CAFE Insider

Note From Preet is part of the CAFE Insider newsletter. Read, listen, and let us know your thoughts at [email protected]

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie's Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

In this Bonus from Stay Tuned, Marc Elias, the Democrats’ top election lawyer, discusses the unique challenge of representing every elected Democrat in Washington. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.For references and show notes, head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned-bonus/stay-tuned-bonus-10-8-marc-elias/

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Covid-in-Chief,” Preet and Anne discuss the latest in President Trump’s battle against COVID-19, the impact of the outbreak on the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, the Trump Administration’s designation of New York, Portland, and Seattle as “anarchist jurisdictions,” and more.We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. This podcast is produced by CAFE Studios. Tamara Sepper – Executive Producer; Adam Waller – Senior Editorial Producer; Matthew Billy – Audio Producer; Jake Kaplan – Editorial ProducerREFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

In this Bonus from Stay Tuned, former New Jersey Attorney General and CAFE Insider co-host Anne Milgram talks with former U.S. Education Secretary, John King Jr, about the interconnectedness of government agencies, reimagining societal reform, and their favorite moments from Zoom school. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.For references and show notes, head to:  cafe.com/stay-tuned-bonus/stay-tuned-bonus-10-05-john-king-jr

On this episode of the United Security podcast, Lisa Monaco and Ken Wainstein break down the national security concerns raised by President Trump’s finances and offer an election intelligence update, from a joint FBI and CISA Public Service Announcement to the leak of a CIA assessment that suggests Putin’s direct involvement in interference efforts. They also discuss the constitutionality and utility of the Trump Administration’s policy classifying New York, Portland, and Seattle as anarchist jurisdictions.  The United Security podcast is produced by CAFE Studios. Executive Producer - Tamara Sepper; Senior Editorial Producer - Adam Waller; Audio Producer - Nat Weiner; Editorial Producers - Sam Ozer-Staton and David KurlanderREFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: https://cafe.com/united-security/united-security-interference-and-anarchy

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie's Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

Note From Preet is part of the CAFE Insider newsletter. Read, listen, and let us know your thoughts at [email protected].

In this Bonus from Stay Tuned, Errol Louis, NY1 anchor and political analyst, discusses the importance of local journalism, and how its getting stifled in today’s political economy. He also looks back to his brief stint in New York City politics, and opens up about whether he would ever consider running again. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.For references and show notes, head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned/the-debate-from-hell-with-errol-louis

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “POTUS & SCOTUS,” Preet and Anne break down the bombshell New York Times report exposing President Trump’s tax returns extending over two decades, Trump’s nomination of 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the politics of the forthcoming confirmation battle, and more.We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. This podcast is produced by CAFE Studios. Tamara Sepper – Executive Producer; Adam Waller – Senior Editorial Producer; Matthew Billy – Audio Producer; Jake Kaplan – Editorial ProducerREFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

In this episode of Cyber Space, Kara Swisher, the prominent technology journalist for the New York Times and co-founder of Recode, joins host John Carlin to breakdown the dangers of social media, the challenge of maintaining privacy, and whether dominant tech companies like Facebook and Twitter are too big. Swisher also discusses the role of government in tech, opens up about using TikTok on a burner phone, and argues for more voices like Senator Elizabeth Warren’s on Capitol Hill. Cyber Space is the newest podcast for members of CAFE Insider. Every other Friday, Carlin, who led the Justice Department’s National Security Division, explores issues at the intersection of technology, policy, and law with leaders who’ve made an impact in the world of cybersecurity.REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: https://cafe.com/general/cyber-space-ft-kara-swisher

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "We Can All Use a Bit of Humility, Especially AG Barr,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

Note From Preet is part of the CAFE Insider newsletter. Read, listen, and let us know your thoughts at [email protected].

