This is the explosive look at the aftermath of the 2020 election–and the January 6th uprising–from ABC News’ chief Washington correspondent, Jonathan Karl. Jonathan Karl, the reporter who has known Donald Trump longer than any other White House correspondent, Karl told the story of Trump’s rise in the New York Times bestseller Front Row at the Trump Show. Now he tells the story of Trump’s downfall, complete with riveting behind-the-scenes accounts of some of the darkest days in the history of the American presidency and packed with original reporting and on-the-record interviews with central figures in this drama who are telling their stories for the first time.
Does power corrupt, or are corrupt people drawn to power? Are tyrants made or born? Are entrepreneurs who embezzle and cops who kill the result of poorly designed systems or are they just bad people? If you were suddenly thrust into a position of power, would you be able to resist the temptation to line your pockets or seek revenge against your enemies?
To answer these questions, Corruptible draws on over 500 interviews with some of the world’s top leaders—from the noblest to the dirtiest—including presidents and philanthropists as well as rebels, cultists, and dictators. Some of the fascinating insights include: how facial appearance determines who we pick as leaders, why narcissists make more money, why some people don’t want power at all and others are drawn to it out of a psychopathic impulse, and why being the “beta” (second in command) may actually be the optimal place for health and well-being.
Corruptible also features a wealth of counterintuitive examples from history and social science: you’ll meet the worst bioterrorist in American history, hit the slopes with a ski instructor who once ruled Iraq, and learn why the inability of chimpanzees to play baseball is central to the development of human hierarchies.
Fascism is a cult of the leader, who promises national restoration in the face of supposed humiliation by immigrants, leftists, liberals, minorities, homosexuals, women, in the face of what the fascist leader says is a takeover of the country’s media, cultural institutions, schools by these forces.
Fascist movements typically, though not invariably, rest on an urban/rural divide. The cities are where there’s decadence, where the elites congregate, where there’s immigrants, and where there’s criminality.
Each of these individuals alone is not in and of itself fascist, but you have to worry when they’re all grouped together, seeing the other as less than. Those moments are the times when societies need to worry about fascism.
David Pepper shows that far more than the high-profile antics of national politicians and Trump himself, it’s anonymous, often corrupt politicians in statehouses across the country who pose the greatest dangers to American democracy. Amid all the chaos, these statehouses are hard at work, every day, hacking away at core principles and protections of our democratic system. And they’re getting more audacious every year.
Because these statehouses no longer operate as functioning democracies, these unknown politicians have all the incentive to keep doing greater damage, and can not be held accountable however extreme they get. This has driven steep declines in states like Ohio and others across the country. And collectively, it’s placed American democracy in its greatest peril since the dawn of the Jim Crow era.
But Pepper doesn’t stop there. He lays out a robust pro-democracy agenda outlining how everyone from elected officials to business leaders to everyday citizens can fight back.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is the expert on the “strongman” playbook employed by authoritarian demagogues from Mussolini to Putin—enabling her to predict with uncanny accuracy the recent experience in America and Europe. In Strongmen, she lays bare the blueprint these leaders have followed over the past 100 years, and empowers us to recognize, resist, and prevent their disastrous rule in the future.
A celebrated foreign-policy expert and key impeachment witness reveals how declining opportunity has set America on the grim path of modern Russia – and draws on her personal journey out of poverty, and her unique perspectives as a historian and policy maker, to show how we can return hope to our forgotten places.
Fiona Hill grew up in a world of terminal decay. The last of the local mines had closed, businesses were shuttering, and despair was etched in the faces around her. Her father urged her to get out of their blighted corner of northern England: “There is nothing for you here, pet,” he said.
The coal-miner’s daughter managed to go further than he ever could have dreamed. She studied in Moscow and at Harvard, became an American citizen, and served three U.S. Presidents. But in the heartlands of both Russia and the United States, she saw troubling reflections of her hometown and similar populist impulses. By the time she offered her brave testimony in the first impeachment inquiry of President Trump, Hill knew that the desperation of forgotten people was driving American politics over the brink—and that we were running out of time to save ourselves from Russia’s fate. In this powerful, deeply personal account, she shares what she has learned, and shows why expanding opportunity is the only long-term hope for our democracy.
Despotic leaders do not rule alone; they rely on political allies, bureaucrats, and media figures to pave their way and support their rule. The authoritarian and nationalist parties that have arisen within modern democracies offer new paths to wealth or power for their adherents.
The Ongoing Threat of Trump's Followers / Trump and His Followers
by John W. Dean
and Bob Altemeyer
Publisher: Melville House
John Dean, of Watergate fame, joined with Bob Altemeter, an expert on authoritarianism, to look at the entirety of the Trump phenomenon, using psychological and social science studies, as well as polling analyses, to understand Donald Trump’s followers. How did America end up with a leader who acts so crudely and despotically, and counter to our democratic principles? Why do his followers stick with him, even when he acts against their interests?
