Lawfare
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Straight-shooting information and analysis at the intersection of national security, law, and policy.
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Lawfare
@lawfaremedia.org
· Dec 11
Deportation Inc. produced with @situ-research.bsky.social, is a new video series that dives into how immigration enforcement has expanded into a powerful, profit-driven ecosystem.
Watch the first two videos–an introduction and an episode focused on detention–now: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Watch the first two videos–an introduction and an episode focused on detention–now: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Since the November shooting of 2 National Guard members by an Afghan immigrant, immigration enforcement actions targeting Afghan nationals have intensified. Camille Mackler explains why treating nationality as a proxy for threats fails as an effective national security policy.
The Strategic Cost of Collective Punishment
How nationality-based enforcement after the National Guard shooting weakens U.S. security.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 19, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Since the November shooting of 2 National Guard members by an Afghan immigrant, immigration enforcement actions targeting Afghan nationals have intensified. Camille Mackler explains why treating nationality as a proxy for threats fails as an effective national security policy.
On Lawfare Daily, @nkorpett.bsky.social talked with John Albanese about the flood of habeas petitions being filed in Minnesota, the detention authorities the government is claiming, how the legal community is coming together to address the needs of people in detention, and more. youtu.be/1IcHn8ri_dc
February 19, 2026 at 2:36 PM
On Lawfare Daily, @nkorpett.bsky.social talked with John Albanese about the flood of habeas petitions being filed in Minnesota, the detention authorities the government is claiming, how the legal community is coming together to address the needs of people in detention, and more. youtu.be/1IcHn8ri_dc
In many conflicts, humanitarian aid is doubling as cash machines for warlords, militias, and authoritarian regimes.
Netta Barak-Corren and Jonathan Boxman offer solutions and warn about the consequences if the United States and other top donor states continue to ignore the problem.
Netta Barak-Corren and Jonathan Boxman offer solutions and warn about the consequences if the United States and other top donor states continue to ignore the problem.
Humanitarian Aid Is Prolonging War—Can We Stop It?
Warlords turn aid into a “cash machine.” To stop fueling wars, donors must enforce strict benchmarks and halt money when it’s stolen.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 18, 2026 at 6:08 PM
In many conflicts, humanitarian aid is doubling as cash machines for warlords, militias, and authoritarian regimes.
Netta Barak-Corren and Jonathan Boxman offer solutions and warn about the consequences if the United States and other top donor states continue to ignore the problem.
Netta Barak-Corren and Jonathan Boxman offer solutions and warn about the consequences if the United States and other top donor states continue to ignore the problem.
While international authorities have begun investigations of X’s AI system, Grok, after it generated nonconsensual, sexualized images, the U.S. government has continued to integrate the agent into certain operations. @jbbranch.bsky.social explores how this decision may impact U.S. AI governance.
The Trump Administration’s Grok Dilemma
Allies are cracking down on X and its AI Grok over illegal content, while Washington largely stands aside.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 18, 2026 at 3:34 PM
While international authorities have begun investigations of X’s AI system, Grok, after it generated nonconsensual, sexualized images, the U.S. government has continued to integrate the agent into certain operations. @jbbranch.bsky.social explores how this decision may impact U.S. AI governance.
"American policy has changed. It is now wholly transactional and roots in no principles whatsoever."
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org translates Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference into plain simple English.
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org translates Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference into plain simple English.
The Situation: Translating Rubio
The secretary of state’s Munich speech in plain simple English
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 18, 2026 at 2:58 PM
"American policy has changed. It is now wholly transactional and roots in no principles whatsoever."
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org translates Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference into plain simple English.
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org translates Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference into plain simple English.
On Lawfare Daily, Jonathan Cedarbaum sat down with @jshermcyber.bsky.social to discuss his new book, "Navigating Technology and National Security," on the U.S. regulatory programs designed to guard against national security risks arising from transactions involving technology and data.
February 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM
On Lawfare Daily, Jonathan Cedarbaum sat down with @jshermcyber.bsky.social to discuss his new book, "Navigating Technology and National Security," on the U.S. regulatory programs designed to guard against national security risks arising from transactions involving technology and data.
