From vetting nominees to navigating Senate committees, the process of appointing leaders in the Executive Branch is both intricate and essential. This week, Elisa Poteat welcomes Erik Swabb, Partner at WilmerHale and former General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to demystify the confirmation process. Together, they explore how nomi…

This week, Elisa revisits her conversation with longtime former Pardon Attorney, Helen Bollwerk, to unpack the presidential pardoning process. Together, they explore the procedural regulations, judicial precedents, past controversies, and the pressing question of whether a president-elect can pardon himself. Helen Bollwerk served as a pardon attorn…

While the U.S. presidential election takes center stage, global events continue to unfold. This week, Elisa delves into the latest national security headlines, covering key takeaways from the BRICS summit, Chinese espionage tactics, a recent data breach exposing millions of Americans' healthcare information, and more. References: Upcoming ABA Event…

On October 15th, the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security hosted a luncheon event featuring remarks by Ambassador John Sullivan, former US ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2019 to 2022, and author of Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir From the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West. Ambassador Sullivan shares his firsthand e…

(Part 2 of 2) - The rapid development of AI presents a unique challenge: how do we balance innovation with regulation? This week, Elisa is joined by Samir Jain, Vice President of Policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology, and Margaret Hu, Professor of Law and Director of the Digital Democracy Lab at William & Mary Law School. Together, they d…

The rapid development of AI presents a unique challenge: how do we balance innovation with regulation? This week, Elisa is joined by Samir Jain, Vice President of Policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology, and Margaret Hu, Professor of Law and Director of the Digital Democracy Lab at William & Mary Law School. Together, they delve into the co…

As the world imposes economic sanctions on Russia, the effectiveness of these measures comes under scrutiny. This week, Elisa sits down with Bloomberg journalist Stephanie Baker to discuss her latest book, Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Together, they explore how Russia's oligarchs have managed to evade sancti…

This week, join the ABA Standing Committee for a discussion with David Cattler, Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), the government's premier provider of integrated security services. DCSA blends industrial security, counterintelligence support, personnel vetting and security training to advance and preserve Ameri…

(Part 2 of 2) As AI advances and data privacy laws fall behind, the U.S. faces a major national security threat: the unchecked exploitation of personal data.This week, Elisa is joined by Margaret Hu, Professor of Law at William & Mary, and Davi Ottenheimer, Vice President of Trust and Digital Ethics at Inrupt, to explore the vulnerabilities in our …

As AI advances and data privacy laws fall behind, the U.S. faces a major national security threat: the unchecked exploitation of personal data.This week, Elisa is joined by Margaret Hu, Professor of Law at William & Mary, and Davi Ottenheimer, Vice President of Trust and Digital Ethics at Inrupt, to explore the vulnerabilities in our digital footpr…

(Part 2 of 2) Lobbying has long been a powerful force in Washington, shaping policies and influencing decisions behind closed doors. But how deep does this influence go, and what are the consequences for national security? This week, host Elisa sits down with Brody Mullins, co-author of The Wolves of K Street, to discuss the murky world of lobbying…

Lobbying has long been a powerful force in Washington, shaping policies and influencing decisions behind closed doors. But how deep does this influence go, and what are the consequences for national security? This week, host Elisa sits down with Brody Mullins, co-author of The Wolves of K Street, to discuss the murky world of lobbying, its historic…

Part 2 of 2 – Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, the Houthis have launched attacks on merchant vessels, disrupting global trade and raising crucial questions about maritime law. This week, Elisa sits down with Professor Magne Frostad of UiT the Arctic University of Norway to explore the legal frameworks that govern maritime security, the …

Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, the Houthis have launched attacks on merchant vessels, disrupting global trade and raising crucial questions about maritime law. This week, Elisa sits down with Professor Magne Frostad of UiT the Arctic University of Norway to explore the legal frameworks that govern maritime security, the impact of thes…

(Part 2 of 2) – As national security challenges evolve, so too does the scope of executive power in addressing them. This week, host Elisa is joined by Harold Hongju Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law and former dean of Yale Law School, to discuss his book, "The National Security Constitution in the 21st Century." Together, they explore t…

As national security challenges evolve, so too does the scope of executive power in addressing them. This week, host Elisa is joined by Harold Hongju Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law and former dean of Yale Law School, to discuss his book, "The National Security Constitution in the 21st Century." Together, they explore the evolution of …

As the U.S. gears up for another presidential election this Fall, it's crucial to understand the ins and outs of how Americans elect their leaders. What is the electoral college? And what happens if there is a contested election? This week, we're revisiting a past conversation with Professor Edward Foley, Director of Election Law at Ohio State Univ…

