Lawfare No Bull

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 30, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the confirmation hearing of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director nominee Kash Patel. The Committee questioned Patel about his role in the Jan. 6 choir, his “enemies list” and views on political retribution, his testimony before the grand jury in the classified documents case, plans for the FBI if confirmed, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 30, the Senate Intelligence Committee held a confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard. The Committee questioned Gabbard about her views on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, her opinion of Edward Snowden, her 2017 meeting with Syria’s then-president Bashar Assad, her reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 29 and 30, Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. appeared for confirmation hearings before the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions respectively. The Committees questioned Kennedy about topics that may be of interest to Lawfare listeners, including his views on vaccines–particularly COVID and measles—health institutions such as the NIH and CDC, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 17, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held the confirmation hearing of Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem. The Committee questioned Noem about immigration, domestic terrorism, disaster relief assistance, the Secret Service, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 15, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the confirmation hearing of presumptive attorney general nominee Pam Bondi. The Committee questioned Bondi about how she will approach issues such as violent crime and immigration, her view of presumptive FBI director nominee Kash Patel, and how she will maintain the independence of the Department of Justice if the president makes unlawful or normatively improper demands of the department.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 15, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held the confirmation hearing of presumptive secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio. The Committee questioned Sen. Rubio about his views on U.S. relations with China, his support for Taiwan and Ukraine, humanitarian crises in Haiti and Sudan, the Israel-Gaza War, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 15, the Senate Intelligence Committee held the confirmation hearing for presumptive CIA Director nominee John Ratcliffe. The Committee questioned Ratcliffe about his commitment to nonpartisanship, how the CIA can keep pace with U.S. adversaries’ technological advances, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 14, the Senate Armed Services Committee held the confirmation hearing of presumptive Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. The Committee questioned Hegseth about his past comments on women in the military, qualifications for the role, “wokeness” and DEI, plans to reform the Navy, allegations of sexual assault, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 10, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to an “unconditional discharge” in the New York hush money case, in which Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts. Trump will face no jail time, financial penalties, or probation. The sentencing marked an end to the only case against Trump that reached trial and makes Trump the first president to take office as a convicted felon.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May 8, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown testified during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on President Joe Biden’s 2025 Defense Budget Request. Several senators inquired about the Biden administration and Defense Department’s decision to pause the shipment of aid and weapons to Israel amidst the ongoing war in Gaza. Secretary Austin confirmed that  one shipment of “high-payload munitions” was paused as the department “re-evaluated some of the security assistance” that the U.S. was providing. In response to a number of questions, Austin asserted that the U.S.’s support for Israel remains “iron-clad.” Other topics were covered by the Committee, including deterrence, nuclear capabilities, border security, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.