Deb Lavoy explains how we fall for disinformation and how to train ourselves to avoid falling for it. (11 min.)
Deb Lavoy is on a mission to eradicate disinformation. As a former software engineer and digital marketer, she recognized the established social media marketing techniques that disinformation perpetrators appropriating to manipulate us into believing falsehoods. This talk provides tips on recognizing these tricks and how to counter them. Deb Lavoy is on a mission to eradicate disinformation. Her experience in software engineering and marketing, gave her a unique perspective on the rise of disinformation in 2016: the perpetrators were maliciously appropriating tried and tested digital marketing techniques. Deb founded the nonprofit Reality Team in response.
Reality Team drowns out the lies perpetrated over social media with simply stated truths, and arms people with tools and information to join the fight. The organization builds campaigns that change the ratio of truthful to untruthful information on social media feeds and provides tools and techniques to make it easier to tell the difference.
Robert Reich’s is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center. He served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration for which Time Magazine named him one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. He has written 18 books, including
Democrats Could Win the Midterms. Then What? | The Coffee Klatch with …
Trump’s tanking polls. Big money from AI, crypto, and AIPAC. Progressive Democrats laser focused on affordability. What do you think will have the biggest impact on the 2026 midterms? Grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us for a brand new Coffee Klatch. Our new film THE WORK IN PROGRESS is in 47 theaters across 27 states! https://theworkinprogressfilm.com/
Trump’s tanking polls.
Big money from AI, crypto, and AIPAC.
Progressive Democrats laser focused on affordability.
What do you think will have the biggest impact on the 2026 midterms?
Grab a cup, pull up …a chair, and join us for a brand new Coffee Klatch.
In today’s class we discuss how we have, in many ways, become two Americas — and what that means for the future of our country. Watch my full class here: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/wealth-and-poverty-class-3-globalization
In today’s class we discuss how we have, in many ways, become two Americas — and what that means for the future of our country.
If protesting didn’t work, would those in power be doing everything they can right now to vilify protestors and crack down on free speech? Activist and author Annie Leonard offers an important history lesson on why protest is so important — and why it’s needed now more than ever.
If protesting didn’t work, would those in power be doing everything they can right now to vilify protestors and crack down on free speech?
Activist and author Annie Leonard offers an …important history lesson on why protest is so important — and why it’s needed now more than ever.Show More
Now Playing
What the Gilded Age Warns Us About Monopolization
Just five giant conglomerates now control 90 percent of the media. The reason this is so dangerous might not be what you think.
Just five giant conglomerates now control 90 percent of the media.
The reason this is so dangerous might not be what you think.
Now Playing
Are We Really THAT Divided?
For our new film THE WORK IN PROGRESS, we spoke with people all across the country from different walks of life. What did we find out? Even when we ask ourselves the hard questions, we’re not as divided as some would lead us to believe. Find a screening here: https://theworkinprogressfilm.com/buy-tickets
For our new film THE WORK IN PROGRESS, we spoke with people all across the country from different walks of life.
What did we find out?
Even when we ask ourselves …the hard questions, we’re not as divided as some would lead us to believe.
Globalization has been an economic buzzword for decades, but what does it actually mean? Here’s what I tell my students. Want to join me in class? Now you can: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/wealth-and-poverty-class-3-globalization
Globalization has been an economic buzzword for decades, but what does it actually mean?
Dictators Do Not Want You to See This (ft. Annie Leonard)
My friend, activist, and author Annie Leonard explains why protesting is so important and why we must protect this powerful tool of dissent. “History shows that nonviolent protest is one of the most powerful tools ordinary people have ever wielded, helping advance social and environmental progress while serving as a cornerstone of democracy. This is why authoritarians, both at home and abroad, are vilifying protestors, suppressing free speech, and cracking down on political dissent. But if …
My friend, activist, and author Annie Leonard explains why protesting is so important and why we must protect this powerful tool of dissent.
“History shows that nonviolent protest is one of …the most powerful tools ordinary people have ever wielded, helping advance social and environmental progress while serving as a cornerstone of democracy. This is why authoritarians, both at home and abroad, are vilifying protestors, suppressing free speech, and cracking down on political dissent. But if enough of us are willing to defend the right to protest, we can build the power to get our country back on the path towards democracy.
Because if we lose the right to protest, we stand to lose so much more.”
-Annie Leonard
To get more involved, please consider joining your local Indivisible chapter. https://indivisible.org/
0:00 Abolitionist Benjamin Lay
1:06 Boston Tea Party
1:40 Women’s Suffrage
2:28 GM Flint Sit-Down Strike
3:41 Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
5:32 The 3.5% Rule
5:55 Martin Luther King Jr.
