Rational Security - podcast cover

Rational Security

The Lawfare Institutewww.lawfaremedia.org
A weekly discussion of national security and foreign policy matters hosted by Lawfare Senior Editor Scott R. Anderson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes

The “I Thought You Said RE-nuclearization” Edition

U.S. intelligence says North Korea is not giving up its nukes. Should the next Supreme Court justice recuse on matters involving Trump and the Russia probe? And the war in Afghanistan grinds on, with little notice, as Trump heads off to a tense meeting with NATO allies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 05, 201850 minEp. 172

The SCOTUS Hearts POTUS Edition

The Supreme Court upholds President Trump’s travel ban. Jared Kushner hits the road to drum up support for his peace plan. And chaos ensues as border agents and the Justice Department roll out Trump’s order not to separate families at the border with Mexico. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 201846 minEp. 171

Special Edition: Rational Security + Bombshell

The gang from Bombshell joins us for a roundup of the week’s news: President Trump signs an order to keep immigrant families together, trying to defuse a crisis of his own making. Is the U.S. in a trade war with China? And get ready for Space Force! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 21, 201848 minEp. 170

The "De-Nuked" Edition

President Trump returns from a summit meeting with Kim Jong Un, praising the North Korean dictator and castigating U.S. allies. A senior Senate staffer is indicted in an investigation of press leaks. And where did Trump’s Middle East policy come from? Israel and the UAE says a new expose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 13, 20181 hr 5 minEp. 169

The "500 Days" Edition

Paul Manafort gets in touch with some old friends. Was it witness tampering? Donald Trump discovers an Article II interpretation that would make Hamilton blush. And we’re on the edge of our seats for a Supreme Court decision on the 4th Amendment and cell phone records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 06, 201846 minEp. 168

The "J’recuse" Edition

President Trump told Jeff Sessions that he should not recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Trump feuds with the Homeland Security secretary as the administration separates children from their families at the U.S. border with Mexico. And investigators determine that Russia was the source of a missile that shot down a Malaysian airliner in 2014. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 30, 201851 minEp. 167

The 'SpyGate' Edition

President Trump orders the Justice Department to investigate the Russia investigation. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo details the administration’s strategy for dealing with Iran. And Trump appears to say that North Korea might not need to get rid of its nuclear weapons after all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 201850 minEp. 166

The "Crossfire Hurricane" Edition

Israel kills dozens of protesters in Gaza as the US opens a new embassy in Jerusalem. President Trump wants to save jobs at ZTE, the Chinese company officials say threatens US national security. And the government has a suspect in the leak of CIA hacking tools. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 17, 201855 minEp. 165

The "No Deal Goes Unpunished" Edition

President Trump decides to undo the Iran deal. Gina Haspel faces a grilling in the Senate. And Devin Nunes wants information that intelligence officials fear could jeopardize a source. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 09, 201850 minEp. 164

The "49 Questions Mueller Mustache" Edition

Robert Mueller has lots of questions for President Trump. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran lied about its nuclear weapons program. And John Kelly has reportedly described the president as an unhinged “idiot.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 02, 201854 minEp. 163

The "Drinking on the Job" Edition

Gina Haspel faces an uphill climb to become the next CIA Director. Former FBI No. 2 Andrew McCabe may face criminal charges. And the Democratic National Committee files suit over the 2016 theft of its emails. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 25, 201851 minEp. 162

The “I Don’t Get Confused” Edition

Jim Comey has a few words to say. Nikki Haley is not confused about anything. And Mike Pompeo makes a surprise trip to North Korea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 18, 201855 minEp. 161

The "On the Edge of Our Seats" Edition

Federal authorities launch raids on the home and office of President Trump’s personal attorney. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before Congress. And the U.S. prepares for possible military action against Syria. Special guests this week: Quinta Jurecic of Lawfare and Nancy Youssef of The Wall Street Journal . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 12, 201853 minEp. 160

The "Return of Susan" Edition

Robert Mueller tells the president’s lawyers that Trump is the subject of a criminal investigation. Trump vows to pull the military out of Syria. And American troops may be heading to the US border with Mexico. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 04, 201848 minEp. 159

The "All the President's Lawyers" Edition

This week, we’re live from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law! On the show: Like Goldilocks in search of porridge, the president can’t seem to find the lawyer who’s just right. The U.S. expels Russian diplomats, but Trump continues to hold his fire against Putin. And Mark Zuckerberg prepares to testify before Congress over Facebook’s role in Russian election interference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 29, 20181 hr 7 minEp. 158

The "Shane-less" Edition

Our intrepid host is off in an undisclosed location, doing his reporting thing. Tamara is valiantly attempting to helm the podcast in his absence. This week: What we’ve learned—and what we still don’t know—about Cambridge Analytica, Facebook, and the 2016 campaign. Putin's re-election and Trump's congratulations. There’s a lot of fuss over leaking the president’s briefing paper. Do we care? What should this episode tell us? Also: Deals deals deals! Trump brought posterboards to the Oval Office t...

