The Just Security Podcast

Joshua Geltzer, a partner at Wilmer Hale and former Deputy Assistant to President Biden, discusses the unfolding AI strategy of the Trump administration. He delves into recent White House policies that reshape federal AI use, particularly under the ambitious $500 billion Stargate project aimed at bolstering AI infrastructure. Geltzer contrasts the current approach with the Biden-era, emphasizing the significance of innovation, accountability, and the need for an AI-ready workforce amid evolving regulations and national security concerns.

The North African country of Sudan marks two years of war this week. The fighting between rival military factions – the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – has killed an estimated 150,000 people and forced more than 15 million people from their homes. Almost 25 million people face acute hunger, according to United Nations agencies. It’s the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. How did Sudan get to this point? What’s the current state of play in Sudan, and where does the country -- and the international community trying to support it -- go from here? Joining the show to answer some of these crucial questions two years into the war in Sudan is Quscondy Abdulshafi. He is a Senior Regional Advisor at Freedom House and has more than a decade of experience working on governance, democracy, and human rights in Africa and the United States.  Show Notes:Quscondy Abdulshafi's article for Just Security, "Two Years of War in Sudan: From Revolution to Ruin and the Fight to Rise Again"Just Security Podcast episode “Assessing the Origins, Dynamics, and Future of Conflict in Sudan” with Executive Editor Matiangai Sirleaf, and three experts, Laura Nyantung Beny, Nisrin Elamin, Hamid Khalafallah, on Oct. 11, 2024.  Just Security Sudan ArchiveMusic: “Broken” by David Bullard from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/david-bullard/broken (License code: OSC7K3LCPSGXISVI)

Daphne Keller, a leading voice on platform regulation from Stanford Law School, teams up with Michael Posner, a professor known for his expertise in business ethics at NYU. They delve into the urgent need for social media regulation to combat disinformation and protect democracy. The discussion covers the balance between free speech and community responsibility and explores the impact of social media on polarization. They also examine the challenges of reforming laws like Section 230 while addressing corporate interests and user rights.

Presidents have long pursued policy prerogatives through the Department of Justice, but traditionally, there’s been a clear division between those and the Justice Department’s enforcement decisions. On March 5, 2025, the NYU Law Forum and the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law co-hosted an all-star panel of experts who have served in senior positions at the White House and in the Department of Justice to assess the degree to which the division between the President and the Justice Department has now changed. Among the topics they discussed are: What is the origin of and reason for the Justice Department’s measure of independence? How has this independence worked given the Justice Department’s mix of political and career employees, and how is the current administration observing those lines?  The expert panel consisted of Vanita Gupta, a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NYU School of Law and the former Associate Attorney General of the United States; Lisa Monaco, a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the Reiss Center on Law and Security and the former Deputy Attorney General of the United States; and Breon Peace, the former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.  Trevor Morrison, a former Associate White House Counsel, the Dean Emeritus, Eric M. and Laurie B. Roth Professor of Law, and a Faculty Co-Director of the Reiss Center on Law and Security, moderated the discussion.  Show Notes: Vanita GuptaLisa MonacoTrevor Morrison (Bluesky)Breon PeaceJust Security’s coverage of the Department of JusticeJust Security’s coverage of the Trump administration’s executive actions Music: “Broken” by David Bullard from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/david-bullard/broken (License code: OSC7K3LCPSGXISVI)

Alongside the new Trump administration, a new Congress has also taken power in Washington, D.C. The 119th Congress brings unified Republican control of both chambers with key votes – such as confirming many of President Trump’s cabinet nominees – complete, another focus will be on congressional investigations and oversight. What might the oversight landscape look like? What investigative priorities will take center stage? And what role will key actors, both inside and outside of Congress, play in shaping policy and accountability over the next year?Joining the show to discuss what we can expect when it comes to congressional investigations is Ronak D. Desai. Ronak is the firmwide leader of the Congressional Investigations Practice at Paul Hastings LLP, where he advises clients facing high-stakes oversight inquiries and regulatory scrutiny. Ronak previously served on Capitol Hill in multiple roles, including most recently on a prominent select committee with members, including Adam Schiff, Adam Smith, Jim Jordan, and Mike Pompeo. In private practice, Ronak has handled a number of high-profile congressional investigations on behalf of clients on Capitol Hill both behind closed doors and publicly in the glare of the media spotlight. Show Notes:  Ronak D. Desai (LinkedIn – X) Paras Shah (LinkedIn – X)Just Security’s coverage of CongressJust Security’s coverage of the Trump administration’s executive actions Music: “Broken” by David Bullard from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/david-bullard/broken (License code: OSC7K3LCPSGXISVI)

Mary McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and former Acting Assistant Attorney General, joins the discussion on the troubling politicization of the Justice Department during the Trump years. They delve into how executive powers were used for political manipulation, affecting personnel and policy. The ethics of DOJ's independence come under scrutiny, especially regarding January 6th prosecutions and controversial pardons. McCord highlights the risks posed to judicial integrity amid a politically charged environment.