6:27 Earth Day
7:11 Section 504 disability rights movement
8:19 ACT UP – AIDS/HIV condom protest on Senator Jesse Helms’ house
9:34 Winter of Love – marriage equality
10:45 Kayaktavists confront Shell Oil in Seattle
11:48 Modern protests and legacy
13:16 The right to protest is under attackShow More
Now Playing
The Hidden Cost of Amazon Prime Day
Who’s really paying the price for those killer Amazon Prime Day deals?
Who’s really paying the price for those killer Amazon Prime Day deals?
Now Playing
How Did American Capitalism Get so Rotten?
We’ve seen that American capitalism is one of the harshest forms of capitalism on the planet. How did it get so bad?
We’ve seen that American capitalism is one of the harshest forms of capitalism on the planet. How did it get so bad?
Now Playing
What Trump Learned From Putin About Corruption
Tim Snyder is correct: If Democrats want to regain working people, they must disavow Big Money and tackle our corrupt system. There’s no way the party can speak for or represent the working class in America if it’s beholden to corporate interests.
Tim Snyder is correct: If Democrats want to regain working people, they must disavow Big Money and tackle our corrupt system.
There’s no way the party can speak for or represent …the working class in America if it’s beholden to corporate interests.Show More
Now Playing
Pete Hegseth Isn’t a Warrior. He’s Afraid.
The subjugation of women is part of a neo-fascist, warrior culture going all the way back to the 1930s. It was on full display during Pete Hegseth’s military speech this week.
The subjugation of women is part of a neo-fascist, warrior culture going all the way back to the 1930s.
It was on full display during Pete Hegseth’s military speech this week.
Now Playing
Is a Reckoning Coming? | The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich
Another dismal jobs report. Trump’s meeting with AI billionaires. And a crisis of accountability from the top down. We unpack it all on a brand new episode of the Coffee Klatch. Our new film THE WORK IN PROGRESS is in 47 theaters across 27 states! https://theworkinprogressfilm.com/
Another dismal jobs report.
Trump’s meeting with AI billionaires.
And a crisis of accountability from the top down.
We unpack it all on a brand new episode of the Coffee Klatch.
how America came together a century ago and how we can do it again
by Robert D. Putnam
and Shaylyn Romney Garrett.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
“An eminent political scientist’s brilliant synthesis of social and political trends over the past century that shows how we have gone from an individualistic society to a more communitarian society and then back again — and how we can use that experience to overcome once again the individualism that currently weakens our country”
We can’t go back to when things were “good.” But we can learn from when things ware “bad.” In the early 1900’s the Guilded Age of the robber barons, things were really bad for most US citizens; they feared for the end of democracy and the take-over by the oligarchs.
America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation
by David French
Summary
Reestablishing national unity will require the bravery to commit ourselves to embracing qualities of kindness, decency, and grace towards those we disagree with ideologically. David French calls on all of us to demonstrate true tolerance so we can heal the American divide. If we want to remain united, we must learn to stand together again.
A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control
by Steve Hassan
Publisher: Free Press
Mind control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our 45th president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient.
Dr. Steven Hassan’s presentation to Commonwealth Club of CA
Timothy Snyder provides a stark warning for the future of American democracy. Too easily we are ignoring the ways in which tyranny starts to eat away at democracy. As our political system faces new threats – not unlike those faced by democracies in the 20th century – we must look to the past to safeguard our future.
INTERVIEW: Listen to Professor Snyder discuss his book at Politics and Prose Bookstore
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
by Jonathan Haidt
Drawing on his twenty-five years of groundbreaking research on moral psychology, Jonathan Haidt shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from gut feelings. He shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and he shows why each side is actually right about many of its central concerns.
If you are not interested in reading the book, he has a TED talk that covers his main points. See:
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. We strive to achieve academic-level depth with magazine-level readability at the pace of news. We aim to improve the discourse on the law and policy of national security with a relentless focus on substantive issues that matter—in a fashion that is useful to policymakers and practitioners, but also accessible to anyone who wants to access it. Our areas of coverage range from national security law, threats to democracy, cybersecurity, executive powers, content moderation, domestic extremism, and foreign policy, among many others.
Lawfare Daily: The U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq, and the Future of the Iraq-U.S. Relationship
For today’s episode, Lawfare senior editor Scott R. Anderson sat down with: Dr. Omar Mohammed, a senior researcher with the Program on Extremism at the George Washington University and the …author of the blog Mosul Eye, which anonymously documented life under ISIS control in Iraq; Amb. Doug Silliman, President of the Arab Gulf States Institute and a former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq; and Victoria Taylor, Director of the Iraq Initiative and the Syria Project at the Atlantic Council and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran at the U.S. Department of State.
