As today's national security threats evolve, they must be met with agile and effective intelligence capabilities. On April 9th, FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke before the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security on the bureau’s priorities, including foreign threats to American elections, cyber-attacks on the US infrastructure and threats posed by foreign adversaries. He also discussed the importance of FISA Section 702 – a tool used to combat threats posed by foreign adversaries. This week, we bring you his remarks to the Committee, which came just three days prior to the House ..read more

As law students across the country prepare to graduate this spring, what might a career in national security law have in store for them? This week, we're recasting an episode from last September, featuring arms control expert and Professor of Law at Georgetown University, David Koplow. Together with Elisa, David guides us through the history of WMDs, the laws and treaties that govern them, and how AI innovation will shape our future understanding (and careers) in national security. David Koplow is a Professor of Law at Georgetown University References: UN Security Council Resolution of 1977 19 ..read more

This week, host Elisa dives into the latest national security headlines, from happiness surveys and foreign influence on social media, to AI guidance across the U.S. financial services sector. References: Israel Has Killed a Top Hamas Commander in Gaza. It Took Five Months. WSJ. March 20, 2024 Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity Risks in the Financial Services Sector. The U.S. Department of the Treasury. March 2024 ..read more

In honor of Civic Learning Week 2024, this week host Elisa is joined by Dr. Michael Feuer, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University. Together, they dive into the importance of reinforcing early civic education, how technology has changed the way we listen to others, as well as other overarching themes from Michael's new book, Can Schools Save Democracy? Civic Education and the Common Good. Dr. Michael Feuer is Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and Professor of Education Policy at George Washington University Re ..read more

On February 28th, President Biden signed Executive Order 14117 on "Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern." This week, host Elisa is joined by friend-of-the-cast Alex Joel to breakdown the key actions within this EO, what types of data the DOJ may restrict, what "countries of concern" encompasses, and any potential blind spots this EO could be missing.  Alex Joel is a Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor at the Washington College of Law at American University References ..read more

What do the foundations of the Warsaw Pact teach us about the modern Russian attitude towards the west? This week, host Elisa is joined by Simon Miles, diplomatic historian and Assistant Professor for Slavic and Eurasian studies at the Sandford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Together they discuss the history of the Warsaw Pact, its archive materials, how the NATO alliance has transformed over the last 6 decades, and how U.S. participation in NATO could evolve in the future.  Simon Miles is Assistant Professor in the Sandford School of P ..read more

On February 26th, the U.S. supreme court heard oral arguments for two cases - Moody v. NetChoice, LLC, and NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton. These cases, specific to Florida and Texas, would similarly restrict social media companies' ability to moderate content on their platforms. This week, host Elisa is joined by Stephen Vladeck, the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law as well as the co-host of the award-winning National Security Law podcast. Together they discuss the arguments posed by two cases, whether content moderation laws challenge First Amendm ..read more

This week, Elisa is joined again by Judge James Baker to continue their conversation beyond the conflict zone; together, they dive into AI ethics, recommended protocols for applying AI in within the practice of law, the risks AI technology could pose on election cycles across the globe, as well as other national security related news. Hon. James E. Baker is Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law, and Professor at the Syracuse College of Law and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14GzhX1dFLAEgvKJ10up ..read more

The world watches as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, claiming thousands of lives and leaving many questioning the motives and methods of those in charge. Do Israel's recent retaliations still fall within the Law of Armed Conflict? This week, host Elisa is joined by Judge James Baker to review the global frameworks at play and discuss whether recent actions are in violation of these governing principles. Hon. James E. Baker is Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law, and Professor at the Syracuse College of Law and the Maxwell School of Ci ..read more

This week, host Elisa is joined by Jamil Jaffer to cover the latest buzzworthy national security law topics. How might the denial of Donald Trump's presidential immunity impact future checks on executive power? Will Defense Secretary Austin's hospitalization impact U.S. involvements abroad? And did Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladamir Putin simply serve as a propaganda tool, contributing to the deluge of disinformation out of Russia?  Jamil Jaffer is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute, and an Assistant Professor of Law a ..read more