The Week That Was: All of Lawfare in One Post

Benjamin Wittes outlined what FBI Director James Comey’s letter to Congress does and does not mean. He also shared the comments of former NSA and CIA director General Michael Hayden on Sean Hannity’s newfound affection for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Finally, he completed his series arguing for a coalition of democratic forces after the election.

Carrie Cordero asked why Donald Trump doesn’t trust the intelligence community’s unanimous findings on Russian hacking.

Susan Hennessey posted a Department of Justice FAQ on the use of National Security Letters to obtain electronic communication transactional records.

Sarah Tate Chambers highlighted the rise of digital bank robberies.

Jonathan Zittrain outlined tactics to better protect electronic materials from hacking.

Quinta Jurecic analyzed sextortion in a recent episode of Black Mirror.

Sumaya Attia interviewed Ranj Alaaldin about the regional implications of the Battle for Mosul.

Lisa Daniels examined trends in state and federal terrorism prosecutions, and explored why state charges are far less common.

Will McCants and Craig Whiteside argued the Islamic State will again go to ground in rural areas after the caliphate’s collapse.

Dan Byman analyzed the evolution of Jabhat al-Nusra.

Nora Ellingsen and Benjamin Wittes argued that President Obama should visit Kansas to address the recently thwarted terrorist plot against Somali immigrants.

Nora Ellingsen summarized this week’s material support prosecutions.

Steve Vladeck assessed the implications of the D.C. Circuit’s ruling in al-Bahlul.

Isaac Park covered the 10/19 session of the military commission in al-Nashiri.

J. Dana Stuster reset the Middle East Ticker with analysis on Egypt, Mosul, Syria, and Yemen.

Julian Ku outlined the legal implications of the U.S. Navy’s most recent freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea. Robert Williams added his own perspective on the FONOP.

Chris Mirasola updated the Water Wars Roundup with analysis on the latest FONOP, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Shannon Togawa Mercer analyzed how Brexit negotiations will cover immigration issues.

J. Paul Pope reviewed David Priess’s book, The President’s Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America’s Presidents from Kennedy to Obama.

Jane Chong flagged an upcoming book on cyber policy, in which she has authored a chapter, Cyber Insecurity: Navigating the Perils of the Next Information Age.

Daniel J. Sargent commented on Mark Bradley’s book, The World Reimagined: Americans and Human Rights in the Twentieth Century.

Benjamin Wittes asked readers for feedback on how Lawfare should structure our Today’s Headlines & Commentary feature.

Jack Goldsmith offered some insights for law students who want to write with impact online.

Quinta Jurecic posted the Lawfare Podcast, featuring Samuel Moyn on clean and endless war.

Stewart Baker shared the latest episode of the Steptoe Cyberlaw Podcast.

And Benjamin Wittes uploaded this week’s episode of Rational Security, the “Strange Bedfellows” Edition.

And that was the Week That Was.