They discussed the recent withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq, what lessons can be drawn from the experience with the prior withdrawal in 2011, whether the current Iraqi government is up to preventing a resurgence of ISIS and pushing back against Iranian interests without a U.S. military presence, and what it all might mean for the future of the two countries, 23 years after the U.S.-led invasion and occupation.Show More
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Lawfare Daily: The U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq, and the Future of the Iraq-U.S. Relationship
For today’s episode, Lawfare senior editor Scott R. Anderson sat down with: Dr. Omar Mohammed, a senior researcher with the Program on Extremism at the George Washington University and the author of the blog Mosul Eye, which anonymously documented life under ISIS control in Iraq; Amb. Doug Silliman, President of the Arab Gulf States Institute and a former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq; and Victoria Taylor, Director of the Iraq Initiative and the Syria Project at the Atlantic Council and a former …
For today’s episode, Lawfare senior editor Scott R. Anderson sat down with: Dr. Omar Mohammed, a senior researcher with the Program on Extremism at the George Washington University and the …author of the blog Mosul Eye, which anonymously documented life under ISIS control in Iraq; Amb. Doug Silliman, President of the Arab Gulf States Institute and a former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq; and Victoria Taylor, Director of the Iraq Initiative and the Syria Project at the Atlantic Council and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran at the U.S. Department of State.
They discussed the recent withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq, what lessons can be drawn from the experience with the prior withdrawal in 2011, whether the current Iraqi government is up to preventing a resurgence of ISIS and pushing back against Iranian interests without a U.S. military presence, and what it all might mean for the future of the two countries, 23 years after the U.S.-led invasion and occupation.Show More
Now Playing
Lawfare Daily: Gulf Countries Hedging Amid Iran War Debacle
Lawfare Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee talks with former CIA analyst Shawn Howard and Ariane Tabatabai of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs about Shawn’s new Foreign Policy essay on how the Gulf states are coping with a war they didn’t start. They discuss why U.S. protection has made the Gulf states targets, how Tehran sees them, Iran’s strikes on the mediators, the possibility of a UAE side deal, and what a post-midterm return to U.S. bombing would mean for the region. Mentioned in …
Lawfare Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee talks with former CIA analyst Shawn Howard and Ariane Tabatabai of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs about Shawn’s new Foreign Policy essay on …how the Gulf states are coping with a war they didn’t start. They discuss why U.S. protection has made the Gulf states targets, how Tehran sees them, Iran’s strikes on the mediators, the possibility of a UAE side deal, and what a post-midterm return to U.S. bombing would mean for the region.
Mentioned in this episode:
Shawn A. Howard, “Gulf States Are Hedging and Suffering,” Foreign Policy
Julia Curlee and Ariane Tabatabai, “How Could Iran Happen? An Autopsy,” Foreign Policy
Lawfare Daily: ‘Crossing the Red Line’ in Gaza with Akbar Shahid Ahmed
On today’s episode, Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien sat down with Akbar Shahid Ahmed, the diplomatic correspondent at The Washington Sun to discuss Ahmed’s new book “Crossing the Red Line: Biden, His Advisors, and Israel’s War in Gaza.” They talked about the top officials in the administration who drove Biden’s Gaza policy, how the war quickly became a moral and strategic disaster, and what the heavy civilian death toll might augur for the future. https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324118190
On today’s episode, Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien sat down with Akbar Shahid Ahmed, the diplomatic correspondent at The Washington Sun to discuss Ahmed’s new book “Crossing the Red Line: …Biden, His Advisors, and Israel’s War in Gaza.” They talked about the top officials in the administration who drove Biden’s Gaza policy, how the war quickly became a moral and strategic disaster, and what the heavy civilian death toll might augur for the future.
Lawfare Daily: The Trump-Xi Summit and U.S.-China AI Competition
Martin Chorzempa is the Dennis Weatherstone Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a leading U.S. expert on China’s economy and tech sector. In this week’s episode, Peter and Martin unpack President Trump’s September 24 summit with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, talk about the balance of leverage in the geopolitical and economic relationship, and unpack the countries’ differing perspectives on—and approaches to—artificial intelligence. Martin also discusses some …
Martin Chorzempa is the Dennis Weatherstone Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a leading U.S. expert on China’s economy and tech sector. In this week’s episode, …Peter and Martin unpack President Trump’s September 24 summit with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, talk about the balance of leverage in the geopolitical and economic relationship, and unpack the countries’ differing perspectives on—and approaches to—artificial intelligence. Martin also discusses some of his current research into Chinese open weight AI models, which American companies are using with increasing frequency across a range of business applications.
Peter and Martin also discuss Martin’s recent paper arguing that China’s efforts to internationalize the RMB are stalling out.
This episode is part of the Security Economics podcast series, in which Peter Harrell and guests explore the intersection of economics and national security, how countries manage their economies to support national security, and how they deploy economic tools in support of geopolitical objectives.
