Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 15/10/2026My latest for @talkingpointsmemo.com exploring the world of #AI and #SI and recent Trump missives and policies in the tech space. talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/trump-a...talkingpointsmemo.comTrump’s Move to Rename Artificial Intelligence to ‘Super Intelligence’ is About Much More Than It SeemsThis article is part of Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis.... 100 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026#Podcast alert! I recently joined @borealissaves.bsky.social to discuss all things #terrorist designations and #Antifa. We chatted about #Trump 's laser focus on left wing extremism. And why that is exaggerating the threat. #terror #crime #finance www.buzzsprout.com/2000197/epis...buzzsprout.comEpisode 356 - Does Antifa actually exist? - Canadian Intelligence Eh In its never-ending quest to spread the terrorist listing wealth, the Trump Administration has made some odd moves of late. First, there was the decision to call drug cartels 'terrorists', despi... 041 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026My new piece in @theconversation.com: #Trump's proposed AI Force would hand China every reason to build its own. Weaponized AI belongs alongside nuclear war and environmental catastrophe as an existential threat. We need brakes, not a new military branch. theconversation.com/trump-wants-...theconversation.comTrump wants an AI Force like Space Force, but that could make AI’s risks harder to manageAn AI Force would likely push China to create its own. That arms race could turn a technology already slipping out of human control into a weapon. 010 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Very excited to join the @rusi.bsky.social and its Centre For Finance and Security team as an Associate Fellow. I’ve had the chance to collaborate with RUSI on several occasions, and I’m especially looking forward to working more closely with the CFS team. www.rusi.org/people/blaza...rusi.orgJason BlazakisRoyal United Services Institute 011 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Welcome Dylan Miars, CTEC's Fall 2026 Michael Donnelly Research Fellow. His research asks how quantum computing changes the calculus for non-state actors pursuing advanced weapons capabilities. Learn more about Dylan and the Donnelly Fellowship: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac... 011 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 27/08/2026My latest for @us.theconversation.com looks at the implications of Trump’s decision to take Syria from the terror list. theconversation.com/in-taking-sy...theconversation.comIn taking Syria off state sponsor of terrorism list, US is putting its faith in al-Qaida alumni – that presents risks and opportunitiesSyria was among the first nations to be added to the State Department’s proscribed list. It has been removed under the rule of a former al-Qaida-affiliated militant. 020 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 22/07/2026The #antifa #terrorism threat the #Trump administration describes does not exist. My latest for @theconversation.com theconversation.com/the-antifa-t...theconversation.comThe antifa terrorism threat the Trump administration describes does not existAntifa is a scattered movement of local collectives that opposes fascism. It has no leader, command hierarchy, funding structure or record of deadly attacks. 010 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Can terrorist financing ever be stopped? I joined @rusi.bsky.social's Suspicious Transaction Report podcast to answer that question. Lots of issues explored while trying to answer the question - intelligence, private sector, role of govts and multilateralism. Listen: 🎧 www.rusi.org/podcasts/sus...rusi.orgEpisode 23: Can Terrorist Financing Ever Be Stopped?Why disruption, intelligence and genuine public–private partnership matter more than promises to eliminate every terrorist dollar. 020 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 09/07/2026I'm in today's @washingtonpost.com on Rubio's #antifa push. I ran State's designation process for a decade+. A group must be foreign to be designated. Antifa's domestic presence puts it out of reach. Counterterrorism authority should track threats, not politics www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...washingtonpost.comRubio tries to enlist other nations in antifa fight, but some allies recoilThe secretary of state plans to convene foreign ministers in Washington next week. The event has unsettled some U.S. and European officials. 031 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Quoted in @inkstickmedia.com on the Prairieland "#Antifa cell" sentencing. 