The Week That Was: All of Lawfare in One Post

Susan Hennessey and Benjamin Wittes shared the seventh episode of The Report, Lawfare’s podcast series telling the story contained in Robert Mueller’s 448-page report. The series is available on all major podcast distribution services:

Jen Patja Howell shared an episode of the Lawfare Podcast, in which Wittes spoke with Jessica Marsden of Protect Democracy about the organization’s white paper on President Trump’s use of power to manipulate elections. Erica Newland, also at Protect Democracy, reflected on potential interference in the 2020 election by President Trump based on this paper:

In Brexit news, Amanda Sloat offered her analysis of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament until mid-October, just before the Brexit deadline, and Richard English explained the potential effects of Brexit on counterrorism relations between the U.K. and Europe. Jen Patja Howell shared the latest episode of Rational Security, in which contributors discussed this decision by Boris Johnson, as well as the recent G7 summit and Trump’s statements to his aides regarding the proposed border wall:

The FBI was under a spotlight this week, with the release of an inspector general report on former Director James Comey’s handling of memos regarding his conversations with President Trump, as well as a New York Times story regarding the impending prosecution of former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Quinta Jurecic shared the inspector general’s report on James Comey, while Wittes analyzed the report. Wittes also offered his thoughts on Andrew McCabe.

In cybersecurity news, Bruce Schneier explained the myth of consumer security in light of the Justice Department’s new statements on accessing encrypted consumer devices.

Robert S. Taylor responded to Paul Rosenzweig’s recent Lawfare article on metrics used to measure and describe cybersecurity improvements. Margaret Taylor examined the congressional response, or lack thereof, on 5G technology and protecting the networks of the U.S. and allies against incoming cyberattacks.

As the trade war between the U.S. and China escalates, Peter E. Harrell underscored the importance of reforming the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in light of President Trump’s use of the statute to support his order for American companies to “immediately start looking for alternatives to China.”

Robert Chesney and Steve Vladeck shared the latest of the National Security Law Podcast, in which they discussed this invocation of IEEPA, as well as new developments in the fight of asylum seekers in the U.S and in military commissions: Rachel Brown and Preston Lim posted the latest of SinoTech, focusing the social media disinformation campaign over the situation in Hong Kong, as well as on President Trump’s comments in the U.S.-China trade war.

Hilary Hurd analyzed the latest developments in congressional efforts to obtain Trump’s tax returns.

Peter Marguiles analyzed the implications of the attempt to end the Flores agreement on the detention of immigrant children following the Department of Homeland Security’s ruling last week.

Jurecic posted a joint status report from prosecutors and Michael Flynn’s defense team, reporting that Flynn has completed his cooperation with the government, though each side is suggesting different steps forward.

Jurecic also shared a ruling in Al Shimari v. CACI allowing prisoners detained at Abu Ghraib to move forward with their lawsuit alleging abuse at the prison.

Michael O’Hanlon analyzed the potential Afghanistan peace deal between the U.S. and the Taliban.

And Jen Patja Howell shared another episode of the Lawfare Podcast, in which Wittes sat down with Christine Fair for updates on the situation in Kashmir:

Doug Stephens IV posted the latest in our Water Wars series, in which he focused on a standoff in Vietnamese waters.

And that was the week that was.