To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at http://www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Show More
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Lawfare Daily: The Remaking of the Department of Defense
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett sits down with Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School and a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, to talk about the many ways in which the Trump administration has been remaking DoD. Some changes are announced loudly—the ban on transgender service members and the so-called “High-T” initiative—while others are taking place through quiet bureaucratic moves, like changes to personnel management. But all are …
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett sits down with Rachel VanLandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School and a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, to talk …about the many ways in which the Trump administration has been remaking DoD. Some changes are announced loudly—the ban on transgender service members and the so-called “High-T” initiative—while others are taking place through quiet bureaucratic moves, like changes to personnel management. But all are combining to reshape the U.S. armed forces according to a new vision. They talk about how these changes are being implemented, what’s rhetoric and what’s reality, and what impact it’s all having on the Department and the troops themselves.
Lawfare Daily: Did Washington Walk Into Beijing’s Trap? Xi’s State Visit with Jonathan Czin
Lawfare Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee sits down with Jonathan Czin, the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, to unpack Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, his first in 11 years. The two former CIA and National Security Council colleagues discuss what each side walked away with, including a two-month extension of the trade truce and potential channels on artificial intelligence and military …
Lawfare Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee sits down with Jonathan Czin, the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at …the Brookings Institution, to unpack Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, his first in 11 years.
The two former CIA and National Security Council colleagues discuss what each side walked away with, including a two-month extension of the trade truce and potential channels on artificial intelligence and military crisis communications. They look at the implications for Taiwan, the war in Iran, and how the loss of China expertise and policy staff showed in the summit’s preparation and readouts.
Lawfare Daily: The Policy Implications of the AI Vibe Shift
Lawfare Senior Editor Kevin Frazier is joined by Scaling Laws co-host Assemblyman Alex Bores of New York, AVERI Director of U.S. Policy Nat Purser, and Institute of Law and AI Managing Director of U.S. Law Mackenzie Arnold to discuss recent developments in the AI risk environment, what led us here, and what comes next for domestic and AI foreign policy. They also touch on other major pieces of AI news including President Trump’s announcement of an “AI Force” and an AI Czar, projections for …
Lawfare Senior Editor Kevin Frazier is joined by Scaling Laws co-host Assemblyman Alex Bores of New York, AVERI Director of U.S. Policy Nat Purser, and Institute of Law and AI …Managing Director of U.S. Law Mackenzie Arnold to discuss recent developments in the AI risk environment, what led us here, and what comes next for domestic and AI foreign policy. They also touch on other major pieces of AI news including President Trump’s announcement of an “AI Force” and an AI Czar, projections for the September 24 U.S.-China Summit, and other recent developments.
If you want to catch up on some of the major incidents driving the vibe shift, check out the podcast, “Lawfare Daily: Peter Salib on the Legal and Policy Ramifications of the OpenAI-Hugging Face Postmortems.”
Lawfare Daily: Iran War Update—and How We Got Here
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett is joined by Ariane Tabatabai and Julia Curlee. Ari is Vice President of Research, Security and Defense at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a Contributing Editor at Lawfare, and Julia Curlee is a Public Service Fellow at Lawfare. They talk about the war in Iran: where things stand today, and how we got here—including how the gutting of the national security apparatus in Washington affected the way the war is being waged by Tehran. …
On today’s podcast, Executive Editor Natalie Orpett is joined by Ariane Tabatabai and Julia Curlee. Ari is Vice President of Research, Security and Defense at the Chicago Council on Global …Affairs and a Contributing Editor at Lawfare, and Julia Curlee is a Public Service Fellow at Lawfare. They talk about the war in Iran: where things stand today, and how we got here—including how the gutting of the national security apparatus in Washington affected the way the war is being waged by Tehran.
Lawfare Daily: The Houthi War Against Saudi Arabia
For today’s episode, Lawfare Foreign Policy Editor Daniel Byman interviews Gregory Johnsen, non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf State Institute, to discuss the current war in Yemen. The two discuss the latest developments in the war, the reasons for the Houthis’ successes so far, the dilemmas facing Saudi Arabia, and why the situation has gone from bad to worse. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by …
For today’s episode, Lawfare Foreign Policy Editor Daniel Byman interviews Gregory Johnsen, non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf State Institute, to discuss the current war in Yemen.
The two discuss …the latest developments in the war, the reasons for the Houthis’ successes so far, the dilemmas facing Saudi Arabia, and why the situation has gone from bad to worse.
Lawfare Daily: Emily Benson on What Economic Security Is, and How We Should Think About It
Emily Benson is the Head of Strategy at Minerva Technology Futures, a strategic consulting firm that advises companies on how geopolitics impacts their business. She has also spent time at CSIS and at the Department of Commerce, and has spent more time thinking about economic statecraft than most of us. Emily joins Lawfare Contributing Editor and host of the Security Economics podcast Peter Harrell to discuss what economic security actually is and how we should think about it. She recently …
Emily Benson is the Head of Strategy at Minerva Technology Futures, a strategic consulting firm that advises companies on how geopolitics impacts their business. She has also spent time at …CSIS and at the Department of Commerce, and has spent more time thinking about economic statecraft than most of us.
