National Security Law Today

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,...

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...

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 Unive...

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 thes...

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...

(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 Co...

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...

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 ove...

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 c...

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 h...

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 dat...

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 educat...

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 coll...

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 Petraeu...

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,...

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 shif...

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...

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 Stephe...

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. Matth...

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...

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,...

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...

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 &...

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 pa...

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 Universi...