The National Security Law Podcast

Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck
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The National Security Law Podcast

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).

  1. 08/07/2024

    Episode 247: Deal, No Deal

    Hello friends, and welcome back to the NSL Podcast with Professor Vladeck and Dean Chesney.  Tune in for a detailed discussion of the bizarre plea-deal-wait-nevermind-no-plea-deal situation that unfolded last week in relation to three of the four remaining military commission defendants in the 9/11 prosecution, as well as a breakdown of the Supreme Court's presidential immunity (from prosecution) case. Do these guys spend too much time talking about the Mets, and Star Wars, and House of the Dragon/Game of Thrones? Well, yes, sure, but it beats having the show interrupted by advertisements, no?

    1h 11m

  2. 06/20/2024

    Episode 246: Around the Drain in 80 Days

    Betcha thought we were done...but we're back!  Tune in as Steve Vladeck and Bobby Chesney discuss and debate the latest (ok, some of this stuff is months old) national security law and related developments, including: * The renewal of Section 702 (aka our first contribution to the rapidly-upcoming debate over the next renewal) * The conviction of the former president in New York Court (and the prospects for SCOTUS to get involved) * Speaking of SCOTUS: we're waiting on a *LOT* of big decisions over the next two weeks, including the presidential immunity claim, social media content moderation jawboning, and more * We've also got an upcoming oral argument in the Florida federal court trial of the former president in relation to classified documents * TikTok & Bytedance v. Garland: we discuss the prospects for the First Amendment claim, as well as the prospects for a Takings argument and, perhaps the sleeper topic among these, the Bill of Attainder argument Of course there's frivolity too.  Lots of it.  Watching the Acolyte? The Mets?  House of the Dragon?  Hitman?  Mr. Bates vs the Post Office?

    1h 21m

  3. 04/02/2024

    Episode 245: 100 Days Later…

    Hello, is this thing on?  Check one, check two...testing, testing.  We're good?  Alright alright alright... It's been 100 days between shows.  Thought maybe the world might be calmer if we waited a bit, but no such luck!  We are, however, very glad to be back on the air with a fresh (and rather long!) episode. Tune in for topics including: * Israel & Hamas * Ukraine & Russia * America & the Houthis * 702 renewal * TikTok & prospects for the divestment bill prevailing vs a First Amendment challenge * All sorts of Trump litigation * All sorts of Texas border stuff (invasion as a constitutional concept, state-level war powers, preemption, the limits of preemption, etc.) * Plus, why do the Mets already suck? It's only been four games.  Yeesh.

    1h 27m

  4. 12/23/2023

    Episode 244: Not Our 30th Episode of 2023

    Barring an unlikely spate of more than a dozen episodes happening over the next week, it sure looks like Steve has won his bet with Bobby, for this marks the 16th episode of 2023.  Ouch, that's not even *close* to the 30-show target!  But tune in anyway if you are interested in a thorough overview of what is and is not clear about the Colorado Supreme Court's decision disqualifying Donald Trump from the ballot under color of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment (that is, on grounds that Trump had engaged in insurrection).

    1h 12m

  5. 11/28/2023

    Episode 243: Boiled Froggy Water Under the Bridge

    Two months between episodes?  Looks like someone will be buying Steve a dinner at the conclusion of 2023 (barring a pivot to posting new episodes every day). As for what is on tap in episode 243: * Israel and Gaza: a review of key international law issues * The United States and Iran: a review of key domestic law issues * Trumplandia: checking in on, like, 17 separate cases currently underway As for frivolity: there are some (inevitable) ramblings about football, but much more frivolous than that is the ad hoc holiday favorites playlist...

    1h 19m

  6. 09/29/2023

    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).

  7. 08/22/2023

    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!

    1h 16m

  8. 08/08/2023

    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.

    1h 4m
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
631 Ratings

About

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).

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