The National Security Law Podcast: Can You DIG It?

It has been another not-at-all slow week. On tap for today:

1. The CLOUD Act: It’s now the law of the land. We will go into the law’s particulars next week, but for now we do want to address what passage means for the pending Supreme Court case involving the government’s attempt to force Microsoft to produce data stored in Ireland. Vacate-and-remand, dismiss as improvidently granted, or full steam ahead?
2. Military Commissions: Never a dull moment with the commissions! Judge James Pohl has received dueling declarations from Secretary James Mattis and former Convening Authority Harvey Rishikoff and legal adviser Gary Brown regarding the firing of the latter two, and a hard question looms regarding whether an evidentiary hearing will follow. Meanwhile, the Court of Military Commission Review has sent questions to, well, everyone, including Judge Spath. Judge Vance Spath responded quickly, and we review all of it.
3. The meaning of “terrorism”: In connection with the recent Austin bombings, the question of what counts as “terrorism” both as a legal and a policy matter has arisen once again. Should there be a new federal crime of terrorism? State laws to that effect? Is the status quo fine? How should journalists talk about violence that causes fear in the community when it is not entirely clear why the perpetrator is carrying out such acts?
4. John Bolton and law: A quick note on the new national security adviser’s legal and policy orientation.

And then there’s the really important stuff: The pros and cons of … fantasy sports in general, and fantasy baseball in particular!