This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott sat down sans guest to work through some of the week's big national security news, including: “Like Stalin Without the ‘Stache.” The unpopularity of Russia’s war in Ukraine has led President Vladimir Putin to dramatically constrain what little free media and space for public dissent Russia had left. How will Russia be changed? “The No-No-Fly-Zone.” The United States and Europe are finding themselves at loggerheads with the beleaguered government of Ukraine over ...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 6 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott sat down for a special episode committed to discussing a very serious topic: the war in Ukraine. They talked through three aspects of the conflict, namely: “In the Streets of Kyiv.” Over the past week, Ukraine’s fierce resistance has successfully stymied Russian efforts to remove its government. How have the Ukrainians pulled this off? And what does it tell us about the next stage of the conflict? “On the Global Stage.” While Ukrainians fight the Russian militar...
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 11 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined once again by Lawfare executive editor Natalie Orpett! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including: “Maybe He Has Border Recognition Disorder.” Despite reported reservations among his advisors, Putin is moving forward with an at least partial invasion of Ukraine, having recognized the breakaway Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent countries and deployed troops to “aid in their defense.” Is P...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 13 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by their Lawfare colleague Dominic Bustillos! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including: “Giving Chicken Kiev New Meaning.” The showdown over Ukraine may be headed to a dangerous climax this week, and it’s not clear who, if anyone, is going to blink. What do we make of the Biden administration’s strategy thus far , which has ruled out military involvement in favor of economic sanctions and has focused on exposin...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 9 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by Canadian national security expert, Stephanie Carvin! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, both in the U.S. and in our neighbor to the north, including: “Assault on the Capital, Eh? Hold My Labatt Blue.” For the past two weeks, our neighbors to the north have suffered through their own insurrectionary moment , as thousands of protesters have descended on Canadian cities to protest vaccination policies, leading the ...
Feb 09, 2022•1 hr 4 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by Lawfare senior editor, Roger Parloff! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including: “The Turn Heel State.” North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorne has sued to stop a state law inquiry into whether he is disqualified from running for re-election under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment for participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection, not by disputing the facts, but on due process grounds and in reliance on a...
Feb 02, 2022•1 hr 7 min
This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott were joined by Lawfare managing editor, Jacob Schulz! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including: “The Shawshank Detention.” The Islamic State attempted a violent jail break of thousands of their confederates this week in Syria. And while U.S.-backed Kurdish forces appear to have contained the damage thus far, the outcome remains far from certain. What does this tell us about the state of the U.S. strategy in Syria? “Pure M...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr 3 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by Lawfare 's new director of digital media, Claudia Swain! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including: “It’s Not the Motion in the OSHA, It’s the Size of Your Popular Mandate.” The Supreme Court has invalidated the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s vaccination-or-test mandate for major employers. What will the Court’s decision mean for the Biden administration efforts to combat COVID? “We Met On OK...
Jan 19, 2022•1 hr 11 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by three-peat guest Lawfare executive editor Natalie Orpett! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including: “What’s Almaty You, Eh?” Russia recently deployed forces to nearby Kazakhstan to aid an allied government in putting down a popular uprising. Will this have ramifications for the possible conflict over Ukraine ? And what does it say about Russia’s regional strategy? “He’s Talking About Voldemort, Right?” Last ...
Jan 12, 2022•1 hr 7 min
This week, Quinta and Scott were joined by RatSec 1.0 co-host and Lawfare editor-in-chief Benjamin Wittes! They sat down to discuss the week's national security news, including: “Merrick’s Briefing.” This week, Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to give a speech about the Justice Department’s efforts to hold the perpetrators of the January 6 insurrection accountable. What do we expect him to say—and what should he say? “The Company You Keep.” Former President Trump recently endorsed in...