Lawfare's Litigation Tracker follows legal challenges to the Trump administration’s executive actions that deal with national security issues, as well as cases on behalf of the Trump administration to enforce them.
View it here: www.lawfaremedia.org/trumptracker
View it here: www.lawfaremedia.org/trumptracker
February 17, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Lawfare's Litigation Tracker follows legal challenges to the Trump administration’s executive actions that deal with national security issues, as well as cases on behalf of the Trump administration to enforce them.
View it here: www.lawfaremedia.org/trumptracker
View it here: www.lawfaremedia.org/trumptracker
Reposted by Lawfare
If you've been following the Mohsen Mahdawi case, check out this @lawfaremedia.org article about the history of the foreign policy provision added to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1990 & its current use by the Trump admin. to attempt to ideologically deport foreign noncitizens. 🗃️⬇️
@juliarosekraut.bsky.social and @tylermcbrien.com explain the history and evolution of ideological exclusion and deportation as a tool of political repression in the United States. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
The Trump Admin’s Embrace of Ideological Exclusion and Deportation
The targets, rhetoric, and legal justifications of ideological exclusion and deportation may change over time, but the motivation—suppressing dissent—remains the same.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 9:15 PM
If you've been following the Mohsen Mahdawi case, check out this @lawfaremedia.org article about the history of the foreign policy provision added to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1990 & its current use by the Trump admin. to attempt to ideologically deport foreign noncitizens. 🗃️⬇️
Reposted by Lawfare
Over at Lawfare, I examine the peculiar constitutional theory undergirding OPM's final rule on Schedule Policy/Career
OPM recently published its final rule implementing Schedule Policy/Career, which would convert at least 50,000 federal employees to at-will employment status.
@nicholasbednar.bsky.social explores the constitutional theory being asserted by this rule, which would upend 150 years of civil service law.
@nicholasbednar.bsky.social explores the constitutional theory being asserted by this rule, which would upend 150 years of civil service law.
The Constitutionality of the Civil Service
The Office of Personnel Management’s latest rule calls into question the constitutionality of tenure protections for federal employees.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Over at Lawfare, I examine the peculiar constitutional theory undergirding OPM's final rule on Schedule Policy/Career
Every month Lawfare material supporters are able to attend a webinar to ask our contributors their most pressing questions.
Become a supporter today to attend this month's webinar featuring @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @sranderson.bsky.social and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social. lawfare.substack.com
Become a supporter today to attend this month's webinar featuring @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @sranderson.bsky.social and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social. lawfare.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Every month Lawfare material supporters are able to attend a webinar to ask our contributors their most pressing questions.
Become a supporter today to attend this month's webinar featuring @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @sranderson.bsky.social and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social. lawfare.substack.com
Become a supporter today to attend this month's webinar featuring @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @sranderson.bsky.social and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social. lawfare.substack.com
Over the past five years, the number of attacks on health facilities and personnel in armed conflict has tripled. Elevating the legal duty of proportionality can reduce the severity and number of attacks on hospitals that result in unnecessary harms, writes Leonard Rubenstein.
Reinvigorating Proportionality to Protect Hospitals During War
Elevating the legal duty of proportionality can reduce the severity of attacks on hospitals in war or avoid them altogether.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Over the past five years, the number of attacks on health facilities and personnel in armed conflict has tripled. Elevating the legal duty of proportionality can reduce the severity and number of attacks on hospitals that result in unnecessary harms, writes Leonard Rubenstein.
Join Lawfare, @georgetownprivacy.bsky.social, and the
@gtowntechlaw.bsky.social an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
🗓️Friday, March 6
🕗8:30am - 2pm
🔗 www.lawfaremedia.org/ecpaevent
@gtowntechlaw.bsky.social an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
🗓️Friday, March 6
🕗8:30am - 2pm
🔗 www.lawfaremedia.org/ecpaevent
Installing Updates to ECPA
Join us on Friday, March 6, from 8:30am to 2:00pm for a one-day widely attended gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). Enacted four decades ago, EC...
