Dear Listeners & Readers,
What happens when the president’s public statements are at odds with the government’s legal arguments? Can the executive branch undo sanctions imposed by Congress? What does it take to preserve civilian control of the military? How are new artificial intelligence tools changing the way foreign actors try to influence what we believe? And what should we be worried about as the 2026 midterm elections approach?
These are some of the questions Lawfare has been examining this month across our reporting, legal analysis, livestreams, and podcasts. From a federal courtroom in Washington to the battlefields of Ukraine and the evolving world of AI-driven influence operations, our work continues to follow the places where law, policy, and national security intersect..
This month, Senior Editors ** Roger Parloff** and
Questions of executive authority drove ** Scott R. Anderson**’s
We also looked at the institutions impacted by political power and its potential abuse. In “** Why the U.S. Military Has Never Threatened Civilian Governance**,” Senior Editor
Executive Editor ** Natalie Orpett**, Senior Editors Molly Roberts and Loren Voss, Contributing Editor
In our tech coverage, Renée DiResta examined the ** changing mechanics of foreign influence** in thinking through how generative AI can make it easier for malicious actors to produce persuasive content at scale.
And our international coverage looked at consequential questions about the future of American engagement abroad. On Lawfare Daily, Editor in Chief ** Benjamin Wittes** spoke with Ukraine-based journalist
Across these stories, a common theme emerges: institutions matter, the law has limits, and the gap between political rhetoric and legal reality can be consequential. Lawfare’s job is to examine that gap carefully—to provide readers and listeners with the context, expertise, and independent analysis needed to understand not only what is happening, but why it matters.
**Lawfare **Beyond the Site
Join us in welcoming Lawfare’s newest members of the team!
Former intern Mary Ford and former Brookings Senior Research Analyst and Project Coordinator Samara Angel join us as Data Journalism Fellows working on
, a groundbreaking tool to comb through millions of democracy-focused federal records.[RAGtime]
— Kevin Frazier continues his road show. The podcast’s live tour continues with stops at Emory University on October 27, Vanderbilt University on November 5, and Georgetown Law on November 11. And 2027 is shaping up nicely with stops from Berkeley to Maine and plenty in-between.
— The **next Ask **
Reach and Impact
September 2026 highlighted how Lawfare’s content and its editors reach audiences across media, policy, and academic circles. Lawfare editors, contributors, and analysis were cited in at least 187 verified instances across publications with a reach of 10,000 or greater, including ** NBC News,
Senior Editor Kevin Frazier analysis and commentary on AI governance was cited by numerous outlets. When Senators Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar introduced legislation proposing a ban on AI “superintelligence”, Frazier was quoted as a key expert in coverage by ** NBC News**,
Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee co-authored “The CIA Director Is a Failure,” published by ** The Bulwark** and syndicated to
The Lawfare Institute’s FOIA challenge against the State Department drew significant attention after a federal judge denied the government’s bid to keep secret foreign deals out of public view. This ruling was covered by ** AOL** and
Beyond the news cycle, Lawfare scholarship continued to be cited in academic and policy discourse. Senior Editor and AI Program Director Kate Klonick’s foundational research on platform governance was cited in a peer-reviewed article in the ** Cambridge University Press Business and Human Rights Journal**, and her work was referenced in scholarly essays on
OCTOBER SPOTLIGHT
Senior Editor M olly Roberts
Hi, What is your role at Lawfare?
Senior editor. I’m a member of the litigation team, which means I cover cases after as well as up close, from the courtroom gallery—and talk about them on Lawfare Live! I also write about areas that interest me that aren’t in litigation...or aren’t yet, anyway.
What three Lawfare pieces from this month should supporters make time for?
“
[Introducing ‘Posting Through the Singularity][’]” by Scott Shapiro“
” by Renée DiResta[The Russian Bots Went Silent. Or Did They?]
[Rational Security]with Scott, Molly Reynolds, Ben Wittes, and me[: The “Too Much Molly” Edition]
What non-Lawfare reading are you recommending right now?
“
” by Dexter Filkins in the New Yorker[Jared Kushner’s Dollar Diplomacy]“
” by Maureen Dowd in the New York Times[Trump’s Bubble Is About to Burst]“
” by Anne Applebaum in The Atlantic[MAGA Is Making the World Safe for Corruption]“
” by Hannah Goldfield in the New Yorker[Louise Glück’s Life in Restaurants]
What are you watching closely in the weeks ahead?
The midterms, and any associated MAGA malfeasance
What’s life like for you outside of Lawfare?
Outside of work, I enjoy all things culinary (preparation as well as consumption), walks in Rock Creek Park (ideally with my standard poodle, Pasha) and music, movies and books (but who doesn’t?).
On the last of those fronts: Lately, I’ve been enjoying the album version of Cameron Winter live at Carnegie Hall. The best movie I’ve seen recently is “The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.” And I’m reading “John of John” by Douglas Stuart. Also, as a bonus, Nigella Lawson in her new role as “Great British Bake-Off” host is bringing me as much joy as taking massive bites of trifle appears to bring her!
This work is possible because of you. ** Your support** sustains the journalists, editors, and staff who bring these stories to light. It helps us analyze difficult legal questions, follow developments around the world, and make our work freely available to everyone who wants it.
Thank you for being part of the Lawfare community and for helping us continue this work.
With thanks,
The Lawfare Team
