The “Unboxing Day” Edition

This week, Quinta and Scott rang in the New Year with co-host emeritus Benjamin Wittes by discussing some listener-submitted topics, including:

• What does the AUKUS deal mean for the Five Eyes intelligence relationship? • How can courts enforce a gag order against former President Trump? • What would a President Nikki Haley mean for the Republican Party’s foreign policy? • Which is better, wizards or fighters? • Could anything stop former President Trump from appointing a cabinet of loyalists if elected back into the White House? • How is misinformation impacting public understandings of the Gaza conflict? • What advice would you give to folks beginning law school—and those married to them? • Could we just do away with hard printouts of classified information altogether? • How will China’s economic and demographic challenges impact its decision-making on Taiwan? • What does Prighozin’s death mean for Wagner in Africa? • What was your most (or least) favorite media of the year?

As for object lessons, they shared several sent in by listeners, including:

• The video game Pentiment • , a murder mystery set in Renaissance Bavaria; • The book “ Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of Middle East Conflict • ” by Oren Kessler; • The “anti-reactionary conservative news site” The Dispatch • , including its podcasts Advisory Opinions • , The Remnant • , and The Dispatch Podcast • ; • The book “ Three Dangerous Men • ” by Seth Jones, examining military leaders in China, Iran, and Russia; • The book “ Killers of the Flower Moon • ” • by David Grann (but not the movie); • The podcast “ The Prince • ” • about the rise of Xi Jinping (along with The Economist’s other phenomenal podcast work); • The book “ Listen Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People • ” by Thomas Frank; • The new book “ For the People, For the Country • ” by John Ragosta, a political biography of Patrick Henry; • And LinkedIn • as the hot new social networking site!

Thank you to everyone for listening to Rational Security and supporting Lawfare throughout the year. We hope you enjoy a Happy New Year, and we will be back in your feeds in 2024!

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