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 "Overcoats" Edition

President Trump says his intelligence director is “not loyal” and may want to fire him. Trump administration officials pushed a plan to sell nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia. And hackers hit Australian political parties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 20, 201955 minEp. 202

The "Home Stretch?" Edition

Is Robert Mueller nearing the end of his Russia probe? The administration moves to block Chinese telecom giant Huawei. And you too can have your own private Mossad! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 201951 minEp. 201

The "Peace and Legislation or War and Investigations" Edition

President Trump delivers his second State of the Union address. Meanwhile, prosecutors send a subpoena to Trump’s inaugural committee. And the president is feuding with his intelligence chiefs—again. Also, Ben wants to hear from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 06, 201954 minEp. 200

The "Stone Cold Polar Vortex" Edition

Roger Stone is indicted in the Mueller probe. Venezuela teeters on the brink of economic and political collapse. And American hackers help the UAE build a cyber army. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 31, 201956 minEp. 199

The "Uninvited Co-Conspirator" Edition

BuzzFeed drops a bomb that turns out to be more of a dud. Or is it? The president’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, could be doing more harm than good for his client. And Congress takes aim at the administration’s Russia-friendly policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 198

The "Raising the Barr" Edition

Senators question attorney general-nominee Bill Barr over the Mueller probe. Two new stories shed more light on President Trump’s troubling relationship with Russia. And the president contemplated pulling out of NATO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 17, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 197

The "No One’s Shutting Us Down" Edition

President Trump takes his pitch for border security to the American people in an Oval Office address. John Bolton and Mike Pompeo are on the road doing high stakes diplomacy, but do they actually speak for the president? And the latest in L’Affaire Russe—a Russian lawyer gets indicted and Paul Manafort was sharing polling data with his “Russian brain.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 10, 201958 minEp. 196

The "New Year New You" Edition

How will a new Cabinet, and a new Congress, face the major national security challenges of 2019? An American businessman is arrested in Russia and charged with espionage. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren is exploring a run for the White House. We’ll take a look at her foreign policy proposals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 03, 201959 minEp. 195

The "Syria Later" Edition

The future of Brexit is...anyone’s guess. A sealed subpoena and a courtroom smackdown: The latest on L’Affaire Russe. And the U.S. announces it’s withdrawing troops from Syria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 20, 201856 minEp. 194

The "Smocking Gun" Edition

There have been big moves in the Russia investigation. We'll put this week’s pieces together. U.S. tensions with China escalate following the arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive. And the Saudi crown prince has duped White House adviser Jared Kushner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 201859 minEp. 193

The “Very Legal and Very Cool” Edition

Robert Mueller says that Michael Flynn has cooperated extensively in multiple investigations, including about Russian interference in the election. A new guilty plea from Michael Cohen changes our understanding of Trump’s ties to Russia. And is Israel getting ready for a war or just an election? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 06, 201856 minEp. 192

“The World is a Very Dangerous Place!” Edition

Paul Manafort heads to sentencing amid revelations that he has lied to the special counsel, cooperated with Trump’s legal team, and may have met with Julian Assange. The president stands by Saudi Arabia and its crown prince whom the CIA says ordered the murder of a journalist. And President Trump heads off to meet with world leaders at the G20 Summit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 29, 201856 minEp. 191

The "Cocoon of Bitterness and Resentment" Edition

Battle lines are drawn over Matthew Whitaker’s appointment as acting attorney general. President Trump, stung by election losses, picks fights with America’s closest allies. And is North Korea deceiving the U.S. in nuclear weapons negotiations? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 15, 201853 minEp. 190

The "Blue Sessions" Edition

President Trump asks for Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ resignation. And Democrats retake the House, while Republicans expand their majority in the Senate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 08, 201848 minEp. 189

The "Every Day Feels Like Halloween" Edition

Attempted bombings and a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue once again force us to confront domestic terrorism. Top U.S. officials call for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen. And a bizarre and apparently fake attempt to spear Special Counsel Robert Mueller prompts an FBI investigation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 01, 201854 minEp. 188