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 3 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott celebrated the impending New Year by answering some questions and sharing some object lessons submitted by Rational Security listeners. They discussed: If you could only have one paid news subscription, which would it be? How do you think the U.S. will respond if Israeli policies towards Palestinians continue to deteriorate? Why does former President Trump's direction to his former associates not to cooperate with the January 6 committee not constitute witness t...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 9 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by military law expert and Lawfare contributor Michel Paradis! They sat down to discuss the week's national security news, including: “You Want the Boost? You Can’t HANDLE the Boost!” Several states’ governors are refusing to direct their national guards to comply with the Defense Department’s vaccination mandate. Can the federal government make them comply ? “If Optimus Prime is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right.” Last week, a U.N. body debated whethe...
Dec 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by their fellow Lawfare senior editor and Brookings Institution fellow Molly Reynolds! They sat down to discuss the week's national security news, including: “Winners Use Google Slides.” The January 6 committee has revealed some of the texts and emails handed over by former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, including a notorious powerpoint presentation laying out apparent plans for a coup. What do these revelations tell us about what happened on Jan...
Dec 15, 2021•1 hr 7 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by Lawfare contributor and University of Kentucky law professor Jonathan Shaub! They sat down to discuss the week's national security news, including: “Not So Quiet on the Eastern Front”: President Biden and President Putin recently sat down for a one-on-one meeting , in an effort to curb tensions brought on by Russia’s apparent preparations for an invasion of Ukraine. Are Russia and the United States headed towards conflict? “January 6th Pleads the ...
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 8 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott go guestless as they sat down to discuss the week's national security news, including: “Show Me Your Omicron Face”: Scientists have identified a virulent new strain of the coronavirus, leading governments to enact travel bans and other restrictions. What does this tell us about our future living with the virus? “Iran Aground in Vienna?”: A new round of talks seeking to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement kicked off this week. Are the parties stuck or is there...
Dec 01, 2021•56 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by special guest, Quinta's co-host of the Arbiters of Truth series on the Lawfare podcast feed Evelyn Douek ! They sat down to discuss: —“Getting Rittenhoused”: A jury recently acquitted 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of murder charges for shooting two men in what he claimed was self-defense during last summer’s unrest. What does his trial and its aftermath tell us about the intersection of politics with our criminal justice system? — “Now That’s a Pow...
Nov 25, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Introducing Chatter , a brand new podcast from Lawfare . Weekly long-form conversations with fascinating people at the creative edges of national security. Unscripted. Informal. Always fresh. Chatter guests roll with the punches to describe artistic endeavors related to national security and jump into cutting-edge thinking at the frontiers where defense and foreign policy overlap with technology, intelligence, climate change, history, sports, culture and beyond. Each week, listeners get a no-hol...
Nov 19, 2021•1 hr 21 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by special guest, Lawfare chief operating officer David Priess! They sat down to discuss: “In Byelorussia, Everything . . . Everything is Just Awful”: In an effort to hit back over sanctions, the authoritarian regime in Belarus is deliberately admitting refugees only to channel them across its borders with the European Union. How should Europe respond? “Taking ‘Tourist Trap’ Too Literally”: In recent years, foreign governments have taken an unprecede...
Nov 17, 2021•1 hr 8 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by special guest, Lawfare associate editor Rohini Kurup! They sat down to discuss: “I’ll Keep You, My Dirty Little Secret”: The Supreme Court has heard oral argument in not one but two cases relating to the controversial state secrets doctrine this term. Will the doctrine survive Supreme Court scrutiny in its current form? “Coming Home to Roost”: Last week, a Guantanamo Bay detainee’s unprecedented testimony regarding his torture at American hands le...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr 7 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by special guest, Rational Security editor Jen Patja Howell! They sat down to discuss: “Our Stand on Havana”: While pressure is building on the Biden administration to take a stand on Havana Syndrome , our understanding of what is happening to U.S. diplomats and other officials remains limited. What should the United States do next? “SupersonicNewBallisticsExquisiteBlastAdocious”: In the last few weeks, China’s unveiled a new supersonic missile capab...
Nov 03, 2021•58 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined once again by Lawfare executive editor Natalie Orpett! They sat down to discuss: “A Mess in Texas”: Texas’s Republican governor has appointed one of President Trump’s former election lawyers as Secretary of State. Are Trump’s supporters planning to steal the next election, or are Democrats’ concerns overblown? “In Mother Russia, Bear Poke You”: A Russian spy agency is still trying to penetrate U.S. networks, despite clear warnings of repercussions fr...