In this Bonus from Stay Tuned, Melissa Murray, NYU Law Professor & Faculty Director of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Network, tells Preet about her time clerking for then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and discusses how their relationship has grown since. For references and show notes, head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned-bonus/stay-tuned-bonus-9-24-melissa-murray/

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “The Glorious RBG,” Preet and Anne reflect on the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the ensuing political battle over filling the vacant SCOTUS seat, and more.We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. This podcast is produced by CAFE Studios. Tamara Sepper – Executive Producer; Adam Waller – Senior Editorial Producer; Matthew Billy – Audio Producer; Editorial Producers: Jake Kaplan, Sam Ozer-Staton, Noa Azulai, and David Kurlander REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

On this episode of the United Security podcast, Lisa Monaco and Ken Wainstein discuss the allegations that Putin ordered the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and what it says about the state of contemporary Russia—Putin’s use of violence to quash dissent, the appropriate U.S. response, and the possible connections of this incident to the popular uprising in Belarus.  The United Security podcast is produced by CAFE Studios. References and Supplemental Materials: https://cafe.com/united-security/united-security-back-in-the-u-s-s-r

CAFE Insiders can enjoy this recording of Preet reading his note, “Trump Never Lets the Sting Show,” and read his note in the CAFE Insider Newsletter every Thursday.

Note From Elie is part of the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Audio recordings of Elie's Note are part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

In this bonus from Stay Tuned with Preet, “What's Eating Us,” restaurateur and Momofuku founder David Chang shares some highlights from his time in the kitchen, and that time the NYC Department of Health almost shut him down. Then, Preet asks him a series of lightning round questions, including the difference between a chef and a cook, and whether the customer is always right. REFERENCES:Preet joined Padma Lakshmi on Hulu’s Taste the Nation, Twitter, 6/18/2020Big Night. Directed by Stanley Tucci & Campbell Scott, Rysher Entertainment, 1996 Eat Drink Man Woman. Directed by Ang Lee, Central Motion Pictures, 1994Ratatouille. Directed by Brad Bird, Walt Disney Pictures, 2007

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Durham, Defamation, and Disenfranchisement,” Preet and Anne break down the resignation of Nora Dannehy, a veteran prosecutor and top aide to John Durham in the investigation into the FBI’s Russia probe, the DOJ’s decision to take over the defense of President Trump in a defamation lawsuit brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that people convicted of felonies in Florida must pay all fines and fees before registering to vote, and more.We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALSThis podcast is produced by CAFE Studios. Tamara Sepper – Executive Producer; Adam Waller – Senior Editorial Producer; Matthew Billy – Audio Producer; Jake Kaplan – Editorial Producer

In this episode of Cyber Space, Chris Inglis, the former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency and current Professor of Cybersecurity Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy, joins host John Carlin for a wide-ranging conversation about U.S. cyber defense. They discuss Inglis’s role on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the group’s proposals, the importance of instating a National Cyber Director to coordinate policy across the government and the private sector, why Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran pose the greatest cyber threat, and his reflections on the Edward Snowden revelations.Cyber Space is the newest podcast for members of CAFE Insider. Every other Friday, John Carlin, the former head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, explores issues at the intersection of technology, policy, and law with leaders who’ve made an impact in the world of cybersecurity.Transcript and show notes: https://cafe.com/cyber-space-podcast/cyber-space-ft-chris-inglis/

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "Reflections on the 19th Anniversary of 9/11,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

Note From Preet is part of the CAFE Insider subscription.

