS terrorist designation and what it means for Syria's future. Check it out👇

Opinion | The Case Against Designating Cartels as Terrorists It risks diluting the term into meaninglessness while proving little or no benefit to law enforcement.

Last week, CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social wrote for the @wsj.com about the downsides of treating gangs and drug trafficking organizations as terrorists. BLUF, according to the article: Using CT tools against criminal actors may not work, or create harm: www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...

If Trump Is Set on Toppling Washington Pillars, Here’s a Possible Target The State Sponsors of Terrorism List is more of a political weapon than a logical grouping of countries.

Recently, CTEC Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @politico.com about the USG's State Sponsor of Terrorism Regime, #Cuba, and the need to update USG CT laws. www.politico.com/news/magazin...

CTEC'S Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , recently discussed with @vanityfair.com the focal points for the Trump Admin on counterterrorism - it wont be violent far right groups...

Moms For Liberty: Cultural Facilitators of Exclusion and Extremism

Check out our newest report, an in-depth examination of Moms for Liberty's exclusionary rhetoric and how the organization aligns with two different understandings of extremism. By @amycooter.bsky.social and Middlebury graduate and undergraduate students.
www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

Lawful Extremism: Florida's Anti-Trans Laws

The latest paper in our Lawful Extremism series delves into Florida's anti-trans laws and the strategies employed by politicians to obscure extremist intent www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

by @bdaviess.bsky.social and @intelwire.bsky.social

Be sure to read the newest Terrorgram piece from our partner, @arcglobal.bsky.social

“Natural” Connection: An Analysis of Eco-fascism on Terrorgram — ARC

Our newest piece in the Terrorgram series. @joshuafmolloy.bsky.social analyzes eco-fascism and how it intersects with militant accelerationism

www.accresearch.org/accreports/n...

A Wolf In New Age Clothing: Starseed beliefs, conspirituality, and a soft pathway to radicalization | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Taken at face value, Starseed theology appears to fit within the strange, but generally seen-as-harmless, New Age milieu. But when we look deeper, undergirding Starseed beliefs are direct connections ...

A new research note has been published! 👀

CTEC's @bcdaviess.bsky.social explores Starseed theology.

🔗 www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

Last month, @srp.bsky.social and Dr. @amycooter.bsky.social had the honor of attending Public Safety Canada's MegaWeek in Montreal.

www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

Mack Lamoureux discusses why collaboration in a newsroom is so important to covering topics like extremism. Mack Lamoureux discusses the importance of collaboration in journalism.

In our latest panel event, with leading reporters writing on extremism and moderated by CTEC's @intelwire.bsky.social, Mack Lamoureux discusses the importance of collaboration in journalism, especially when reporting on topics such as extremism.

📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=23yS...

The Justification for Designating the Russian Imperial Movement as a Foreign Terrorist Organization | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey The white supremacist Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) and its leaders Stanislav Vorobyev and Denis Gariev pose an underestimated threat to the United...

CTEC's Taylor Chin's report presents new research findings to the counterterrorism academic community and argues why the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) should be designated an FTO.

www.middlebury.edu/institute/ne...

@amycooter.bsky.social addresses several key questions including: What drives U.S. citizens to form militia groups? What role do racism, antigovernment sentiments, nostalgia, and economic, social, and political changes play in their emergence? And many more!

Season 2 Ep. 6 - U.S. Militias: Guarding Tradition or Courting Chaos | Middlebury In this episode of “New Frontiers,” sociologist Amy Cooter explores the rise, goals, and philosophies of American militia groups. She explains why their actions could mar the 2024 elections and highli...

In this episode of “New Frontiers,” Dr. @amycooter.bsky.social explores the rise, goals, and philosophies of American militia groups.

www.middlebury.edu/rohatyn/new-...

Check out the latest from our partner, @arcglobal.bsky.social

Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after verdict Supporters of former President Donald Trump, enraged by his conviction on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, flooded pro-Trump websites with calls for riots, revolution and violent retribution.

As you might have guessed, CTEC experts are frequently asked for their analysis and insights on emergent threats and in response to real-time events. Dr. @amycooter.bsky.social's comments on Trump's convictions is the most recent example. Check it out ⏬

🔗 www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

Thinking about the elections and what it means for extremism? CTEC has you covered. With voting in the Mexican Presidential Elections to begin June 2, here's CTEC's Interim Director, Dr. @kgpetrich.bsky.social piece entitled, Mexico Nationwide Elections in 2024.

🔗 www.middlebury.edu/institute/te...

What happens when extremism intersects with democratic elections? In an age of mis-, dis-, and malinformaiton, the role of the free press is more important than ever. Join us for an online event with three of the most prominent journalists covering extremism for the former Vice News about their challenges and best practices, hosted by CTEC’s J.M. Berger. Featuring former ViceNews journalists: Anna Merlan, Mack Lamourex, and Tess Owen. When: 5/1/24 From Fringe to Frontline: Political Journalists’ Reporting on Extremism

We're glad to hear it! If you'd like to see the entire panel discussion, here it is! www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxdN...