Tess Bridgeman

Tess Bridgeman, international law expert and Co-Editor-in-Chief at Just Security, explains limits on presidential war powers and Congress’s constitutional role. She discusses how US strikes on Iran fit within domestic and international law. Conversation also covers patterns of unilateral executive action and implications for oversight and legal accountability.

Tess Bridgeman, national security law expert and former NSC legal advisor, unpacks legality of recent U.S. strikes. She breaks down when bombings become an international armed conflict. She explains constitutional war powers, the War Powers Resolution, and why Congress keeps failing to act. She reviews international law limits, self-defense claims, and who can constrain presidential use of force.

Tess Bridgeman, co-editor in chief at Just Security and a legal scholar, joins the conversation to dive into the murky legal waters surrounding U.S. vessel strikes. She explains the War Powers Resolution and the complex relationship between the President and Congress regarding military actions. The discussion touches on the legal definition of 'hostilities' and the implications of extrajudicial killings. Bridgeman emphasizes the need for accountability and explores congressional tools to ensure oversight in military engagements.

Tess Bridgeman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security and former White House legal adviser, dives into the legality of recent U.S. strikes in the Caribbean, which have seen a controversial number of fatalities. She discusses the administration's claims linking the strikes to drug trafficking, highlighting the lack of solid evidence. Tess also explores the implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations, including covert CIA operations and the dangers of escalating military action. The conversation sheds light on potential congressional checks on presidential military power.

In this discussion, Julian Barnes, an intelligence and national security reporter for The New York Times, and Tess Bridgeman, co-editor-in-chief at Just Security and former legal adviser to the National Security Council, delve into the controversial U.S. boat strike that resulted in fatalities. They analyze accusations of war crimes, implications for the law of war, and the Pentagon's shift from law enforcement to military action. The duo also highlights concerns about political accountability and the potential erosion of safeguards in U.S. military operations.