Emily joins Lawfare Contributing Editor and host of the Security Economics podcast Peter Harrell to discuss what economic security actually is and how we should think about it. She recently moved to Europe, and that gives her an interesting perspective on the issue, including whether Europe needs to diversify away from U.S. technology because of U.S.-related economic security risks. They also discuss China and how the U.S. and China are wielding economic security tools against each other.
This episode is part of the Security Economics podcast series, in which Peter Harrell and guests explore the intersection of economics and national security, how countries manage their economies to support national security, and how they deploy economic tools in support of geopolitical objectives.
Lawfare Daily: Appeals Concerning Alien Enemies Act Removals in Apparent Defiance of a Court Order
Lee Gelernt, the chief ACLU litigator on Alien Enemies Act cases, speaks to Senior Editor Roger Parloff about two upcoming DC Circuit arguments he’ll be making relating to the March 15, 2025, removals of 137 Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act. In one, the en banc court will grapple with whether to permit Judge James Boasberg to conduct fact-finding on whether to seek contempt charges against high-level Trump administration officials, including current Attorney General Todd Blanche and …
Lee Gelernt, the chief ACLU litigator on Alien Enemies Act cases, speaks to Senior Editor Roger Parloff about two upcoming DC Circuit arguments he’ll be making relating to the March …15, 2025, removals of 137 Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act.
In one, the en banc court will grapple with whether to permit Judge James Boasberg to conduct fact-finding on whether to seek contempt charges against high-level Trump administration officials, including current Attorney General Todd Blanche and current U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Emil Bove.
Recommended by: Bob B. – “Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, provides services and training for those wishing to transform conflict into collaboration.”
In a country marred by deep conflict, city, county, and state officials face mounting pressure to engage diverse stakeholders in resolving contentious and complex public policy issues. The Convergence Learning Lab’s training and consultation services empower leaders with the necessary skills to bridge these divides resulting in more productive public meetings, more constructive community engagement, and, ultimately, better outcomes for constituents.
Lab services are built on our unique, evidence-based collaborative problem-solving methodology which has been used to successfully address seemingly intractable political, social, organizational, and community-based issues.
Our process has proven consistently successful at producing the kinds of results that drive impact.
Convergence’s success offers a beacon of hope for the majorities of Americans frustrated by divisiveness that change is not only possible, but that we have the tools and the knowledge to bridge even the starkest divides with consistency. In addition, our success highlights the rich set of tools, practices, and resources that others can use to achieve similar successes.
We select issues that are ripe and amenable for Convergence and stakeholder-participants to collaboratively “unstick,” and frame a discussion-onramp to the issue that is both crucial and disarming.
We convene diverse tables of participant leaders and doers, many of whom oppose each other so stridently they never thought they could talk to one another.
We facilitate participants to build trust, find common ground. Participants abide by a set of ground rules including honoring all points of view, respecting the confidentiality of the conversation, and listening carefully when others speak.
We generate consensus solutions collaboratively among dialogue participants through establishing guiding principles that create a framework for the policy discussions to come. Once stakeholders are aligned on a bigger vision, they are ready to work together to produce new ideas and solutions.
We deliver societal impact and on-the-ground implementation of the solutions. By design, a Convergence project strives to engage stakeholders to take action on their ideas after the dialogue stage is completed, or in some instances, even while the dialogue is going on. Convergence itself does not formally endorse stakeholders’ proposals – it remains policy neutral – but often plays a stewarding role to maximize the impact stakeholders can achieve.
George Lakoff is the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, where he taught from 1972 to 2016.
Recommended by: Bob B. – “Books by George Lakoff (e.g., Moral Politics, Metaphors We Live By, Don’t Think of an Elephant, etc.), explain how framing of political messages can be improved by progressives, based on cognitive science.”
Ten years after writing the definitive, international bestselling book on political debate and messaging, George Lakoff returns with new strategies about how to frame today’s essential issues. Called the “father of framing” by The New York Times, Lakoff explains how framing is about ideas—ideas that come before policy, ideas that make sense of facts, ideas that are proactive not reactive, positive not negative, ideas that need to be communicated out loud every day in public. The ALL NEW Don’t Think of an Elephant! picks up where the original book left off—delving deeper into how framing works, how framing has evolved in the past decade, how to speak to people who harbor elements of both progressive and conservative worldviews, how to counter propaganda and slogans, and more. In this updated and expanded edition, Lakoff, urges progressives to go beyond the typical laundry list of facts, policies, and programs and present a clear moral vision to the country—one that is traditionally American and can become a guidepost for developing compassionate, effective policy that upholds citizens’ well-being and freedom.
The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic
Voters cast their ballots for what they believe is right, for the things that make moral sense. Yet Democrats have too often failed to use language linking their moral values with their policies. The Little Blue Book demonstrates how to make that connection clearly and forcefully, with hands-on advice for discussing the most pressing issues of our time: the economy, health care, women’s issues, energy and environmental policy, education, food policy, and more.