In this bonus from Stay Tuned, Preet and Harvard philosophy Professor Michael Sandel discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the failures of meritocracy. They also look back on a revealing moment from the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings — when Kavanaugh used his Yale pedigree as evidence of his innocence against allegations of sexual assault. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community. For references and supplemental materials, head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned-bonus/stay-tuned-bonus-9-10-michael-sandel/

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Losers & Suckers,” Preet and Anne break down allegations that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy carried out a straw-donor scheme prior to his tenure at the United States Postal Service, Attorney General Bill Barr’s CNN interview last week where he made dubious claims about voter fraud, among other election-related issues, Mississippi Attorney General’s dismissal of the case against Curtis Flowers, a Black man who spent 23 years in jail and was tried 6 times for allegedly murdering 4 people in 1996, and more.We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

On this episode of the United Security podcast, Lisa Monaco and Ken Wainstein discuss domestic terrorism — the most urgent threats, the relevance of the “terrorist” designation, and whether or not Congress should enact legislation to make domestic terrorism a federal crime. They also break down the significance of the decision by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to cancel in-person congressional briefings on election security just months away from Election Day. References and Supplemental Materials: https://cafe.com/?p=29422&preview=true

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "I Was Wrong About the Hatch Act,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

CAFE Insiders can enjoy this recording of Preet reading his note, “Base Conclusions on Evidence, Not Its Aura,” and read his note in the CAFE Insider Newsletter every Thursday.

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Web of Ways,” Preet and Anne break down the latest updates in the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, who faces murder charges for fatally shooting two people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Trump administration’s potential Hatch Act violations during the RNC, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the case of Michael Flynn, holding that the district court could review the DOJ’s move to dismiss all charges against the former national security adviser, and more.We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. References and Supplemental Materials found at CAFE.com

Cyber Space is the newest podcast for members of CAFE Insider. Every other Friday, host John Carlin, the former head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, will explore issues at the intersection of technology, policy, and law with leaders who’ve made an impact in the world of cybersecurity. In this episode, Monika Bickert, Facebook’s Head of Global Policy Management, joins Carlin for a deep dive on the dangers of cyberterrorism, the nuances of hate speech, the recent controversies surrounding political speech and misinformation on Facebook, and the company’s initiatives leading up to the November election. Bickert, a former federal prosecutor and cybersecurity expert, opens up about the complexities of Facebook’s community standards and how she, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sheryl Sandberg have navigated removing violent and misleading content. 

CAFE Insiders can enjoy this recording of Preet reading his note, “I Have Met Steve Bannon Twice,” and read his note in the CAFE Insider Newsletter every Thursday.

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "Bannon Joins the Lineup,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

In this bonus from Stay Tuned, Dan Balz talks about the state of journalism, and what he and his colleagues missed in 2016. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.

In this episode of CAFE Insider, "DeJoy, Bannon, Durham: Mail, Jail, Stale?” Preet and Anne break down Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s testimony before lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the latest in former Trump campaign chief & White House strategist Steve Bannon’s indictment by SDNY, and the first conviction secured by John Durham, the Connecticut U.S. Attorney tasked with investigating the origins of the FBI's Russia probe. We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. References and Supplemental Materials found at CAFE.com

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "Trump’s Childlike View of Presidential Authority,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

On this episode of United Security, “The Double-Edged Sword of Tech,” Lisa Monaco and Ken Wainstein break down politically charged national security issues making the headlines, including: --The new revelations unearthed by Volume 5 of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s final report. -- Concerns about cryptocurrency as a method of terrorist financing, as highlighted by the Justice Department’s largest-ever seizure of cryptocurrencies last week. --The policy considerations and legal authorities associated with President Trump’s decision to ban Tiktok and WeChat by executive orders. --The arrest of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and the troubling enforcement of Hong Kong’s new national security law.References and Supplemental Materials: https://cafe.com/united-security/united-security-the-double-edged-sword-of-technology/

In this special episode of CAFE Insider, “Bannon Indicted,” Preet breaks down SDNY’s indictment of Steve Bannon, President Trump’s former campaign CEO and White House chief strategist. We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. References and Supplemental Materials found at cafe.com.

