National Security Law Today National Security Law Today

As reality begins to echo the cautionary tales of science fiction, one question looms: are we listening to their warnings? Kicking off our series on the intersection of sci-fi and national security, host Elisa is joined by Tracy Reynolds, U.S. Navy Commander and Co-Chair of the Space Law Interest Group with the American Society of International Law. Together, they embark on a journey through the realms of Dune, Parable of the Sower, and the Lathe of Heaven, unraveling the parallels between fictional narratives and real-world national security challenges.
Tracy Reynolds is a Commander in the U.S. Navy, and Co-Chair of the Space Law Interest Group with the American Society of International Law
References:
Book: The Dune Series, written by Frank Herbert
Book: Parable of the Sower, written by Octavia Butler
Book: The Lathe of Heaven, written by Ursula Le Guin
The Outer Space Treaty
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
NSLT Episode: "Seabed Mining as a National Security Threat: The Laws of the Sea with Matt Gianni (Part 1)"

As today's national security threats evolve, they must be met with agile and effective intelligence capabilities. On April 9th, FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke before the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security on the bureau’s priorities, including foreign threats to American elections, cyber-attacks on the US infrastructure and threats posed by foreign adversaries. He also discussed the importance of FISA Section 702 – a tool used to combat threats posed by foreign adversaries. This week, we bring you his remarks to the Committee, which came just three days prior to the House vote reauthorizing 702.

Christopher Wray is Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Introductions by Jason Klitenic, Member, ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security

References:
Transcript: Director Wray's Remarks to the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 Resource Page
"Warrant Requirement for FBI’s Section 702 Queries Would Impede Investigations, Endanger National Security, Director Says." FBI.gov. Apr. 9, 2024
Barr, Luke. “Foreign Terrorists Targeting US ‘Increasingly Concerning’: FBI Director.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 9 Apr. 2024

As law students across the country prepare to graduate this spring, what might a career in national security law have in store for them? This week, we're recasting an episode from last September, featuring arms control expert and Professor of Law at Georgetown University, David Koplow. Together with Elisa, David guides us through the history of WMDs, the laws and treaties that govern them, and how AI innovation will shape our future understanding (and careers) in national security.
David Koplow is a Professor of Law at Georgetown University

References:
UN Security Council Resolution of 1977
1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, ICRC
2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
2023 Cluster Munition Monitor Report
Koplow, David A. Non-Lethal Weapons the Law and Policy of Revolutionary Technologies for the Military and Law Enforcement. Cambridge University Press, 2006
Koplow, David A. Death by Moderation: The U.S. Military’s Quest for Useable Weapons. Cambridge University Press, 2010
Koplow, David A. Smallpox: The Fight to Eradicate a Global Scourge. University of California Press, 2003

This week, host Elisa dives into the latest national security headlines, from happiness surveys and foreign influence on social media, to AI guidance across the U.S. financial services sector.
References:
Israel Has Killed a Top Hamas Commander in Gaza. It Took Five Months. WSJ. March 20, 2024
Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity Risks in the Financial Services Sector. The U.S. Department of the Treasury. March 2024

In honor of Civic Learning Week 2024, this week host Elisa is joined by Dr. Michael Feuer, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University. Together, they dive into the importance of reinforcing early civic education, how technology has changed the way we listen to others, as well as other overarching themes from Michael's new book, Can Schools Save Democracy? Civic Education and the Common Good.

Dr. Michael Feuer is Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and Professor of Education Policy at George Washington University

References:
Feuer, Michael J. Can Schools Save Democracy?: Civic Education and the Common Good. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023
The Digital Inquiry Group
Facing History & Ourselves
NSLT Ep. 314, "NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and Understanding Today's Geopolitical Climate with Simon Miles"

On February 28th, President Biden signed Executive Order 14117 on "Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern." This week, host Elisa is joined by friend-of-the-cast Alex Joel to breakdown the key actions within this EO, what types of data the DOJ may restrict, what "countries of concern" encompasses, and any potential blind spots this EO could be missing. 
Alex Joel is a Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor at the Washington College of Law at American University

References:

E.O. 14117
E.O. 13873
H.R. 7738, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 1977
H.R. 5841, Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, 2018
Provide commentary to the U.S. Department of Justice on E.O. 14117