A Hybrid Role for the Court in U.S. Person Queries
Congress has more options than “warrant” or “status quo” when crafting a role for the FISC under FISA Section 702.
Locked In: How African Data Protection Laws Move from Shield to Lever
The Jihadist Wave in West Africa
The Justice Department Erases History; Lawfare Restores It
Lawfare Live: The Trials of the Trump Administration, May 29
Join the Lawfare team at 4 pm ET for a discussion of the litigation surrounding the Trump administration.
Highlights
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Indict and Evade: The Indictment of Raul Castro
Indicting Raul Castro does not legally justify invading Cuba, contrary to the Justice Department’s flawed theory for the Venezuela invasion. -
A Hybrid Role for the Court in U.S. Person Queries
Congress has more options than “warrant” or “status quo” when crafting a role for the FISC under FISA Section 702. -
Locked In: How African Data Protection Laws Move from Shield to Lever
Africa’s data protection laws are halting billion-dollar U.S. health aid agreements. The same laws should be leveraged to renegotiate new terms. -
The Jihadist Wave in West Africa
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin’s offensive in Mali could be just the beginning. -
The Week That Was
Your weekly summary of everything on the site. -
The Justice Department Erases History; Lawfare Restores It
Last week, the Justice Department deleted thousands of press releases related to the Jan. 6 insurrection and other matters. Here they are. -
Assassination and the Making of the Modern World
A review of Simon Ball, “Death to Order: A Modern History of Assassination” (Yale University Press, 2025). -
The U.S.-Iran War: Fighting From ‘Neutral’ Territory
When war is fought from permanent overseas bases, international law struggles to explain what host states may allow and what belligerents may lawfully strike. -
Diamond Hands, War Plans
Prediction markets, fragmented regulation, and national security risk -
Cyber Offense: How Far Can Private Organizations Go?
The line between cyber offense and defense is disappearing—but the law still treats them very differently. That gap is getting costly. -
What Is a Cybersecurity Legal Practice, 2.0?
Cyber operations in the gray zone between war and peace put infrastructure and businesses at risk. Cyber lawyers have never been more vital. -
AI Governance by Phone Call
An executive order so deferential to the AI industry that it disclaimed any mandatory authority still couldn't survive a few last-minute calls. -
Will the War Change Iran’s Way of War?
The United States is degrading Iran’s military capabilities. Will Iran rebuild them? -
The Invisible Frontline of National Security Governance
Democratic defense begins before the courtroom. -
The Week That Was
Your weekly summary of everything on the site.
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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Donald Trump and the Department of Justice
On the loyalty of lawyers and the attitude of voters -
Trump’s Attacks on Justice Department Independence, Then and Now
What the first Trump administration carried out slowly, the new administration is doing at once. -
What Do Trump’s Weaponization and Censorship Executive Orders Actually Do?
It’s not clear. But that’s not exactly reassuring.
Documents
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White House Releases Executive Order on AI
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Former Cuban President Raúl Castro Indicted
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Trump Administration Releases 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy
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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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Lawfare Daily: Inside the Upheaval of the Second Trump Administration with Emily Bazelon
Emil Bazelon discusses her reporting on the DOJ, DHS, and FBI. -
Lawfare Daily: The Trials of the Trump Administration, May 29
Listen to the May 29 livestream as a podcast. -
Lawfare Daily: How Ukraine Is Winning the Drone War
Jimmy Rushton discusses how the balance of power has shifted in the Russia-Ukraine War.
Other Lawfare Podcasts 
Other Podcasts 
Videos & Webinars
Lawfare Live: The Trials of the Trump Administration, May 29
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The Lawfare Institute:
Hard National Security Choices
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.