30 to 100 years. Prosecutors leaned heavily on Signal chats and zines to prove shared beliefs, not conduct. That should worry anyone who cares about free speech. inkstickmedia.com/antifa-trial...inkstickmedia.com'Antifa Trial' in Texas Heightens Fears of Free Speech Chill in USWill the outcome of a controversial trial against protesters accused of being Antifa lead to a chill on free speech in the US? 022 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Thankful for the chance to speak @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @csns-uk.bsky.social about my recent book, Terror Disrupted. Also, had the chance to talk about #terrorist #financing w/ the UK Govt National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (folks I miss working w/ when I was in the USG). 001 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 05/06/2026I have a piece in @wsj.com today on emerging threat: movements that worship Artificial Intelligence (#AI). www.wsj.com/opinion/chat...wsj.comOpinion | Chatbots May Need a Cult DeprogrammerSome users mistake AI for a god, while the violent Zizians believe it is the devil. 021 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 04/06/2026I spoke with @keranews.org about the Frisco, Tex, mayoral runoff, where a candidate told Muslim residents they are not welcome and drew applause. This is not right and it is driven, in part, by national discourse. That is now trickling down into local politics. More: www.keranews.org/news/2026-06...keranews.orgComments about Muslim community a factor in Frisco mayoral runoffEarly voting in the Frisco mayor runoff between Mark Hill and Rod Vilhauer starts Monday. Vilhauer's anti-Muslim statements have generated controversy during the race. 020 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCentre for Statecraft & National Security @csns-uk.bsky.social · 02/06/2026⏰ Last change to register! ⏰ Join us next Monday for the launch of @jason-blazakis.bsky.social's new book: 'Terror Disrupted: Countering the Financing of Terrorism'. Chaired by Dr Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens. 📅 Mon 8 Jun, 18:00-19:15 📍 King's College Londoncsns.ukTerror Disrupted: Countering the Financing of Terrorism - CSNS | Centre for Statecraft & National Security 021 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisJust Security @justsecurity.org · 29/05/2026"Rubio’s terrorism framing for Cuba is not new, but the factual basis for using it expired long ago," writes Jason Blazakis (@jason-blazakis.bsky.social). From 2008-2018, Blazakis served as the director of the Counterterrorism Finance and Designations Office at the State Department.justsecurity.orgTrump Administration Labels Cuba State Sponsor of TerrorismCuba’s inclusion on the SST list reflects shifting U.S. policy, not evidence, highlighting how the designation is used for political aims. 44221 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 29/05/2026As always, appreciate the chance to write for @justsecurity.org. Check out my latest piece on #Cuba - BLUF - invading Cuba using the pretext of counterterrorism, as #Trump Admin has been pointing to, is the wrong approach. www.justsecurity.org/140246/trump...justsecurity.orgTrump Administration Labels Cuba State Sponsor of TerrorismCuba’s inclusion on the SST list reflects shifting U.S. policy, not evidence, highlighting how the designation is used for political aims. 011 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Some deep concerns regarding some of the policy shifts by the Trump Admin in the area of counter #terrorist #finance #policy. Check out my latest for Homeland Security Today. 👇 000 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 20/05/2026London Calling! Book talk at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social on June 8 at 6pm BST. I'll be discussing Terror Disrupted: Countering the Financing of Terrorism @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org. Free and open to the public. Would love to see London folks there. Sign up at: www.kcl.ac.uk/events/book-...kcl.ac.ukBook Talk: Terror Disrupted: Countering the Financing of Terrorism with Prof Jason M. Blazakis | King's College LondonTerrorism and organised violence are crucially reliant on adequate sources of funding 000 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 20/05/2026CTEC Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social is at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social on June 8 at 6pm BST for a book talk on Terror Disrupted: Countering the Financing of Terrorism. Open to the public. www.kcl.ac.uk/events/book-...kcl.ac.ukBook Talk: Terror Disrupted: Countering the Financing of Terrorism with Prof Jason M. Blazakis | King's College LondonTerrorism and organised violence are crucially reliant on adequate sources of funding 011 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Really enjoyed catching up with friends at #ACAMSAssembly last week. One highlight: joining Kieran Beer on Financial Crime Matters for a long conversation on the threats facing the U.S. — Iran, ISIS, AQ, and more. #Podcast soundcloud.com/financialcri...soundcloud.comDisrupting Terror Finance, with the Middlebury Institute's Jason BlazakisIn this episode of “Financial Crime Matters,” Kieran talks with Jason Blazakis about his book, 020 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 22/04/2026Thankful for the team at @booksandbooks.bsky.social for hanging out with me during the book signing today at the #ACAMS Meeting in Hollywood Florida! 