In his second term in office, President Donald Trump has already taken sweeping measures on immigration, the environment, the U.S. military, and the structure of the federal government.With so many executive orders, policy changes, and novel actions, it’s easy to wonder, “What just happened?” In this podcast mini-series we help to answer exactly that question. On each episode of “What Just Happened,” we’ll talk with leading experts, from former government officials to professors – the people who understand how government works from the inside and have studied the issues for years. They will explain the legal background and implications of how the Trump administration’s actions affect how the U.S. government operates in Washington, across the country, and around the world. This is not a political podcast. We are explaining the meaning and consequences of policy changes that may not be immediately apparent. Any opinions expressed are those of the speaker.Today, we are looking at a relatively narrow example of the Trump administration’s broad policies of eliminating federal jobs and eliminating what it considers to be DEI efforts from federal agencies. Specifically, we will talk about a small number of seasoned intelligence officers who were fired because one of their duties involved agency DEI efforts. They have sought an injunction against their termination in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. After a brief administrative stay, a federal judge denied their application for a temporary restraining order while the case proceeds.  Our guest today is the fired officers’ attorney, Kevin Carroll. Kevin is a partner at the Fluet law firm in Northern Virginia. Kevin is a retired Army Colonel and a former CIA case officer. He also served as a senior counsel to Republican congressman Peter King of New York and a political appointee in the first Trump administration, and later as a surrogate for the 2024 Kamala Harris campaign. Show Notes: David Aaron (LinkedIn – X – Bluesky)Kevin Carroll (LinkedIn)Paras Shah (LinkedIn – X)Just Security’s coverage of the Trump administration’s executive actions Music: “Broken” by David Bullard from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/david-bullard/broken (License code: OSC7K3LCPSGXISVI)

Suzanne Summerlin, a seasoned labor and employment attorney with deep insights into federal workforce issues, sheds light on the critical rights of federal employees. She discusses the essential roles these public servants play in society and the historical context of their employment. The conversation dives into the various categories of federal employees and the complex legal landscape they navigate, especially amidst recent policy changes. Summerlin emphasizes the importance of understanding these rights and the challenges employees face when seeking legal recourse.

Brianna Rosen, Director of Just Security’s AI Initiative and Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford, shares insights from the Paris AI Action Summit. The discussion highlights the global divide on AI regulation, with the U.S. and U.K. opting out of declarations embraced by over 60 countries. The contrasting strategies of the U.S. focus on light regulation versus European ambitions for governance are examined. Rosen also emphasizes the potential for technical solutions in AI governance, merging legal principles with innovation for a responsible future.

Around the world, lawyers – particularly those representing human rights defenders, political prisoners, and upholding the rule of law – face threats of disbarment, harassment, and prosecution simply for doing their jobs. Jan. 24 marked International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, which focused on Belarus this year. The Belarusian government has developed a toolkit of repression to silence members of the legal profession, with hundreds of lawyers facing disbarment or exile, and at least six sitting in jail based on dubious or politically-motivated charges. What tactics is the Belarusian government using? How can the international community best respond to support the legal profession and the rule of law? Joining the show to discuss the situation in Belarus are Nils Muiznieks, Maksim Polovinko, and Margaret Satterthwaite. Nils is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. He is a political scientist and human rights expert based in Latvia. Maksim is an expert of the Right to Defense project, until 2020, he was Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Jurist, and an event organizer for the Belarussian legal community. Margaret is a Professor of Clinical Law at NYU Law and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Show Notes: Nils Muižnieks (LinkedIn) Maksim PolovinkoMargaret Satterthwaite (LinkedIn – X) Paras Shah (LinkedIn – X)Nils and Margaret’s Just Security article with Aloysia Sonnet (LinkedIn) “Solidarity Needed Amid Stranglehold on Belarusian Lawyers”Just Security’s Belarus coverageJust Security’s Rule of Law coverageMusic: “Broken” by David Bullard from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/david-bullard/broken (License code: OSC7K3LCPSGXISVI)