The "Russia on the Ballot" Edition

Possible package bombs are sent to prominent Democratic political figures and Trump administration critics. And we’ll wrap up the Russia story so far and ask what it means for the midterm elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 25, 201853 minEp. 187

The "Rogue Killers" Edition

The disappearance of a Washington Post journalist becomes a foreign policy crisis for the Trump administration. U.S. and European intelligence officials say Iran may be planning attacks in Europe. And the U.S. embraces a major expansion in foreign aid to counter China’s growing influence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 18, 201849 minEp. 186

The "Nikki, We Hardly Knew Ye" Edition

A prominent journalist and critic of the Saudi regime goes missing in Istanbul. Nikki Haley says she’s resigning as the U.N. ambassador. And tech companies push back against a story about a massive hardware hack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 11, 20181 hr 1 minEp. 185

The “This Is Not a Test” Edition

The Trump administration accuses China of a massive propaganda campaign in the United States. Facebook suffers a serious hack that exposes 50 million users. And, all laughing aside, what do we make of the administration's performance at the U.N. General Assembly? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 04, 201857 minEp. 184

The "Should Rod Stay or Should He Go" Edition

Will Rod Rosenstein remain as the deputy attorney general, and what does that mean for the Russia probe he oversees? Tensions hit a fever pitch with China amid an escalating trade war. And the president addresses the U.N. General Assembly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26, 201855 minEp. 183

The "Four-Letter Words that Start with F" Edition

Paul Manafort pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate in the Russia investigation, and Mike Flynn gets a sentencing date. The Justice Department tells two Chinese media companies to register as foreign agents. And Trump declassifies more material about the surveillance of one of his campaign advisers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 21, 201857 minEp. 182

The "Follow Your Lodestar" Edition

John Bolton comes out swinging in his first major speech as national security adviser. Is Russia behind a mysterious string of illnesses at U.S. diplomatic facilities? And Trump administration officials met with coup plotters in Venezuela. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 13, 201853 minEp. 181

The "New Digs" Edition

A bombshell new book shows the Trump presidency on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The US pulls funding for a Palestinian relief agency. And the president lashed out again at the attorney general and the Justice Department. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 06, 201857 minEp. 180

The "Kim Jong Umm Just Kidding" Edition

A former NSA contractor receives a stiff prison sentence for giving classified information to journalists. Nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea hit big roadblocks. And the administration backs off its plan to cut billions of dollars in foreign aid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 30, 201853 minEp. 179

The 'Frenzied Commentary' Edition

This week: The 'Frenzied Commentary' Edition! We talk about what Paul Manafort's fraud trial tells us, and doesn't tell us, about l'Affaire Russe; the tussle between executive and legislative authority in the new National Defense Authorization Act; and the end of Peter Strzok's FBI career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 16, 201848 minEp. 177

The 'Ask Us Anything' Edition

With Shane and Susan away, Ben and Tamara are joined by Quinta Jurecic and Shannon Togawa Mercer to answer the questions you submitted on Twitter! It’s a potpourri of NatSec analysis, with a dollop of humor, and a soupçon of Scotch! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 09, 201844 minEp. 176

The 'Flying the Quiet Skies' Edition

The National Security Council has a (very brief) meeting on election security. The TSA has been quietly tracking air travelers for years. And President Trump says he’s willing to meet Iran’s president without conditions. Plus: Predictions! Who will Robert Mueller indict next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 02, 201856 minEp. 175

The “What Did We Miss?” Edition

President Trump has one of the most tumultuous, and possible disastrous, weeks of his presidency. The president then lashes out at his political enemies in unprecedented ways. And the Justice Department releases, for the first time ever, a warrant application to the secretive FISA Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 25, 201852 minEp. 174

The "With Enemies Like These Who Needs Friends?" Edition

President Trump picks Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. What are his national security views? Trump blasts NATO allies ahead of a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And migrant families are being reunited with their children, but the process has been painful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 12, 201850 minEp. 173
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