In this classic text, the first full-scale application of cognitive science to politics, George Lakoff analyzes the unconscious and rhetorical worldviews of liberals and conservatives, discovering radically different but remarkably consistent conceptions of morality on both the left and right. For this new edition, Lakoff adds a preface and an afterword extending his observations to major ideological conflicts since the book’s original publication, from the impeachment of Bill Clinton to the 2000 presidential election and its aftermath.
In Thinking Points, George Lakoff and the Rockridge Institute not only offer a deep understanding of the progressive worldview, but also reveal the nature of the so-called political center. They show why the most effective way to appeal to those who identify themselves as moderates is to remain true to core progressive values. Download “Thinking Points” in its entirety here.
“Freedom” is one of the most contested words in American political discourse. In Whose Freedom? The Battle Over America’s Most Important Idea, George Lakoff describes how the country is divided by two dramatically different worldviews, cognitive frames that determine how we think about economic policy, religion, science, foreign affairs – and freedom.
Why You Can’t Understand 21st-Century American Politics with an 18th-Century Brain
In his new book, Lakoff spells out what cognitive science has discovered about reason, and reveals that human reason is far more interesting than we thought it was. Reason is physical, mostly unconscious, metaphorical, emotion-laden, and tied to empathy-and there are biological explanations behind our moral and political thought processes. His call for a New Enlightenment is a bold and striking challenge to the cherished beliefs not only of philosophers, but of pundits, pollsters, and political leaders. The Political Mind is a passionate, erudite, and groundbreaking book that will appeal to anyone interested in how the mind works and how we function socially and politically.
The FrameLab Book Club is launching in 2025! First on the list: “The Political Mind: A Cognitive Scientist’s Guide to Your Brain and Its Politics” by Dr. George Lakoff. Nearly 400 readers have signed up to participate! This online book club will feature personal insights from Dr. Lakoff, as well as an ongoing Q&A with […]
It happened. Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris. A twice-impeached convicted felon who has promised to act as a dictator will return to the White House in 2025. There’s no way to sugarcoat this nightmare scenario. The consequences of this election will unfold for decades to come. They will likely prove destructive to the very fabric […]
To stay abreast of Dr. George Lakoff’s latest work, please subscribe to the FrameLab Newsletter (it’s totally free!). In the current essay, “Kamala Harris and the Strategy of Joy,” Dr. Lakoff talks about the important role of emotion in political campaigns: “Joy is powerful because it plays on your emotions. And your emotions are everything […]
From George Lakoff and Gil Duran at the FrameLab Newsletter: Moderate and centrist are political weasel words. Their definitions vary widely because there is no such thing as a moderate or centrist ideology. There is no united “middle” or “center” in politics, no single set of ideas on which all moderates or centrists agree. Some […]
Big news: FrameLab just hit a major milestone — 10,000 total subscribers! Thank you so much for reading. If you can afford it, please consider becoming one of our paid subscribers. Because your support makes a big difference. — George and Gil Part 3 in the Moral Warfare 101 series: Ninety-eight percent. That’s an estimate of how much […]
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'I really struggle with calling them 'officers' because they have less training than my nail tech'
Christina Greer reacts to the ICE shooting of a man with his child in his car in New York City. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/ #ICE …
Christina Greer reacts to the ICE shooting of a man with his child in his car in New York City.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
‘We’re sick of ICE’: Trump’s immigration crackdown under scrutiny again after shooting in NYC
An ICE-involved shooting in New York City once again raises questions about Donald Trump’s brutal immigration crackdown and the agency he keeps shielding from accountability. Brad Lander and Christina Greer join The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi to discuss the fallout from the shooting. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to destination for …
An ICE-involved shooting in New York City once again raises questions about Donald Trump’s brutal immigration crackdown and the agency he keeps shielding from accountability. Brad Lander and Christina Greer …join The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi to discuss the fallout from the shooting.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
'It doesn't have to obey any laws': The terrifying true story behind 'The Social Reckoning'
The film dramatizes reporting that revealed the societal harm Facebook enabled. Roger McNamee, an executive producer on the film and former advisor to Mark Zuckerberg, says it reveals how tech leaders are “aligned with political power in the scariest possible way.” MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and …
The film dramatizes reporting that revealed the societal harm Facebook enabled. Roger McNamee, an executive producer on the film and former advisor to Mark Zuckerberg, says it reveals how tech …leaders are “aligned with political power in the scariest possible way.”
