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 ...
Apr 08, 2024•48 min•Ep. 318
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...
Apr 01, 2024•8 min•Ep. 317
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 ...
Mar 27, 2024•33 min•Ep. 316
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...
Mar 18, 2024•37 min•Ep. 315
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 Mi...
Mar 11, 2024•48 min•Ep. 314
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 t...
Mar 04, 2024•28 min•Ep. 313
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 Scho...
Feb 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 312
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...
Feb 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 311
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 ...
Feb 13, 2024•25 min•Ep. 310
(Part 2 of 2) – This week we're covering the range of national security law topics that have been making global headlines. Host Elisa is joined by Harvey Rishikof, Senior Counsel with the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security, to breakdown the latest national security law news out of China, Ukraine, Russia and Iran. Harvey Rishikof is Senior Counsel with the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AsBZ8upxe4Buq0tDtx-gdWDvebv4qTXz/view?u...
Feb 06, 2024•24 min•Ep. 309
This week we're covering the range of national security law topics that have been making global headlines. Host Elisa is joined by Harvey Rishikof, Senior Counsel with the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security, to breakdown the latest national security law news out of Israel, China, Ukraine and Russia. Harvey Rishikof is Senior Counsel with the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AsBZ8upxe4Buq0tDtx-gdWDvebv4qTXz/view?usp=share_link ...
Feb 05, 2024•29 min•Ep. 308
Part 2 of 2 – If fortune favors the brave, then North Korea is certainly making a name for itself in the world of crypto; in 2023, hackers linked to the DPRK stole an equivalent of $600 million in global virtual currency. This week, host Elisa is joined by Sujit Raman, Chief Legal Officer at TRM labs. Together, they discuss how North Korea has a documented role in stealing global crypto assets over recent years, and whether broader penalties like sanctions might have any effect. Sujit Raman is t...
Jan 23, 2024•20 min•Ep. 307
If fortune favors the brave, then North Korea is certainly making a name for itself in the world of crypto; in 2023, hackers linked to the DPRK stole an equivalent of $600 million in global virtual currency. This week, host Elisa is joined by Sujit Raman, Chief Legal Officer at TRM labs. Together, they discuss the foundations of cryptocurrency, its inherent strengths and vulnerabilities, and the current state of digital asset policy in the United States. Sujit Raman is the Chief Legal Officer at...
Jan 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 306
To what extent do elected officials and lawmakers understand how data transmits the internet? This week, host Elisa is joined by Alex Joel of American University's Washington College of Law for the second half of their discussion on international data transmission and privacy. Alex sheds light on the concept of data localization, delves into the intricacies of Schrems cases I & II, and discusses how the rulings on these cases impact global data flows and national security. Alex Joel is a Sch...
Jan 09, 2024•34 min
How much of your personal information is being bought and sold by data providers and brokers? For the average American, the sheer volume of these transactions can be staggering. This week, host Elisa is joined by Alex Joel of American University's Washington College of Law to discuss how user data is circulated and sold, how Congress might approach broader privacy regulations, and how personal data might be accessible to foreign entities and adversaries. Alex Joel is a Scholar-in-Residence and A...
Jan 02, 2024•38 min
As the nation grieves the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, she is remembered not just for her groundbreaking work within the Court, but also as a dedicated and passionate civic educator. This week host Elisa is joined by Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker and Suzanne Spaulding to discuss Justice O’Connor's legacy, her impact on civics education, and how her influence inside and outside of the Court has shaped American society. Elizabeth Ri...
Dec 19, 2023•17 min
The clock is ticking fast for reauthorization of FISA Section 702. With several proposed bills on the table and lack of consensus within Congress, the fate of this surveillance tool is at this time unclear. This week, host Elisa is joined by Glenn Gerstell and Adam Hickey to discuss the security value of Section 702, its strengths and weaknesses, and how clashing views behind privacy and data collection are shaping the conversation. Glenn Gerstell is former General Counsel at the National Securi...
Dec 12, 2023•41 min
In November, the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security hosted its 33rd Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference, featuring a special keynote address from former CIA director and former Commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus. Together with ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security Chair, Stephen Preston, General Petraeus discusses his recent book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, and how it's t...
Dec 06, 2023•40 min
With a history that spans over 300 years, how and when did the U.S.-Iran relationship shift from amicable to adversarial? This week, host Elisa is joined by John Ghazvinian, Executive Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania and author of America and Iran: A History, 1720 to the Present. John delves into the intricate tapestry of Iran and America's interconnected past, spanning centuries of shifting alliances, and explores the transformation from once fervent allies t...