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Join Lawfare, @georgetownprivacy.bsky.social, and the
@gtowntechlaw.bsky.social an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
🗓️Friday, March 6
🕗8:30am - 2pm
🔗 www.lawfaremedia.org/ecpaevent
@gtowntechlaw.bsky.social an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
🗓️Friday, March 6
🕗8:30am - 2pm
🔗 www.lawfaremedia.org/ecpaevent
OPM recently published its final rule implementing Schedule Policy/Career, which would convert at least 50,000 federal employees to at-will employment status.
@nicholasbednar.bsky.social explores the constitutional theory being asserted by this rule, which would upend 150 years of civil service law.
@nicholasbednar.bsky.social explores the constitutional theory being asserted by this rule, which would upend 150 years of civil service law.
The Constitutionality of the Civil Service
The Office of Personnel Management’s latest rule calls into question the constitutionality of tenure protections for federal employees.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 3:51 PM
OPM recently published its final rule implementing Schedule Policy/Career, which would convert at least 50,000 federal employees to at-will employment status.
@nicholasbednar.bsky.social explores the constitutional theory being asserted by this rule, which would upend 150 years of civil service law.
@nicholasbednar.bsky.social explores the constitutional theory being asserted by this rule, which would upend 150 years of civil service law.
On Lawfare Daily, Eric Ciaramella and Francis Farrell joined @lapatina.bsky.social to discuss the first year of the Trump presidency through the lens of the war Ukraine and whether the ongoing peace talks have any chance of succeeding. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lawf...
February 17, 2026 at 2:56 PM
On Lawfare Daily, Eric Ciaramella and Francis Farrell joined @lapatina.bsky.social to discuss the first year of the Trump presidency through the lens of the war Ukraine and whether the ongoing peace talks have any chance of succeeding. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lawf...
On today's Lawfare Daily @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @annabower.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, Troy Edwards, and Peyton Baker discussed courts finding various U.S. attorneys to be unlawfully appointed, the arraignment of Don Lemon in Minnesota, and more.
February 16, 2026 at 5:20 PM
On today's Lawfare Daily @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @annabower.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, Troy Edwards, and Peyton Baker discussed courts finding various U.S. attorneys to be unlawfully appointed, the arraignment of Don Lemon in Minnesota, and more.
On Friday, Don Lemon and his codefendants were arraigned in Minnesota. Peyton Baker reports from the hearing, which foreshadowed disputes over complex-case designation, grand jury disclosure, and the government’s handling of digital evidence.
Cities Church Arraignment Signals Early Battles Over FACE Act and § 241
The hearing for Don Lemon and codefendants foreshadowed disputes over complex-case designation, grand jury disclosure, and the government’s handling of digital evidence.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 16, 2026 at 3:04 PM
On Friday, Don Lemon and his codefendants were arraigned in Minnesota. Peyton Baker reports from the hearing, which foreshadowed disputes over complex-case designation, grand jury disclosure, and the government’s handling of digital evidence.
"[U]nless it is paired with credible continuity and jurisdictional assurances, along with a complementary resilience strategy, many will treat an American-stack package as a useful floor while continuing to build options that reduce U.S. dependence," writes @pablochavez.bsky.social.
The Sovereignty Gap in U.S. AI Statecraft
Washington is offering partners AI sovereignty on its terms, even as many countries work to reduce dependence on the United States.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 16, 2026 at 2:34 PM
"[U]nless it is paired with credible continuity and jurisdictional assurances, along with a complementary resilience strategy, many will treat an American-stack package as a useful floor while continuing to build options that reduce U.S. dependence," writes @pablochavez.bsky.social.
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Support the impactful and trustworthy coverage of Lawfare
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February 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Lawfare is dedicated to high quality analysis of hard national security choices–never behind a paywall.
This is only possible because of the support of our readers.
Donate today:
This is only possible because of the support of our readers.
Donate today:
Try to solve Lawfare’s latest national security-related crossword puzzle!
The puzzle includes a bonus answer at question 63 down. We will have a lottery drawing of the correct responders, and one lucky submitter will win some Lawfare swag!
