The Week That Will Be
The Week That Will Be
Avery Schmitz Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 3:58 PM
Lawfare's weekly roundup of event announcements and employment opportunities.
TechTank
TechTank: Is Economic Decoupling Possible for the United States?
Darrell West Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 2:01 PM
For several decades, many American companies have shifted manufacturing to countries such as China and India. The idea was to integrate the global economy, allow various nations to focus on different sectors, and build global supply chains that used components from many different places. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, it wreaked havoc on this model. Shortages developed and strained companies’ ability to get the components needed for their products.
The January 6 Project
Are Jan. 6 Defendants Getting a Fair Shake from DC Juries? Comparing Jury and Bench Trial Outcomes
Roger Parloff Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 10:57 AM
In the overwhelmingly liberal District of Columbia, Jan. 6 defendants have been convicted at high rates, challenging whether they are subjected to juries of their peers.
Afghanistan
How to Save Thousands of Afghan Allies
Loren Voss Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 8:16 AM
The Biden administration could provide categorical parole to Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants that have passed major screening requirements and allow them to come to the United States to finish their processing in safety.
Iran
The EU Can, and Should, Designate the IRGC as a Terrorist Group
Matthew Levitt Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 8:01 AM
The European Parliament recently voted to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group. The EU’s policy chief insists that such a move is not possible until a European court has taken judicial action against the IRGC. This is not the case.
Podcasts
The Lawfare Podcast: Roger Parloff with a Proud Boys Trial Update
Jen Patja Howell Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 5:01 AM
For the last several days, Lawfare senior editor Roger Parloff has been in court covering the Proud Boys trial on a live blog on Lawfare. The trial took a two-day break the other day, so Lawfare editor-in-chief Benjamin Wittes sat down with Roger to catch up on what is proving to be a grueling presentation of evidence.
Foreign Policy Essay
Russia in the Caucasus and Central Asia After the Invasion of Ukraine
Carol R. Saivetz Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 10:01 AM
Recent conflicts in former Soviet states demonstrate the ways that Russia's grip in the region has slipped.
The Week That Was
The Week That Was: All of Lawfare In One Post
John A. Emmons Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 5:01 PM
Your weekly summary of everything on the site.
Department of Defense
Defense Department Updates Autonomous Weapons Systems Directive
John A. Emmons Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 3:31 PM
On Jan. 25, the DoD updated its directive on “Autonomy in Weapons Systems,” the guiding document for U.S. development, implementation, and supervision of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems.
Cybersecurity
Justice Department Thwarts ‘Hive’ Ransomware Scheme
Avery Schmitz Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 2:24 PM
The Justice Department announces a successful campaign countering ransomware attacks by the Hive cybercriminal network.
Cyber & Technology
How Can a ‘Digital Emblem’ Help Protect Medical Facilities Against Cyber Operations?
Tilman Rodenhäuser, Mauro Vignati Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 8:16 AM
On the battlefield, every soldier knows what a red cross or red crescent stands for. As warfare is increasingly digitized, is it possible to digitize this universal symbol of protection as well?
Artificial Intelligence
Assessing Impacts of AI on Human Rights: It’s Not Solely About Privacy and Nondiscrimination
Eve Gaumond, Catherine Régis Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 8:16 AM
Artificial intelligence can significantly impact human rights—both positively and negatively. Human rights impact assessments conceived specifically for AI are needed to prevent potential harms and reap the benefits of the technology.
Podcasts
The Lawfare Podcast: Gavin Wilde and Justin Sherman on Russia’s Information War and Regime Security
Jen Patja Howell Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 5:01 AM
Russia’s use of information warfare during the 2016 U.S. presidential election period focused attention on Russia’s weaponization of information in its effort to influence a U.S. election outcome and sow discord across the American public. But to the extent that we only view Russian information warfare as an aggressive or expansionist expression of Moscow’s foreign policy, we may misunderstand some key tenets of Russian information warfare doctrine.
John Eastman
California State Bar Charges Eastman with Multiple Disciplinary Counts
John A. Emmons Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 5:13 PM
The Office of Chief Trial Counsel of the California State Bar intends to seek Eastman’s disbarment before the State Bar Court.
Podcasts
Rational Security: The 'M1 Abrams Accords' Edition
Jen Patja Howell Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 12:01 PM
This week, Quinta and Scott were joined by special guest Michel Paradis to talk over the week's big national security news, including:
The January 6 Project
Notes on the Jan. 6 Committee’s Notes
Benjamin Wittes Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 11:11 AM
The Jan. 6 select committee showed its work—enabling marginal comments, reality checks, and tantalizing hints at what the committee couldn’t prove.
Chatter
The Chatter Podcast: Financial Intelligence, Fact and Fiction with Yaya Fanusie
David Priess Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 9:50 AM
Priess spoke with Fanusie about his path to the CIA and NCTC, what analytic work on international economics and financial intelligence is like, and more.
Middle East and North Africa
Constructing a New Middle East: In Pursuit of an American-Led Regional Security Architecture
Jonathan Lord Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 8:16 AM
In committing to developing a new multilateral framework for the region, Washington has the chance to write a smaller, more effective, and more efficient role for the U.S. military in the Middle East.
Social Media
Project Texas: The Details of TikTok’s Plan to Remain Operational in the United States
Matt Perault, Samm Sacks Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 8:01 AM
Last week, senior TikTok executives held a private briefing to review the details of Project Texas and the contours of the national security agreement it is negotiating with the U.S. government.
Podcasts
The Lawfare Podcast: Finland’s NATO Bid, Interrupted
Jen Patja Howell Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 5:01 AM
Turkish President Erdoğan has thrown a giant wrench into Sweden's NATO membership bid after a protest outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. This, in turn, affects Finland's application to the alliance because Sweden and Finland applied to and intended to join the alliance concurrently.
Lawfare publisher David Priess sat down with Minna Ålander, research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, to talk about how we got here, about what Finnish leaders have been saying about these new developments, and about paths forward for Finland and NATO.