241 episodes

The National Security Law Podcast (aka the NSL Podcast) is a weekly review of the latest legal controversies associated with the U.S. government’s national security activities and institutions, featuring Professors Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas at Austin. They bring different perspectives to these issues, but always in a friendly spirit. The program is fast-paced but detail-rich, and is meant for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. If you’ve been looking for a thoughtful yet enjoyable way to keep up with and better understand these issues, the National Security Law Podcast is the show for you. To join the conversation, follow nslpodcast on Twitter (@nslpodcast).

The National Security Law Podcast Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck

    • Government
    • 4.8 • 618 Ratings

The National Security Law Podcast (aka the NSL Podcast) is a weekly review of the latest legal controversies associated with the U.S. government’s national security activities and institutions, featuring Professors Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas at Austin. They bring different perspectives to these issues, but always in a friendly spirit. The program is fast-paced but detail-rich, and is meant for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. If you’ve been looking for a thoughtful yet enjoyable way to keep up with and better understand these issues, the National Security Law Podcast is the show for you. To join the conversation, follow nslpodcast on Twitter (@nslpodcast).

    Episode 242: A Rule of Law (and Punctuation) Free Episode!

    Episode 242: A Rule of Law (and Punctuation) Free Episode!

    Sorry about accidentally taking the whole month off, but we're back with a classic: tune in for the 9/11 case warm-up, and stick around for 45 minutes of wrangling over the PCLOB Report on Section 702!  And, yes, frivolity, always frivolity (wherein we discuss the musical Six, football, and gargantuan mismatches).

    Episode 241: Let’s Barbie!

    Episode 241: Let’s Barbie!

    Tune in for the latest, in which we discuss life as a fall 1L, RICO, removal, Nashiri, Bahlul, Shimari, Barbie, and Silo. And if all those names mean something to you...well, you are among the select few, and this pod is for you!

    • 1 hr 16 min
    Episode 240: Something Got Released

    Episode 240: Something Got Released

    If you are interested in a detailed and careful explanation of the charges at issue in United States v. Trump (the recent indictment of the former president in relation to his effort to overturn the results of the election), the way that the alleged facts related to those offenses, and the relatives strengths and weaknesses of the most likely defenses...well, this is the show for you.  Though co-hosts Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney originally planned to discuss an array of topics in addition to reviewing the latest indictment of the former president, they ended up spending the entire hour on this one.

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Episode 239: We Have Many Tapestries!

    Episode 239: We Have Many Tapestries!

    Well, it's been about a month, so it's good we are finally back with a fresh episode!  Tune in as hosts Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney kick the tires on:



    * The New York Times story (per Charlie Savage) on the Biden Administration's October '22 revised policy guidance on kill/capture operations outside areas of active hostilities

    * Touching base with the will-it-ever-end (no) Nashiri litigation

    * The National Guard, federal court-martial jurisdiction for members not in federal service, and the Fifth Circuit

    * Missouri v. Biden: a stunning injunction (and 155-page underlying memo) limiting the ability of a slew of federal government leaders to work with social media platforms on content moderation



    And, of course, no shortage of frivolity!  If you are not down with the frivolity, you definitely want to skip the first six minutes.  Well, maybe a lot more than that... :)

    • 1 hr 22 min
    Episode 238: The World Wonders

    Episode 238: The World Wonders

    Today's episode focuses on the indictment in United States v. Donald Trump and Waltine Nauta, S.D. Fla. (23-80101-CR).  Co-hosts Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney walk you through the factual allegations, the crimes charged, the areas where tricky evidence questions might arise, the process for selecting the presiding judge, and the prospects for an array of things including: recusal; a Presidential Records Act defense; a I-declassified-this-stuff defense; a pre-verdict Rule 29 motion for judgment of acquittal; and a trial occurring around the time of the election.  Buckle up and tune in!

    • 58 min
    Episode 237: Are You Not Detained???

    Episode 237: Are You Not Detained???

    And we're back, with co-hosts Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney breaking down the latest national security law news along with much else.  This week the spotlight is on the D.C. Circuit's en banc decision in al Hela, which grapples with the applicability of the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause (in both its procedural and substantive aspects) to GTMO detainees.  We've also got an update on the Badilla contractor immunity case (in which Steve plays a role as counsel to the plaintiffs), some Shadow Docket developments, and notes on the prosecutorial aspects of Cold War II.

    • 1 hr 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
618 Ratings

618 Ratings

Brendastevens ,

Really enjoy but…

I really enjoy the deep dives these guys take on the National Security law issues and their companionable “back and forth” and off topic chats BUT the constant verbal tics “like” “you know” drive me nuts. For law professors I find it surprising they still talk like that. Today they gave some nice advice to first year law students: I am an attorney and my advice to the students would be to purge your speech of those crutch words—- in my opinion it makes you a less effective communicator.

trurl_klapaucius ,

Refreshing

A podcast with two friends who have ideological differences but find common ground and work to articulate their disagreements for the benefit of the listener. That shouldn’t be as refreshing as it is, but, well, it is.

Don’t get me wrong. Bobby and Steve will make you laugh. They’re a pair of delightful dork dads with fun hobbies and quirks. But you’ll also leave each episode feeling like there’s a better way. Our society needs more of this.

mross1776 ,

Painful

I’ve tried to listen to these two, and even subscribed for a while, because I’m interested in the subject matter. But their off topic ramblings make it too painful. Would not recommend.

Top Podcasts In Government

Crooked Media
Prologue Projects
The Lawfare Institute
TYT Network
Cumulus Podcast Network
NHPR

You Might Also Like

The Lawfare Institute
The Lawfare Institute
Lawfare
Will Baude, Dan Epps
Slate Podcasts
Crooked Media