Mar 23, 201853 minEp. 157

The "Rex, Eat the Salad" Edition

Rex Tillerson is out at the State Department, and Mike Pompeo will leave CIA to take his place. The British government blames Russia for a brazen poisoning plot—but President Trump is not so sure. And Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee wrap up their Russia probe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 14, 201858 minEp. 156

The "Ben Sucks and Also a Lot of News Happened" Edition

Special Counsel Robert Mueller zeroes in on a mysterious Lebanese businessman. What do elections in Italy portend for democracy in Europe? And North Korea signals it’s willing to cut a deal with the U.S. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 08, 201852 minEp. 155

The "Downgraded" Edition

Jared Kushner is under scrutiny for his contacts with foreign officials. Democrats in Congress release their own memo about surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser. And ahead of a U.S. visit by Saudi Arabia’s future king, how are his reforms playing out on the ground? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 01, 201855 minEp. 154

The "Mansplaining" Edition

Bob Mueller indicts a slew of Russians who interfered in the 2016 election. Can the president distinguish between the national interest and his own? And the school shooting in Florida brings students to the frontline of the gun control debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 22, 201851 minEp. 153

The "Do We Have Clearance, Clarence?" Edition

Dozens of White House officials, including Jared Kushner, lack permanent security clearances. It’s been a really bad week for Benjamin Netanyahu. And U.S. intelligence chiefs present their annual list of threats to national security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 201842 minEp. 152

The "I Love a Parade" Edition

Is the intelligence oversight process as we know it dead? We delve into the education of Kim Jong Un. And FBI emails show that the White House misled the public about the reaction to Jim Comey’s firing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 08, 201851 minEp. 151

The "State of the #Memo" Edition

Major developments in the Russia probe as House Republicans move to declassify a mysterious memo and the FBI’s No. 2 steps down. A new article reveals the inner workings of the Israeli spy machine. And smart watches are giving away US forces’ locations—while they’re jogging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 01, 201849 minEp. 150

The "Did You Vote For Us?" Edition

FBI Director Christopher Wray resists administration pressure to clean house at the bureau. Bob Mueller’s Russia probe interviews Jeff Sessions and talks to Jim Comey. And Rex Tillerson presents a new U.S. strategy in Syria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 201846 minEp. 149

The "Are You Suuure" Edition

Hawaii authorities mistakenly warn citizens they’re about to be hit by a ballistic missile. The FBI warned Jared Kushner about his relationship with a prominent Chinese-American. And updates on L’Affaire Russe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 17, 201850 minEp. 148

The "Bloody Nose" Edition

The Trump administration signals it may launch a military strike on North Korea—or not. The U.S. announces it’s cutting aid to Pakistan. And the originator of the Steele dossier tells his side of the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 11, 201850 minEp. 147

The "Never Get Drunk with Australians" Edition

A wave of anti-government protests grips Iran. Former Trump adviser George Papadopoulos may have been the impetus for the Russia investigation. And Defense Secretary James Mattis addresses the US role in the war in Yemen and civilian casualties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 03, 201850 minEp. 146

The "Beam Me Up, Santa" Edition

Robert Mueller gets hold of emails from the presidential transition. The Pentagon has been researching sightings of UFOs. And a US citizen is being held as an enemy combatant in Iraq. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 21, 20171 hr 3 minEp. 145

The "Probing the Probe" Edition

Republicans question the integrity of Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. President Trump says he will move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. And Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gives a year-end address (or is it a farewell?) to State Department employees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 15, 201749 minEp. 144

The "When You’re President They Let You Do It" Edition

Mike Flynn is cooperating with Bob Mueller's Russia investigation, and President Trump raises questions about whether he sought to obstruct justice. Deutsche Bank has been told to hand over information about Trump-related finances. And the national security adviser tries to make Trump into a modern-day Ronald Reagan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 07, 201751 minEp. 143
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