Lawfare No Bull

On October 7th, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing entitled “Oversight of the Department of Justice.” The committee questioned Bondi about politicized personnel decisions at the Justice Department, the deployment of the National Guard to states, anti-corruption enforcement, border czar Tom Homan’s alleged acceptance of $50,000 during an FBI sting, and more.

On September 17, FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the House Judiciary Committee in an annual hearing entitled “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” The committee questioned Patel about the firing of FBI agents involved in investigating President Trump, the Jeffrey Epstein case, the investigation into the murder of Charlie Kirk, and more.

On September 16, FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in an annual hearing entitled “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” The committee questioned Patel about the firing of FBI agents involved in investigating President Trump, the Jeffrey Epstein case, the investigation into the murder of Charlie Kirk, and more.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On June 10, the House Appropriations Subcommittee held an oversight hearing for the Department of Defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and Bryn MacDonnell, Special Assistant Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, testified before the committee. Members of the committee questioned the witnesses about the delay in receiving the Department’s FY2026 budget, investments in submarines, the cost of deploying troops to Los Angeles, cuts to personnel and programs, and more.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On March 26, the House Intelligence Committee held the annual Worldwide Threats hearing based on the Annual Threat Assessment of the United States Intelligence Community. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, National Security Agency and Central Security Service Director Timothy Haugh, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse testified before the committee. Members of the intelligence committee questioned the witnesses about their participation in a Signal group chat that discussed plans to conduct strikes in Yemen, threats posed by Russia and China, the intelligence community’s assessment of emerging threats, and more.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.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On March 25, the Senate Intelligence Committee held the annual Worldwide Threats hearing based on the Annual Threat Assessment of the United States Intelligence Community. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, National Security Agency and Central Security Service Director Timothy Haugh, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse testified before the committee. Members of the intelligence committee questioned the witnesses about their participation in a Signal group chat that discussed plans to conduct strikes in Yemen, threats posed by Russia and China, the intelligence community’s assessment of emerging threats, and more.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.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On March 24, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard arguments on whether to stay a temporary restraining order issued on March 15—which bars summary removals of alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang—under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The panel, composed of Judge Patricia Millet, Judge Justin Miller, and Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, asked attorneys about the lack of notice and process given to migrants, why the migrants couldn’t have just filed habeas petitions, and why the lawyers filed in D.C. rather than Texas.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.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Feb. 12, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the confirmation hearing of deputy attorney general nominee Todd Blanche. The Committee questioned Blanche about his representation of President Donald Trump in multiple criminal cases, whether he would recuse himself from future Department of Justice investigations into cases against Trump, the firings at the department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and more.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.

Today on Lawfare No Bull: On Jan. 30, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the confirmation hearing of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director nominee Kash Patel. The Committee questioned Patel about his role in the Jan. 6 choir, his “enemies list” and views on political retribution, his testimony before the grand jury in the classified documents case, plans for the FBI if confirmed, and more.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.