011 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 22/04/2026New episode of Middlebury's New Frontiers podcast: I talked about how US terrorist designations actually get made, the real consequences for those listed, and why the Trump admin's departures from longstanding practice should worry counterterrorism professionals. www.middlebury.edu/rohatyn/new-...middlebury.edu 010 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 09/04/2026Recently, spoke to the Monterey community at MIIS on the topic of "Branding the Enemy" — who gets labeled a terrorist in the U.S., and who decides, and how #Trump is doing things differently in this space. Chapter 6 of my book Terror Disrupted w/ @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org goes deep on this. 000 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 27/03/2026CTEC Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social is now part of the GTSC Homeland Security Today Counterterrorism Editorial Board 022 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Hello Middlebury and @cityofmonterey.bsky.social - please join on April 7 for this timely discussion that is free to the public. Sign up at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 000 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 18/03/2026A new paper I have published through @ctecmiis.bsky.social examines the full U.S. designation record against #Hamas linked charities (2003 to 2026) and proposes two structures to break the cycle of episodic enforcement. www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac... #sanctions #terrorism #Iranmiddlebury.eduThe Charities of Hamas – Designations History and Policy RecommendationsIt has now been more than two years since Hamas’s deadly attack in Israel. As someone who worked for more than a decade in the United States Government (USG) as head of the State Department’s Countert... 011 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 18/03/2026New from CTEC: Executive Director @jason-blazakis.bsky.social examines two decades of U.S. sanctions against Hamas-linked charities. The record reveals bursts of sanctions followed by long silences in which Hamas rebuilt Read the paper: www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac... #Hamas #Iran #Terrorismmiddlebury.eduThe Charities of Hamas – Designations History and Policy RecommendationsIt has now been more than two years since Hamas’s deadly attack in Israel. As someone who worked for more than a decade in the United States Government (USG) as head of the State Department’s Countert... 031 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 04/03/2026If you are interested in issues related large language models, Artificial Intelligence and intersections with illicit activity, pls join a @rusi.bsky.social webinar that I will be speaking at: my.rusi.org/events/webin... Would love to see former/current students there! You can register below:my.rusi.org 000 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 04/03/2026www.instagram.com/reel/DVdryri... Time to get off of the sidelines.instagram.comInstagramCreate an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you. 000 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 20/02/2026The judge’s antics in this case are also making me think these defendants aren’t going to have a fair trial. 000 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 19/02/2026CTEC shoutout: @npr.org / @oyousef.bsky.social referenced J.M. Berger’s “lawful extremism” work—how extremist-coded rhetoric can migrate into state messaging with plausible deniability. www.npr.org/2026/02/16/n...npr.orgExtremist rhetoric is often found in government messaging. Who's the target?In a rare move, the White House recently took down a racist post from one of President Trump's social media accounts. Extremism researchers say it fits a pattern of mainstreaming extremist ideas. 022 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Thrilled to announce Noor Almusahwi as our next Michael Donnelly Fellow (Spring 2026). Noor brings deep experience on human rights and digital security—paired with rigorous research on terrorism, political violence, and rule of law. Congrats, Noor! www.middlebury.edu/institute/ac... 021 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 11/02/2026I wrote a new @rusi.bsky.social briefing on LLM-enabled terrorist financing: risks, likely pathways, and practical mitigations. #Terror #Finance #AI #LLM www.projectcraaft.eu/research-bri...projectcraaft.euTerrorist Financing in the Age of Large Language Models — Project CRAAFTThe research briefing by Jason Blazakis examines how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) could be exploited to support terrorist financing activity. The report ar... 010 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Can’t thank @universitypress.cambridge.org enough for its patience. Terror Disrupted focuses on CTF tools but also the financing of groups like ISIS and more broadly, the radical right. Thanks to Dan Byman, Bruce Hoffman @jessmarindavis.bsky.social and Ali Soufan for their endorsements. 