Designating Cartels as Terrorists Has Sweeping Legal Consequences
The U.S.’s cartel and organized crime terror designations expand state power while shrinking civil and financial infrastructure.
Cruel and Unusual: Israel’s “Death Penalty for Terrorists” Law
The country’s new legislation raises serious concerns under both international and domestic law.
The Serious but Not Literal Blockade
The U.S. has implemented a lawful blockade despite President Trump’s initial comment that the blockade would be total and, thus, unlawful.
El Niño Will Supercharge Shocks Like the Iran War
The event will amplify the effects of conflict, highlighting the importance of climate resilience to global security.
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Tarasoff Meets the AI Age
Imposing a duty on AI firms to protect or warn users could bring valuable clarity to today’s uncertain AI liability landscape.
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How a Gambling Warrant Could Change Immigration Enforcement Authority
A warrant for five people led to 400 people being detained at a community event. Now the operation is at the center of a novel ACLU lawsuit.
Highlights
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Designating Cartels as Terrorists Has Sweeping Legal Consequences
The U.S.’s cartel and organized crime terror designations expand state power while shrinking civil and financial infrastructure. -
Cruel and Unusual: Israel’s “Death Penalty for Terrorists” Law
The country’s new legislation raises serious concerns under both international and domestic law. -
The Serious but Not Literal Blockade
The U.S. has implemented a lawful blockade despite President Trump’s initial comment that the blockade would be total and, thus, unlawful. -
El Niño Will Supercharge Shocks Like the Iran War
The event will amplify the effects of conflict, highlighting the importance of climate resilience to global security. -
Tarasoff Meets the AI Age
Imposing a duty on AI firms to protect or warn users could bring valuable clarity to today’s uncertain AI liability landscape. -
How a Gambling Warrant Could Change Immigration Enforcement Authority
A warrant for five people led to 400 people being detained at a community event. Now the operation is at the center of a novel ACLU lawsuit. -
The Russia-Iran Partnership
Why Moscow is helping Iran fight the United States and Israel. -
The Week That Was
Your weekly summary of everything on the site. -
From Endless Frontier to Enemy of the People: The Assault on Public Science
A review of Michael E. Mann & Peter J. Hotez, “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces That Threaten Our World” (Public Affairs, 2025) -
Section 230 After ‘@Grok Is This True?’
When X both spreads viral fakes and asks Grok to verify them, Section 230 starts to look less straightforward. -
It Is Time to Ban the Sale of Precise Geolocation
The latest edition of the Seriously Risky Business cybersecurity newsletter, now on Lawfare. -
How Hungary Escaped Electoral Autocracy
Viktor Orbán’s defeat will have consequences for the country, Europe, and aspiring autocrats around the world. -
The Red Tape of Ukraine’s Semi-Open Arms Exports
Gulf countries want Ukrainian drones to defend against Iran. But Ukraine isn’t selling them, yet. -
Was the Attack on an Iranian Primary School a War Crime?
U.S. leaders have said they would not intentionally strike a school. But if recklessness led to the Minab attack, it may still be criminal. -
AI Verification: Infrastructure for Prosperity, Governance, and Peace
New verification tools could make AI governance credible without requiring states or firms to expose their secrets.
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Featured Podcast
Live Coverage
For real-time updates of Lawfare’s coverage of the Trump administration’s legal challenges, follow on Bluesky or below:
What's Old Is New Again
With every new administration comes new promises and new actions on national security. But what’s “new” has often been proposed or even tried before—which means there’s a good chance Lawfare has already analyzed some of the legal and policy implications they present. So we’re making that past content readily accessible as it becomes newly relevant.
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What Congress Has Done—and What It Still Needs to Do—to Protect NATO
Congress has barred the president from exiting NATO unilaterally. But someone still needs to enforce it. -
Using Force Against Mexican Drug Cartels: Domestic and International Law Issues
Executive branch lawyers could argue that using force against cartels would be consistent with past presidential uses of force, but it would be very difficult to defend under international law. -
My Lloyd Cutler Rule of Law Lecture: "Law and the Use of Force: Challenges for the Next President"
Read John Bellinger's Lloyd Cutler Lecture on Rule of Law at the Supreme Court.
Documents
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Southern Poverty Law Center Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges
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U.S. Government Agrees to $1.25 Million Settlement in Michael Flynn Suit
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Trump Signs Executive Order Purporting to Restrict Mail-in Voting
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ODNI Releases 2026 Threat Assessment
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U.S. Submits Article 51 Letter on ‘Operation Epic Fury’ to UNSC
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Anthropic Challenges the Pentagon’s Supply Chain Risk Determination
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Anthropic Sues Defense Department Over Supply Chain Risk Designation
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White House Submits Iran War Powers Report to Congress
The Lawfare Podcast 
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Lawfare Daily: Breaking Down the Lebanon Ceasefire
What are the implications of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire? -
Lawfare Daily: ‘The Criminal State’ with Lawrence Douglas
Discussing the evolution of international criminal justice. -
Lawfare Daily: DOJ’s Very Online Civil Rights Head, with Quinta Jurecic and Anna Bower
Discussing Harmeet Dhillon's tenure as the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Department of Justice.
Other Lawfare Podcasts
Other Podcasts
Videos & Webinars
Lawfare Live: The Trials of the Trump Administration, April 17
Join the Lawfare team at 4 pm ET for a discussion of the litigation surrounding the Trump administration.
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Lawfare is a non-profit multimedia publication dedicated to “Hard National Security Choices.” We provide non-partisan, timely analysis of thorny legal and policy issues through our written, audio, and other content—all of which you can find here.