Nov 28, 2023•36 min
To gain a deeper understanding into today's conflicts within the Middle East, our focus sharpens on two pivotal forces: Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose roles hold paramount significance in shaping the region's contemporary landscape. This week host Elisa revisits two key conversations from our archive. First, Dr. Roham Alvandi of the London School of Economics and Political Science discusses the shift in Iran's governing structures from the coup in 1953 to the revolution in 1979. Next, Ray Takeyh o...
Nov 14, 2023•54 min
On October 30th, President Biden issued Executive Order 14110, setting forth a comprehensive artificial intelligence framework focused on unifying the federal approach to AI regulation. This week, host Elisa is joined by ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force Co-Chairs Roland Trope and Adriana Luedke to discuss the details of the new executive order, how it aims to safeguard consumers and workers from AI disruption, and how it may be a first step in establishing America's global leadership in AI gov...
Nov 07, 2023•41 min
This November 16th and 17th, the ABA Standing Standing Committee on Law and National Security will host their 33rd Annual Review of The Field of National Security Law CLE Conference. This yearly conference is a premier event, bringing together distinguished legal professionals, scholars, and practitioners in the field of national security law. In this week's episode, host Elisa is joined by Stephen Preston, Chair of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security, ...
Oct 31, 2023•17 min
Hamas' coordinated attacks on Israel on the morning of October 7th mark a terrorizing and significant turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian war. This week, host Elisa is joined by Matthew Levitt, a decades long Hamas and terrorism expert, to unpack the foundations of Hamas, how they came to be, how they operate, and what the regional and global response might tell us about the road ahead. Matthew Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of its Jeanette and E...
Oct 24, 2023•46 min
Since its inception, cryptocurrency has fueled the growth of digital black markets, opening doors for criminal transactions while masking bad actor identities. But what if these currencies weren't so cryptic after all? This week host Elisa is joined by Andy Greenberg, senior writer for WIRED, to discuss his recent book, Tracers in the Dark, and his in-depth reporting on black market operations and their operators. Andy Greenberg is a senior writer for WIRED, covering hacking, cybersecurity and s...
Oct 17, 2023•34 min
Kindly be aware that this podcast was recorded before the conflict in Israel occurred. In this week's special two-part episode, host Elisa is joined first by Dimitri Alperovitch, cybersecurity thought-leader, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, to discuss global power dynamics, Russia, China, and how the U.S. can lessen its dependence on adversary nations. Next, with a special commentary on FISA Section 702, Elisa is joined by Josh Geltzer, Deputy Assistant to ...
Oct 10, 2023•50 min
The FBI's most controversial surveillance tool, FISA Section 702, is up for reauthorization this year. Supporters of 702 argue that it is vital for national security and counterterrorism efforts, while critics warn that it allows for warrantless surveillance of Americans leading to potential violations of the Fourth Amendment. This week, host Elisa is joined by Liza Goitein, nationally-recognized expert on government surveillance and secrecy, to discuss the varying viewpoints on 702, its strengt...
Oct 03, 2023•56 min
Part 2 of 2 – Today, American intellectual property, trade secrets and data holdings have never been more at risk. The United States is being bombarded by cyber attacks, and experts predict the global annual cost of cyber crime to top $8 trillion in 2023 alone. This week, host Elisa is joined by Michael McLaughlin, cybersecurity expert and Principal for Government Relations at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. In part two of this discussion, Elisa and Michael unpack the risks of unregulated crypt...
Sep 26, 2023•33 min
Today, American intellectual property, trade secrets and data holdings have never been more at risk. The United States is being bombarded by cyber attacks, and experts predict the global annual cost of cyber crime to top $8 trillion in 2023 alone. This week, host Elisa is joined by Michael McLaughlin, cybersecurity expert and Principal for Government Relations at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. In part one of this two part discussion, Elisa and Michael discuss America's controversial business r...
Sep 19, 2023•29 min
Biological. Chemical. Radiological. When most people think of Weapons of Mass Destruction, or WMDs, they often think of nuclear capabilities and atomic weapons. How will AI development and its catastrophic potential on the battlefield shape the global understanding and control of WMD’s? This week, host Elisa is joined by David Koplow, arms control expert and Professor of Law at Georgetown University, to discuss the history of WMDs, the laws and treaties that govern them, and how AI innovation wi...
Sep 12, 2023•43 min
Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act is up for reauthorization later this year. What has long been a key surveillance tool, Section 702 now faces controversy over whether its powers are too broad. Is Section 702 granting excessive authority to intelligence officers, or is its framework, along with its limitations, simply misunderstood? This week, host Elisa is joined by Joshua Geltzer, Deputy Assistant to President Biden and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor with the National ...
Sep 05, 2023•30 min