051 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Important reporting by @newyorksun.bsky.social. Time to increase the pressure on the Taliban in this case. 020 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 04/02/2026As always great work by CTEC’s senior researcher, Isabela Bernardo. Give her latest report a read! 020 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 01/12/2025Appreciated the chance to join late last week @msnownews.bsky.social to discuss the tragic attack in DC. I was very clear that we lacked any evidence that this was “terrorism” - a far too often used word to describe violence. 030 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 15/11/2025Appreciated the chance to speak with the @washingtonpost.com about recent terrorist-related policy decisions made by the Trump Admin. I can’t recall a time when 4 FTOS were added to the list and not one death has been attributed to them. That is bonkers. That is politics. 000 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 02/11/2025I joined NPR’s Kera News to discuss the Prairieland ICE shooting and what the DOJ’s case could mean for future “#Antifa” prosecutions. The violence was real—but linking it to a centralized Antifa structure is a stretch. We need more evidence, not more labels. 🔗 www.keranews.org/criminal-jus...keranews.orgHow will Trump’s DOJ prosecute ‘antifa?’ The Prairieland ICE shooting trial could be the playbook“Antifa” is now at the center of the Justice Department's case against two people charged for their alleged roles in a North Texas ICE detention center shooting. How it plays out in court could be ind... 010 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 29/10/2025New from CTEC, our Director, @jason-blazakis.bsky.social , is featured on NPR discussing the controversial topic of whether #antifa should be designated as a terrorist organization. His expertise adds critical context to this evolving discussion. Listen to the segment: www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...npr.orgAs Trump talks of designating antifa a foreign terrorist group, experts see dangerThe designation would have, as one domestic terrorism expert told NPR, a "cascading effect across civil society, including social media organizations, civic organizations and everything in between." 031 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 29/10/2025I spoke with NPR's Morning Edition about the latest debate over designating #Antifa as a foreign terrorist organization. If pursued, the impact will be profound. Listen here: www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...npr.orgAs Trump talks of designating antifa a foreign terrorist group, experts see dangerThe designation would have, as one domestic terrorism expert told NPR, a "cascading effect across civil society, including social media organizations, civic organizations and everything in between." 010 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 22/10/2025I appreciated the chance to join @ajepodcasts.bsky.social - The Take - to discuss the recent Trump Admin focus on Antifa. You can find the convo at YT, Apple, and Spotify YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYE... Apple pods: podcasts.apple.com/.../why-is...... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5RRk...youtube.comWhy is Trump targeting antifa under terrorism laws? | The TakeYouTube video by Al Jazeera English 020 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 14/10/2025My latest for @latimes.com. Simply put, Trump’s recent order on domestic terrorism is more about politics than national security. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor... 031 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 08/10/2025Appreciated the time that @keranews.org @npr.org took to examine the underlying motives behind this deadly attack against a DHS ICE facility. Check it out 👇 021 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisThe Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 07/10/2025🚨OUT NOW🚨 Trump keeps talking about cracking down on “left wing terror networks” in the US. This appears like a blatant move to crackdown on his enemies – so what is the real state of domestic terrorism in America? @jason-blazakis.bsky.social & @jacobjarvis.bsky.social discuss 👉 linktr.ee/bunker_pod 073 0
Reposted by Jason BlazakisCTEC @ctecmiis.bsky.social · 02/10/2025🚨 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...inquirer.com 011 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 22/09/2025Thanks to @oyousef.bsky.social for capturing why a terrorist designation of #Antifa shouldn't be in the cards and why such a maneuver by #Trump would be illegal. I wrote about this in detail for @slate.com in 2020. Read my Slate piece and the great article below by NPR... slate.com/news-and-pol...slate.comWhy Trump Can’t Designate Antifa as a Terrorist OrganizationFor one thing, they are neither terrorists nor an organization. 040 0
Jason Blazakis @jason-blazakis.bsky.social · 19/09/2025Congrats Olivia! Looking forward to seeing the results of your research. 000 0