National Security Law Today

The second largest country in Africa, Sudan, recently experienced a coup. This is the second upset to Sudan’s ruling structure in less than 36 months. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Darin Johnson, professor of law at Howard University, who helps unpack these recent developments in Sudan while continuing our series on the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa. Why should Am...

Part 2 of 2 – The Tigray War in Ethiopia, which began in November of last year, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and has fueled a devastating humanitarian crisis in the region. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Cameron Hudson of the Atlantic Council to discuss the latest developments in this ongoing civil war. What approach is the Biden administration taking to address th...

The Tigray War in Ethiopia, which began in November of last year, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and has fueled a devastating humanitarian crisis in the region. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Cameron Hudson of the Atlantic Council to discuss the latest developments in this ongoing civil war. How does Ethiopia’s political history contribute to today’s conflict? How ar...

It’s our 200th episode! To celebrate we’ve invited back one of our very first guests to the podcast, Brian Egan. This week we’re discussing illicit finance, sanctions, and whether our methods of detecting and penalizing kleptocracy are up to par. How do kleptocrats hide their assets? What national security tools are currently at play? And how can sanctions be helpful or harmful in this process? Br...

This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette welcome Lieutenant General Flora Darpino. As a 30-year Army veteran, Lieutenant General Darpino served as the 39th Judge Advocate General of the Army, and was the first woman to serve in her role. Lieutenant General Darpino shares her experience as an early JAG serving during the Cold War, the challenges and opportunities that shaped her career as a TJAG, and o...

The Supreme Court is back in session with a full plate this fall. To breakdown the latest national security cases on the docket, co-host Yvette is joined by Jamil Jaffer, Founder & Executive Director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University. Together they cover the big ticket issues, from United States v. Zubaydah and the state secrets privilege, to New York State Rifle & Pist...

As our climate heats up, so do geopolitical tensions. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette discuss the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) issued by the National Intelligence Council, and dive into all things climate change, fossil fuels, and future green energy technology. How will climate change impact global migration patterns? Which nations have a hand in the oil reserves of the Arctic? And w...

It’s all eyes on energy, and all eyes on China this week. Co-hosts Elisa and Yvette unpack the latest issues, from depleting energy reserves, to DOD resignations, to Chinese/Russian joint military exercises. Joining them to discuss the looming energy crisis and its global impact is Elaine Levin, President at Powerhouse. And later, we are joined by Captain Mary Ann Schaffer, Managing Director and S...

General Colin Powell, who passed away this week, is remembered throughout the national security community as a distinguished public servant and American statesman. As the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first Black Secretary of State, Powell broke barriers, shaped history, and reset the rules for how American military force should be deployed in the post-Vietnam era. In h...

This week we are honored to host Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence. As the first woman to serve as DNI, Avril Haines has an extraordinary perspective and the experience to match. Among many things she discusses - China, investments in cyber and intelligence infrastructure, creating a more diverse workforce, the shifting threat landscape, and opportunities for women in the intelligenc...

Happy Cyber Awareness month! And there’s already plenty to discuss. This week co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Claudia Rast, ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force Co-Chair, to discuss the biggest headlines in tech, from Facebook whistleblower revelations, malware vulnerabilities in hospitals, the Pandora Papers, South Dakota as a new tax haven, and the legal aspects to all of it. Claudia Rast...

This week, hosts Elisa and Yvette break down the latest in national security law news: Why is the Supreme Court’s public perception at an all time low? Is China headed towards issuing their own stable coin? And what’s going on on the Korean Peninsula? Tune in for all this and more. References: “Approval of U.S. Supreme Court Down to 40%, a New Low.” Gallup. Sep. 23 2021: https://news.gallup.com/po...

To meet today's challenges, Americans must rediscover shared values, relearn the fundamentals of our constitutional republic, and re-form a sense of civic identity and commitment to our communities and across the nation. In this week’s episode, we are sharing an excellent conversation on civics featuring former U.S. Secretary of Defense Bob Gates, Suzanne Spaulding of CSIS, with opening remarks by...

This week, co-host Yvette is joined by Bill Banks to discuss the latest topics in national security law: What are the legal issues surrounding Biden’s new “over-the-horizon” strategy in Afghanistan? Is it time for the U.S. to revise and reform the AUMF? And with COVID vaccines still dominating headlines, are the new federal mandates considered constitutional? And if they are, could there be other...

The last twenty years of American counterterror and national security efforts have had profound impacts on our nation and the world. On the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we ask, how have we done? What worked and what didn’t work? Were processes, policies, laws, and resources adequate to the requirements? Did we adhere to those policies and laws? And perhaps most importantly, what lessons h...

In this week’s episode, we hear from an esteemed panel of cybersecurity professionals on two big ticket items of this year: President Biden’s Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, and the Rule 41 Search and Seizure warrant obtained by the FBI in response to the Microsoft Exchange Server data breach this past spring. This panel is moderated by ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force C...

Aspiring cyber professionals listen up! In this week’s episode, we hear from an all-female panel of cyber experts whose experience spans across both public and private sectors. We hear how they kick-started their careers, what types of security threats they’re focused on right now, and advice they have for law students interested in diving into the world of cybersecurity. This panel features openi...

As the current situation in Afghanistan unfolds, hosts Elisa and Yvette, along with the ABA community, are taking a moment this week to recognize those who've worked and served tirelessly to uphold the rule of law in Afghanistan for the last 20 years. A Statement by ABA President Reginald Turner re: Afghanistan: https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2021/08/aba-president-state...

In Part 2 of their discussion on the risks and benefits of AI in national security, hosts Elisa and Yvette chat with James Baker about the future of AI policy. What is the appropriate level of human control in different AI contexts? Where are we with autonomous weapons applications? And what critical AI conversations do lawyers and policy makers need right now? James Baker covers all this and more...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a single piece of hardware or software, but rather a constellation of technologies. This week, hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by James Baker, an expert in national security law and process, to discuss his recent book, The Centaur’s Dilemma: National Security Law for the Coming AI Revolution. Together, they break down the risks and benefits of AI application....

Continuing their conversation on data privacy, host Elisa Poteat and guest Alex Joel dive deeper into the global privacy dilemma. How did the Snowden revelations influence today’s privacy tensions with Europe? And with technology vastly outpacing the law, is Congress having a hard time keeping up? Alex Joel is a Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor at the Washington College of Law: www.wcl.a...

What is happening globally to the concept of data privacy? In this week’s hot topic discussion, host Elisa Poteat is joined by Alex Joel to examine the U.S. data privacy mindset, how that mindset differs from Europe’s, and what regulations might be expected in the future. Alex Joel is a Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor at the Washington College of Law: https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact...

Part 2 of 2 – Algorithms are everywhere – feeding us daily news, friend suggestions, and targeted ads. Yet, the majority of us have neither the training nor the access to truly understand how these systems impact us and what protocols govern them. In part two of this series, hosts Elisa and Yvette sit down with Alex Stamos to talk all things algorithmic. How do we regulate amplification? Will Sect...

Algorithms are everywhere – feeding us daily news, friend suggestions, and targeted ads. Yet, the majority of us have neither the training nor the access to truly understand how these systems impact us and what protocols govern them. In this two part series, hosts Elisa and Yvette sit down with Alex Stamos to talk all things algorithmic. What is microtargeting? Who monetizes from sharing disinform...

Following President Biden’s recent meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, we’re rebroadcasting our timely podcast discussion with Robert Dannenberg, who served in the CIA for 24 years. He discusses Putin's history and worldview, how he views NATO and the United States, and why Russia launched interference campaigns against US elections. To hear Part 2 of this interview, check out “Politics of...