In this bonus from Stay Tuned, Preet talks to Voto Latino Founding President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar about Democratic party fractures, her superpowers, and how 9/11 changed her life.  Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Please Mr. Postman,” Preet and Anne make sense of the flurry of news surrounding the US Postal Service: President Trump’s recent admission that he opposes funding the agency because of “universal mail-in voting,” the sweeping cost-cutting measures attempted by the new Postmaster General, and the USPS alerting states that some absentee ballots may not arrive in time to be counted. We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. References and Supplemental Materials found at cafe.com.

Cyber Space is the newest podcast for members of CAFE Insider. Every other Friday, host John Carlin, the former head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, will explore issues at the intersection of technology, policy, and law with leaders who’ve made an impact in the world of cybersecurity. In this inaugural episode, Carlin speaks with Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former Chief Security Officer who led the company’s investigation into Russia’s manipulation of the 2016 presidential election. Stamos was previously Chief Information Security Officer at Yahoo when the company dealt with a series of cyber attacks that resulted in the breach of some billion user accounts. Currently, he advises Zoom and leads Stanford University’s Internet Observatory. In the episode, Stamos discusses these experiences, addresses the debate over the role social media companies should play in fighting disinformation, and reacts to the biggest tech news, including the President’s intention to ban TikTok and WeChat. Episode recorded on 8/7/20. Read the transcript and show notes: https://cafe.com/cyber-space-podcast/cyber-space-with-alex-stamos/Listen to John Carlin preview the Cyber Space podcast in conversation with Preet Bharara: [Link to Carlin-Preet episode]Write to [email protected] with your thoughts and questions. 

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "The Lunacy of the McGahn Saga Says It All,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

CAFE Insiders can enjoy this recording of Preet reading his note, "A Little Voice in Every Immigrant’s Head,” and read his note in the CAFE Insider Newsletter every Thursday.

In this bonus from Stay Tuned, Preet talks about one of his favorite stories that Isabel Wilkerson tells in her new book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “The Executive’s Privilege,” Preet and Anne break down the political and legal questions around President Trump’s recent executive action, the latest in the legal fight over the House Judiciary Committee’s attempts to compel testimony from former White House Counsel Don McGahn, and the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association. We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. References and Supplemental materials found at Cafe.com

A weekly Note from Elie is part of the CAFE Brief, and Insider members can listen to a recording of the note the same day. Please enjoy Elie reading this week's note, "Hey AG Barr, If you don’t know, now you know,” and read his note in your inbox every Friday.

CAFE Insiders can enjoy this recording of Preet reading his note, "Housework 2020” and read his note in the CAFE Insider Newsletter every Thursday.

On this episode of United Security, “Arms, Protests, Ballots,” Lisa Monaco and Ken Wainstein break down politically charged national security issues making the headlines, including: -- The legal and policy questions raised by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to bypass congressional review on an $8.1 billions arms deal with Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates;-- The legal authorities for the deployment of federal agents in response to Black Lives Matter protests in Portland and the related concerns the move raises about the mission of the Department of Homeland Security; -- Criticisms of the warning issued by William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, on foreign election interference.References and Suppremental Materials can be found at CAFE.com

In this bonus from Stay Tuned, Jeffrey Toobin talks about his writing craft and how he manages to write so many books. Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.For references and supplemental materials, head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned-bonus/stay-tuned-bonus-8-5-jeffrey-toobin/

In this episode of CAFE Insider, “Threats Foreign and Domestic,” Preet and Anne speak with Ben Wittes, the editor-in-chief of the Lawfare blog, about the revelations that the Department of Homeland Security compiled and disseminated “intelligence reports” on journalists who reported on Portland protests, including Ben himself. They also break down President Trump’s threats to ban TikTok, his tweets floating the possibility of delaying the election, and the administration’s decision to rescind an Obama-era fair housing rule. We hope you’re finding CAFE Insider informative. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. References and Supplemental materials found at Cafe.com. 

CAFE Insiders can enjoy this recording of Preet reading his note, "Appearances Matter, But Not to Barr’” and read his note in the CAFE Insider Newsletter every Thursday.