Executive Branch Foreign Relations & International Law Intelligence

Rational Security: The “Fifth Anniversary Hot Take Takedown” Edition

Scott R. Anderson, Shane Harris, Quinta Jurecic, Benjamin Wittes, Julia Curlee, Michael Feinberg, Molly Roberts
Thursday, September 10, 2026, 12:30 PM
Scott Anderson celebrated the fifth anniversary of Rational Security 2.0 with the return of co-hosts emeriti Shane Harris, Quinta Jurecic, and Benjamin Wittes.
Meet The Authors
Subscribe to Lawfare

This week, Scott celebrated the fifth anniversary of Rational Security 2.0 with the return of co-hosts emeriti Shane Harris, Quinta Jurecic, and Benjamin Wittes. In varying degrees of witheringness, the four sat in brutal judgment of this year’s Hot Take Takedown pitches:

  • Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee gives her informed analysis of whether we should get rid of the President’s Daily Brief.
  • Senior Editor Mike Feinberg has strong feelings about who is the bad guy in the Bourne movies.
  • Senior Editor Molly Roberts cooks up a theory on whether we should move concerns about Trump’s plans for Greenland up from the back burner.

Which takes are too cold and bland, which are too hot and spicy, and which are just right? Listen in and decide for yourself!

Meanwhile in object lessons, Shane introduces us to GrandpaSpy on Instagram, bringing out the “wholesome, family fun” side of espionage. Quinta has a pleasant encounter with a “Cool Machine.” Scott remembered Rational Security 2.0’s anniversary before he remembered his own wedding anniversary but celebrates them both. And Ben revisits an old, unfinished pandemic project, much to Scott’s chagrin.

To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.

Topics:
Executive Branch Foreign Relations & International Law Intelligence
Back to Top
Scott R. Anderson

Scott R. Anderson

S_R_Anders
sranderson.bsky.social
Read More
Scott R. Anderson is a Senior Editor at Lawfare and General Counsel of the Lawfare Institute. He is also a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a Non-resident Senior Fellow in the National Security Law Program at Columbia Law School. He previously served as an Attorney-Adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State and as the legal advisor for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
Shane Harris

Shane Harris

Read More
Shane Harris is a staff writer at The Atlantic covering national security and intelligence. He can be reached on Signal at shaneharris.64. He has written about intelligence, security, and foreign policy for more than two decades, including as a staff writer for The Washington Post, where he was part of the team that won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. In 2023, he co-reported the documentary The Discord Leaks with PBS Frontline, which was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding investigative news coverage. He is the author of two books, The Watchers and @War.
Quinta Jurecic

Quinta Jurecic

@qjurecic
qjurecic.bsky.social
Read More
Quinta Jurecic is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She was previously a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare.
Benjamin Wittes

Benjamin Wittes

benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org
Read More
Benjamin Wittes is editor in chief of Lawfare and a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. He is the author of several books.
Julia Curlee

Julia Curlee

@juliacurlee.bsky.social
Read More
Julia Curlee is a Public Service Fellow at Lawfare and a former CIA analyst with twenty-five years of experience in national security. She served as an NSC director in the Biden and second Trump White Houses and as a PDB briefer to the Vice President. She completed multiple tours in the Middle East and South Asia and served in CIA's China Mission Center. She holds master's degrees from the National War College and American University. The opinions presented here are her own and not those of the U.S. government.
Michael Feinberg

Michael Feinberg

michael-feinberg.bsky.social
Read More
Michael Feinberg is a former Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he spent the overwhelming majority of his career combatting the PRC’s intelligence services. He is a recipient and multiple times nominee of the FBI’s highest recognition, the Director’s Award for Excellence, as well as numerous other Bureau honors and ODNI commendations. Prior to his service with the FBI, he was an attorney in both private and public practice. The opinions presented here are entirely his own and not those of the U.S. government.
Molly Roberts

Molly Roberts

Read More
Molly Roberts is a senior editor at Lawfare. She was previously a member of the editorial board at The Washington Post, where she covered technology, legal affairs and more, as well as wrote columns about everything from cryptocurrency grift and graft to panda diplomacy at the National Zoo.
}

Subscribe to Lawfare