CTEC

Dallas ICE shooting: Politics and ideology — or notoriety and fame? Shooting at Dallas ICE field office that killed detainees follows pattern for political assassins whose motives are less about ideology and more about notoriety.

Recently, CTEC Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social spoke with @keranews.org @npr.org about the recent attack against an ICE facility in Texas. TLDR of it is this, pinning the attack on ideology misses the mark: www.keranews.org/news/2025-10...

Recently, Exec Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social joined the @bunkerpod.bsky.social to discuss Trump's crackdown on progressives under the guise of counter-terrorism. Listen in:

There are many things wrong with Trump calling antifa a terror group. Here are a few of them. | Opinion Antifa does not meet an important legal criterion for terrorist designation, namely, it's more a way of thinking than it is an organized group.

OPINION: "The president’s new executive order, frankly, does very little new to combat anarchist-motivated violence." — Jason Blazakis

🚨 New Op-Ed in the @inquirer.com Inquirer 🚨by CTEC Exec. Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social . Trump’s new order labeling #Antifa a “domestic terrorist organization” isn’t about public safety — it’s about political power. Read Here:

www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

The Right​’s Baseless​ Project to ​Link Trans People​ With Extremism A campaign for the FBI to adopt a new designation of “transgender ideology–inspired violence and extremism” is less about law enforcement than politics.

Recently, @jmberger.com, a senior research fellow at CTEC, spoke w/ the @newrepublic.com about the rise of nihilistic violent extremism (NVE). Check out the article and the implications of the FBI's use of NVE to shape its investigations: newrepublic.com/article/2008...

The internet culture behind the Kirk shooting suspect’s ‘big meme’ The Charlie Kirk shooter’s engravings have been mined for clues of a motive. For those steeped in meme culture, they show only that he was “terminally online.”

Recently, CTEC Senior Research Fellow @jmberger.com spoke with @washingtonpost.com about online radicalization and meme culture in the wake of multiple acts of violent extremist violence in the United States. Check out the full article at: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

Can Trump label antifa a 'domestic terror group'? Legally, there's no such thing Current law provides for the designation of some groups as "foreign terrorist organizations," but no similar process exists for domestic groups.

President #Trump recently said he will designate #Antifa as a terrorist group. @npr.org ran a great article on this topic with words from our Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , on why this is not an easy task. Read why: www.npr.org/2025/09/19/n...

We are thrilled to announce that Olivia Kilborn is CTEC’s Michael Donnelly Fellow for Fall 2025. She’ll study the rhetoric connecting eco-fascist subcultures and far-right European parties—work with real implications for counter-extremism practice. Read more: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

What counterterrorism looks like in the U.S. 24 years after 9/11 The Sept. 11 attacks of 24 years ago led to unprecedented investment in counterterrorism resources. Today, the terrorism landscape is more complex than ever, and some say the country is less prepared.

CTEC Exec Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, joined @npr.org on All Things Considered to reflect on the 24th Anniversary of #9/11 and how the counterterrorism mission of the USG has evolved. He joined @colinpclarke.bsky.social & @oyousef.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/09/11/n...

New CTEC publication: "Hermetic Hatred" demonstrates how antisemitism survives by adapting its narrative architecture—from theology to politics to today’s platforms. Maps key tropes, transmission routes, and practical takeaways for policy & T&S.
www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

New from CTEC: Binary Breeding Grounds: How the Manosphere Manufactures Modern Antisemitism. A review on how misogynist online ecosystems braid antisemitic frames via recommender systems & influencer escalation—and what platforms, researchers, and educators can do. www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

CTEC's founding Executive Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social, has a forthcoming book coming out that examines counterterrorist financing. Terror Disrupted, published by@universitypress.cambridge.org, will hit bookshelves and online market places in early 2026.

Crowdsourced Political Violence: A Literature Review on How the Internet Embodies Leaderless Resistance and Empowers Lone Actors One of the most significant challenges and changes in political violence in modern times is not necessarily ideological but structural. The DHS and FBI identify lone offenders and small groups—particu...

New from CTEC: Paula Granger’s “Crowdsourced Political Violence.” Online spaces lower barriers to mobilization—fostering leaderless resistance. Literature review with practical takeaways for researchers, platforms and policymakers: methods, gaps, next steps. Read: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac...

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...