The Situation: So Much Worse Than You Thought
Just how bad is The Situation at the Justice Department?
Taiwan’s Silicon Shield Is Turning Into a Target
By taking Taiwan, China could erase America’s best hope of keeping its AI edge.
Where Does Afghanistan Stand After Four Years of Taliban Rule?
Despite a weak economy, widespread poverty, and draconian gender and social restrictions, the Taliban remain entrenched in power.
Algorithmic Foreign Influence: Rethinking Sovereignty in the Age of AI
Code now governs what users see, say, and know—across borders, without consent. It’s time to rethink what foreign influence really means.
U.S. Bullets, U.S. Law: The Legal Net Around Gaza’s Private Guards
U.S. contractors shot Gaza aid seekers. Laws can reach them, but enforcement stalls while the killing continues.
Lawfare Live: Trials of the Trump Administration, Aug. 22
Join the Lawfare team at 4 pm ET for a discussion of the litigation targeting actions from President Trump.
Come Work With Us—As Our New Associate Editor!
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Highlights
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The Situation: So Much Worse Than You Thought
Just how bad is The Situation at the Justice Department? -
Taiwan’s Silicon Shield Is Turning Into a Target
By taking Taiwan, China could erase America’s best hope of keeping its AI edge. -
Where Does Afghanistan Stand After Four Years of Taliban Rule?
Despite a weak economy, widespread poverty, and draconian gender and social restrictions, the Taliban remain entrenched in power. -
Algorithmic Foreign Influence: Rethinking Sovereignty in the Age of AI
Code now governs what users see, say, and know—across borders, without consent. It’s time to rethink what foreign influence really means. -
U.S. Bullets, U.S. Law: The Legal Net Around Gaza’s Private Guards
U.S. contractors shot Gaza aid seekers. Laws can reach them, but enforcement stalls while the killing continues. -
The Clock Is Ticking on Critical Authorities to Compete With China
Congress is running out of time to reauthorize foreign and domestic instruments of statecraft critical to protecting American interests. -
The Situation: Then the Law Is an Ass
A municipal law the D.C. Council should consider amending -
Back Into the Abyss: Israel’s Government Fires Attorney General, Supreme Court Blocks the Move
The firing of the AG constitutes another escalation in the current government’s approach to the domestic rule of law institutions. -
Digital Rights in Armed Conflict and the Ukraine v. Russia Decision
A watershed decision from the European Court of Human Rights reaffirms privacy rights in war, limiting data collection by militaries in the age of digital conflict. -
Give Peace a Chance: The Post-Alaska Path to Ending the Russia-Ukraine War
Ukraine and its Western partners should do their best to explore whether the Alaska summit’s results can build momentum in the negotiations with Russia. -
The West Is Helping Syria Build a Government No Minority Wants to Join
Until it demands inclusive governance, the West’s vision of a unified and stable Syria will remain out of reach. -
District of Columbia v. Trump: A Hearing Diary
A play-by-play of the temporary restraining order hearing in D.C.'s suit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department -
The Situation: Hopscotch is Now Illegal on D.C. Sidewalks
And the United States Secret Service is out there to enforce -
The Week That Was
Your weekly summary of everything on the site. -
Whack-a-Mole No More: How Extremists Choose Their Digital Safe Havens
A review of Tamar Mitts, “Safe Havens for Hate: The Challenge of Moderating Online Extremism” (Princeton University Press, 2025).
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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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A Primer on the Civil Service and the Trump Administration
The broad discretion afforded to presidents to shape personnel policy poses a threat to the civil service during the Trump administration. -
Immigration Is Not Invasion
Texas’s argument equating the two goes against the text and original meaning of the Constitution, and would set a dangerous precedent if courts accept it. -
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.
Documents
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N.Y. Appeals Court Voids Fine, Upholds Judgement Against Trump
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State Dept. Releases 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
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D.C. Sues Trump Administration Over Seizing Control of District Police
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ICJ Releases Advisory Opinion On States’ Obligations to Address Climate Change
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White House Releases Artificial Intelligence Action Plan
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U.S. Court of Appeals Allows Withdrawal from 9/11 Pleas
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Justice Department Releases Letters Concerning PAFACAA Enforcement
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SCOTUS Grants Government Partial Stay in Birthright Citizenship Case
The Lawfare Podcast 
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Lawfare Daily: FCC’s New Submarine Cable Rules with Adam Chan
What are the national security risks facing submarine cable infrastructure? -
Scaling Laws: Export Controls: Janet Egan, Sam Winter-Levy, and Peter Harrell on the White House's Semiconductor Decision
Discussing the legality of President Trump's deal with Nvidia and AMD. -
Lawfare Daily: The Alaska Summit and Its Fallout
Discussing Russio-Ukrainian War negotiations.
Other Lawfare Podcasts
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Videos & Webinars
Lawfare Live: Trials of the Trump Administration, Aug. 22
Join the Lawfare team at 4 pm ET for a discussion of the litigation targeting actions from President Trump.
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