Oct 27, 2021•58 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by Lawfare cyber fellow Alvaro Marañon! They sat down to discuss: “Some Professional News”: LinkedIn is leaving China over the challenges of complying with its strict regulations on social media. Will other companies follow—and should they? “Diamond Joe’s Decryption Key Party”: Last week the White House hosted a summit on combating ransomware —but Russia wasn’t invited. What does it tell us about international efforts to combat cybercrime? “How Do Yo...
Oct 20, 2021•57 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by Rational Security forefather and Washington Post reporter Shane Harris to discuss: “The Hunt for Bread October”: Which country did a U.S. Navy employee and his wife attempt to smuggle nuclear secrets to inside a peanut butter sandwich ? And why did that country turn them over to FBI instead? “Turn After Leaving”: Is the intelligence community executing its own pivot to Asia —and will the post-withdrawal collapse of Afghanistan stymie its effort? “...
Oct 13, 2021•1 hr 3 min
This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott were joined by special guest and Lawfare associate editor Bryce Klehm to discuss: "The Problem with Nosy Neighbors": How concerned should we be about the Chinese military getting up in Taiwan’s business—and airspace—over the weekend ? "If You Want to be Popular, Don't Go to Law School": Does the Supreme Court’s declining popularity mean it is headed for a legitimacy crisis ? And finally: "Now That's Outside-the-Box Financial Planning": What do the recently unle...
Oct 06, 2021•1 hr 10 min
This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott were joined by special guest (and our first-ever undisputed Generation Z guest) Lawfare managing editor Jacob Schulz! They discussed: From the Department of the End of the Republic: Should a recently revealed plan to manipulate the counting of the 2020 electoral votes in President Trump’s favor have us worried about 2024 ? A Prisoner Dilemma: What should we make of China’s use of hostage diplomacy to secure the release of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou? And, Hit...
Sep 29, 2021•59 min
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by special guest Lawfare executive editor (and first-time podcaster) Natalie Orpett! They sat down to discuss: The AUKUS Awkwardness: Why does a new U.S.-U.K.-Australia agreement over submarines have France (and China ) up in arms? Not Like on J6: What does the "Justice for J6 Rally" flop tell us about the state of right-wing extremism here in the United States and how the media covers it ? Milley's Crossing: Did the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of S...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr
On this week’s episode, Alan, Quinta, and Scott are joined by the fourth member of their Lawfare senior editor quartet, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow (and first-time Rational Security guest) Molly Reynolds! They sit down to discuss: the legacy of 9/11 and whether we’ve really done everything wrong since (including in Congress); the last tragic drone strike in Kabul that now appears to have killed an Afghan aid worker and his family, and what it tells us about the future of the U.S. drone p...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 12 min
On this premiere episode of Rational Security 2.0, new hosts Alan Rozenshtein, Quinta Jurecic, and Scott R. Anderson are joined by special guest Benjamin Wittes to discuss: the Taliban's new government and the brutal way it seems to be governing (especially in relation to women ); the Biden administration's border policies , and why they're facing trouble in the courts ; and our summer from hell: are recent heat waves, wildfires, and floods now a permanent part of the American experience , and w...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Rational Security 2.0 returns after Labor Day… You can get the rest of this bonus episode, “The ‘Dry-Runs Are for Cowards’ Edition,” by becoming a Lawfare supporter at http://www.patreon.com/lawfare/ . And help us plan for our next phase by filling out this survey: https://forms.gle/ga7rUz6QfNSE6NST9 .Weekly episodes of Rational Security 2.0 will start returning to this podcast feed after Labor Day… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 02, 2021•2 min
We’re going to stalk our former Rational Security hosts. We’ll talk about this feed and what we should do with it. And, we’ll chew over how the first hearing of the Jan. 6 commission went. Sort of. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 28, 2021•7 min