This week in Washington, leadership from NATO's 32 member nations convene for the annual NATO summit, marking the alliance's 75th anniversary. On the docket are contemporary challenges and controversies, all of which will influence the future direction of NATO. In honor of the summit we're re-airing two previous conversations, featuring NATO expert…

This week, Elisa tackles hot-button issues in national security law: threats to the SWIFT system, Taiwan's semiconductor industry, and the uncertain future of NATO as we inch our way towards the U.S. presidential election this fall. References: NSLT Ep. 217, "Crackdown on Russia's Dirty Money with Brian Egan" NSLT Ep. 325, "Security Lessons from Sc…

Like a vast haystack of digital information, bulk data conceals critical needles—sensitive details that, if found and exploited, can pose severe risks to national security. This week, Elisa is joined by Eric Johnson, the Principal Deputy Chief of the Foreign Investment Review Section at the DOJ's National Security Division. Together they discuss th…

Could the personal data of millions of Americans be our country's greatest national security treasure? This week, host Elisa is joined by Brandon Pugh, Policy Director and Resident Senior Fellow for the Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats team at the R Street Institute. Together, they discuss the silent behemoth that is online personal data collecti…

On May 29th, the Standing Committee on Law and National Security hosted a luncheon featuring Jonathan Meyer, General Counsel for the DHS. Moderated by committee member Harvey Rishikof, Jonathan shared some of the department's key insights from the 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment, highlighting threats like foreign and domestic terrorism, immigration…

(Part 2 of 2) Continuing our series on the intersection of sci-fi and national security, host Elisa is joined by Sunita Patel, Senior Assistant General Counsel for Product Security at Micron. Together they unpack the 1990's film, Total Recall, exploring themes of memory, identity, and reality. What can sci-fi tales like Total Recall teach us about …

Continuing our series on the intersection of sci-fi and national security, host Elisa is joined by Sunita Patel, Senior Assistant General Counsel for Product Security at Micron. Together they unpack the 1990's film, Total Recall, exploring themes of memory, identity, and reality. What can sci-fi tales like Total Recall teach us about real "brain-co…

This week, Elisa dives straight in with a quick national security news update, spotlighting the recent death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, as well as the ICC announcement of war crime charges against both Israel and Hamas leaders in relation to the Oct. 7th attacks and aftermath. Following the news update, Elisa revisits a previously aired di…

Looking for the latest national security news? This week, Elisa breaks down recent national security related headlines, including Russia's advancement in Ukraine, major U.S. leaps in quantum computing, and a preview of next week's episode covering how your personal data, including DNA data, are quietly being bought and sold. References: "Russia int…

This week, Elisa is back with Tracy Reynolds and Harvey Rishikof to discuss the second book in Octavia Butler's popular Parable series, Parable of the Talents. Together they discuss its real-world connections, ironic cultural and religious references, and its cautionary connections to today's national security law issues. Elisa opens the episode by…

This week, we continue our series on the intersection of sci-fi and national security, diving into the popular novel and now Netflix series, The Three Body Problem. Host Elisa is joined again by Tracy Reynolds as well as Harvey Rishikof to discuss the book's themes, lessons and cautionary connections to today's national security issues. In addition…

As reality begins to echo the cautionary tales of science fiction, one question looms: are we listening to their warnings? Kicking off our series on the intersection of sci-fi and national security, host Elisa is joined by Tracy Reynolds, U.S. Navy Commander and Co-Chair of the Space Law Interest Group with the American Society of International Law…

As today's national security threats evolve, they must be met with agile and effective intelligence capabilities. On April 9th, FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke before the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security on the bureau’s priorities, including foreign threats to American elections, cyber-attacks on the US infrastructure and thr…

As law students across the country prepare to graduate this spring, what might a career in national security law have in store for them? This week, we're recasting an episode from last September, featuring arms control expert and Professor of Law at Georgetown University, David Koplow. Together with Elisa, David guides us through the history of WMD…

This week, host Elisa dives into the latest national security headlines, from happiness surveys and foreign influence on social media, to AI guidance across the U.S. financial services sector. References: Israel Has Killed a Top Hamas Commander in Gaza. It Took Five Months. WSJ. March 20, 2024 Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity…

In honor of Civic Learning Week 2024, this week host Elisa is joined by Dr. Michael Feuer, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University. Together, they dive into the importance of reinforcing early civic education, how technology has changed the way we listen to others, as well as other overarching …

On February 28th, President Biden signed Executive Order 14117 on "Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern." This week, host Elisa is joined by friend-of-the-cast Alex Joel to breakdown the key actions within this EO, what types of data the DOJ may restrict, what…

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 arc…

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 …

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.…

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 wh…

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 sim…

(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…

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 Counse…

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 do…

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…

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 in…

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…

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 Just…

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, a…

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 Nationa…

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 ta…

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 …