The puzzle includes a bonus answer at question 63 down. We will have a lottery drawing of the correct responders, and one lucky submitter will win some Lawfare swag!
Inside Job: A National Security Crossword Puzzle, Feb. 9, 2026
Try to solve Lawfare’s latest national security-related crossword puzzle.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 15, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Try to solve Lawfare’s latest national security-related crossword puzzle!
The puzzle includes a bonus answer at question 63 down. We will have a lottery drawing of the correct responders, and one lucky submitter will win some Lawfare swag!
The puzzle includes a bonus answer at question 63 down. We will have a lottery drawing of the correct responders, and one lucky submitter will win some Lawfare swag!
After a whirlwind year, ICE and CBP have a lot more resources than at the dawn of the administration—but also a lot more opposition. How will it all shake out?
@ericcolumbus.bsky.social sat down with @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social to discuss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-zo...
@ericcolumbus.bsky.social sat down with @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social to discuss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-zo...
February 15, 2026 at 5:02 PM
After a whirlwind year, ICE and CBP have a lot more resources than at the dawn of the administration—but also a lot more opposition. How will it all shake out?
@ericcolumbus.bsky.social sat down with @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social to discuss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-zo...
@ericcolumbus.bsky.social sat down with @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social to discuss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-zo...
Any new government in Venezuela will have to address the country’s broken military, fragmented politics, and an oil sector vulnerable to corruption, writes @garciaponce.bsky.social.
What Will It Take to Rebuild the Government in Post-Maduro Venezuela?
Any new government will have to address the country’s broken military, fragmented politics, and an oil sector vulnerable to corruption.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Any new government in Venezuela will have to address the country’s broken military, fragmented politics, and an oil sector vulnerable to corruption, writes @garciaponce.bsky.social.
Come Work With Lawfare—As Our New Development Manager!
The development manager will support the planning, coordination, execution, and development of donor relationships.
Apply today:
The development manager will support the planning, coordination, execution, and development of donor relationships.
Apply today:
Come Work With Us—As Our New Development Manager!
The Lawfare Institute—publisher of information and insight at the intersection of national security, law, and policy—seeks a motivated full-time development manager based in Washington, D.C.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 15, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Come Work With Lawfare—As Our New Development Manager!
The development manager will support the planning, coordination, execution, and development of donor relationships.
Apply today:
The development manager will support the planning, coordination, execution, and development of donor relationships.
Apply today:
Last week, @tylermcbrien.com sat down with @pwbeck.bsky.social and @seamushughes.bsky.social to discuss what happens when “dockets die in darkness" in ‘news deserts,’ that are devoid of even a single newspaper, let alone a reporter dedicated to its federal court.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZd...
February 14, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Last week, @tylermcbrien.com sat down with @pwbeck.bsky.social and @seamushughes.bsky.social to discuss what happens when “dockets die in darkness" in ‘news deserts,’ that are devoid of even a single newspaper, let alone a reporter dedicated to its federal court.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZd...
"It is a stark example of how, during Trump’s second term, the Department of Justice has eroded long-standing norms, weaponized prosecutorial power, and turned the courtroom into a stage for political theater," write @annabower.bsky.social, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, and Troy Edwards.
'When Life Gives You Lemons': A Minnesota Case Study in How the Trump Administration Warps Justice
The bizarre saga that unfolded in the weeks leading up to Don Lemon’s indictment illustrates just how far the Justice Department has fallen.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
"It is a stark example of how, during Trump’s second term, the Department of Justice has eroded long-standing norms, weaponized prosecutorial power, and turned the courtroom into a stage for political theater," write @annabower.bsky.social, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, and Troy Edwards.
ICYMI: Watch @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, @annabower.bsky.social, Troy Edwards, and Peyton Baker to discuss discussed the arraignment of Don Lemon, affidavits released for the FBI search of the Fulton County election office, and more.
The Trials of the Trump Administration, Feb. 13
youtube.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
ICYMI: Watch @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, @annabower.bsky.social, Troy Edwards, and Peyton Baker to discuss discussed the arraignment of Don Lemon, affidavits released for the FBI search of the Fulton County election office, and more.