The Lawfare Podcast

Elisa Catalano Ewers, a Middle East security expert at CFR and CNAS, breaks down Iranian strategy and regional dynamics. She describes asymmetric threats to the Strait of Hormuz and how Iran sustains pressure at low cost. Discussion covers U.S. miscalculations on escalation, allies’ maritime roles, impacts on Israel–Gulf ties, and broader geopolitical ripple effects across Europe and Asia.

Eric Columbus, senior editor on litigation and federal funding, offers court-focused commentary. Roger Parloff, veteran legal journalist, analyzes major courtroom rulings. Anna Bower, reporter on agency litigation, breaks down depositions and agency actions. Molly Roberts, litigation reporter, covers hearings and grand jury moves. Kate Klonick, legal scholar on tech and free speech, examines AI and supply-chain litigation. They discuss subpoenas to Powell, Anthropic v. DOD, deposition videos, agency reinstatements, and funding freezes.

Ramya Krishnan, a First Amendment and national security lawyer, and Alan Rozenshtein, a constitutional and national security scholar, break down the Supreme Court oral arguments over Congress’s divest-or-ban law for TikTok. They explain the statute’s mechanics, the government’s data and manipulation rationales, competing First Amendment frameworks, practicalities of divestiture, and possible judicial paths and timing.

Michael Posner, a NYU Stern professor and former Assistant Secretary of State, unpacks the Al-Shimari v. CACI verdict and corporate human rights liability. He recounts how abusive practices at Abu Ghraib developed and the legal paths plaintiffs used to sue a U.S. contractor. The conversation covers jurisdictional fights, state secrets hurdles, the $42 million verdict, and what this means for private security and corporate duty.

Anna Bower, a reporter who traced the draft elections executive order, and Molly Roberts, an analyst of executive orders and election law. They unpack a circulating draft that would centralize election control. They trace its murky authorship and QAnon ties. They explore legal theories claiming emergency powers and the practical chaos such a move could cause.

Ari Tabatabai, Iran/Middle East analyst explaining Iran's maritime tactics and mine risks. Natalie Orpett, executive editor offering legal and political perspective on allies and rules of engagement. Benjamin Wittes, legal commentator exploring transatlantic trust and campaign consequences. They discuss Strait of Hormuz disruptions, European reluctance to join U.S. operations, shifting DoD rules on civilian harm, and strategic fallout from strikes.

Troy L.T. Edwards, Lawfare Public Service Fellow and former DOJ attorney specializing in Iran investigations and counterterrorism. He discusses Iran’s long‑memory retaliatory toolkit and proxy network. Short takes cover key DOJ cases that reveal Iran’s reach. They warn how recent institutional degradation may leave the U.S. unprepared for clandestine reprisals.

Derek Pieper, retired FBI assistant special agent in charge with two decades leading counterintelligence and counterespionage teams, discusses how the two fields differ and why training matters. He talks about insider recruitment versus foreign targeting. They cover expanding CI to influence and cyber threats, challenges of investigating colleagues, and why politicization risks undermining investigations.

Hanna Notte, director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at Middlebury College, studies Russian foreign policy and proliferation in the Middle East. She traces Cold War mistrust and how Syria became the turning point for coordination. She maps Russia’s interests and limits in partnering with Iran. She unpacks regional reactions, intelligence ties, and what Moscow gains short term.

Kate Klonick, scholar of law and technology; Scott R. Anderson, litigation and national security lawyer; Eric Columbus, DOJ and courtroom analyst; Roger Parloff, seasoned legal journalist. They unpack Judge Boasberg quashing subpoenas aimed at Powell. They discuss Anthropic’s suit against the Defense Department, Kari Lake’s unlawful appointment fallout, appointment disputes for U.S. attorneys, and other high-profile litigation developments.