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
#thesocialreckoning #techindustry #markzuckerbergShow More
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Trump backstabs allies, breaks sanctions for sudden Russian diesel deal
Jen Psaki reports on Donald Trump giving Russian President Vladimir Putin another big boost by dropping sanctions to allow Russia to move more diesel fuel to market and suggested the U.S. would be among the buyers. Trump even thanked Putin even though the diesel release is not expected to be enough to change global diesel prices, but will yield billions for Russia to spend on its war against ostensible U.S. ally, Ukraine. Brett McGurk, former White House coordinator for the Middle East, …
Jen Psaki reports on Donald Trump giving Russian President Vladimir Putin another big boost by dropping sanctions to allow Russia to move more diesel fuel to market and suggested the …U.S. would be among the buyers. Trump even thanked Putin even though the diesel release is not expected to be enough to change global diesel prices, but will yield billions for Russia to spend on its war against ostensible U.S. ally, Ukraine. Brett McGurk, former White House coordinator for the Middle East, joins to discuss.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
Mimi Rocah joins MS NOW’s Jonathan Capehart to discuss her thoughts on what we know about an ICE agent shooting a man in the neck while his five-year-old son was in the car and how “we should be demanding real investigations… the federal government cannot absolve itself of its responsibility to do that.” MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the …
Mimi Rocah joins MS NOW’s Jonathan Capehart to discuss her thoughts on what we know about an ICE agent shooting a man in the neck while his five-year-old son was …in the car and how “we should be demanding real investigations… the federal government cannot absolve itself of its responsibility to do that.”
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
‘They follow his enemies list’: House Dem rips Trump’s Justice Department
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) joins MS NOW’s Jonathan Capehart to discuss allegations of corruptions involving Donald Trump and his allies, the Justice Department’s pursuit of Trump’s perceived enemies, and the pressure facing witnesses who challenge Trump. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international …
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) joins MS NOW’s Jonathan Capehart to discuss allegations of corruptions involving Donald Trump and his allies, the Justice Department’s pursuit of Trump’s perceived enemies, and the …pressure facing witnesses who challenge Trump.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
Analysis of ICE shooting scene raises questions about official story
Jen Psaki looks at newly obtained video of an ICE shooting in New York City and compares the information we can see so far to the official explanation of the shooting from the Department of Homeland Security. John Sandweg, former acting director of ICE under President Barack Obama joins to discuss. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to …
Jen Psaki looks at newly obtained video of an ICE shooting in New York City and compares the information we can see so far to the official explanation of the …shooting from the Department of Homeland Security. John Sandweg, former acting director of ICE under President Barack Obama joins to discuss.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
GOP candidates to Trump: Please stay away from our states
As Trump hits the campaign trail, some Republicans are keeping their distance… MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/ #GOP #Trump #midterms
As Trump hits the campaign trail, some Republicans are keeping their distance…
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
WHAT TO KNOW: Protests erupt after man shot by ICE agents with 5-year-old in car
MS NOW investigative reporter Marc Santia explains what you need to know after ICE agents shot and wounded a man, Oscar Bergal, in New York while arresting him. The shooting occurred while Bergal’s 5-year-old son was in the car and took place in a largely residential area, sparking protests and a wave of criticism from local authorities. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters Bergal was the target of an ongoing investigation and that he had evaded arrest in September. MS NOW: My …
MS NOW investigative reporter Marc Santia explains what you need to know after ICE agents shot and wounded a man, Oscar Bergal, in New York while arresting him. The shooting …occurred while Bergal’s 5-year-old son was in the car and took place in a largely residential area, sparking protests and a wave of criticism from local authorities.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters Bergal was the target of an ongoing investigation and that he had evaded arrest in September.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
REACTION INCOMING – Michael on Vance: 'What's a ticklehead? I give you Exhibit A'
Republicans have been trying to make “socialism” the boogeyman of this election cycle, but there is one problem—the vice president doesn’t seem to know what the word means. The Weeknight hosts react. MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. » Subscribe to MS NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@msnow » Become an MS NOW Member! Join us here http://ms.now/membership MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more …
Republicans have been trying to make “socialism” the boogeyman of this election cycle, but there is one problem—the vice president doesn’t seem to know what the word means. The Weeknight …hosts react.
MS NOW: My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
MS NOW is the go-to destination for domestic and international breaking news, and best-in-class opinion journalism. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.ms.now/
The Story of the Village of Le Chambon and How Goodness Happened There
By: Philip P. Hallie
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Recommended by: Linda H.
“The story of Le Chambon, a Huguenot village in France that saved Jews during WWII, has lived in my heart for years. Imagine my shock and joy to find a You Tube featuring the village as I scrolled through Heather Cox Richardosn’s second traunch of 250 for 250.”
During the most terrible years of World War II, when inhumanity and political insanity held most of the world in their grip and the Nazi domination of Europe seemed irrevocable and unchallenged, a miraculous event took place in a small Protestant town in southern France called Le Chambon. There, quietly, peacefully, and in full view of the Vichy government and a nearby division of the Nazi SS, Le Chambon’s villagers and their clergy organized to save thousands of Jewish children and adults from certain death.
