Listen "The “Air Quality Fuchsia” Edition"
Episode Synopsis
This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott braved the haze to talk through the week’s (very) big national security news stories, including:“Downstream Effects.” The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine promises a new wave of suffering and environmental devastation for Ukrainians living along the Dnipro River. Who is responsible? And what could the ramifications be?“He’s Off to Meet the Wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Laws.” Over the past few weeks, there has been a steady drip of information about Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Trump, leading many to conclude that an indictment is on the horizon. What do we know about the state of the investigation? And where does it seem headed?“Party Animals.” The number of contenders in the 2024 Republican presidential primary has officially doubled, with new candidates like Chris Christie and Mike Pence presenting—or being unable to avoid—the legacy of Jan. 6, among other issues with the direction of the party under former President Trump. What does this mean for the shape of the race? And will it mean for the debate over democratic values?For object lessons, Alan urged listeners to check out the books of author Amor Towles, including his latest book “The Lincoln Highway.” Quinta passed along Tim Alberta’s devastating profile of (now former) CNN CEO Chris Licht in The Atlantic, which led to his recent fall. And Scott shared an invaluable set of resources his friend Aman put together for those considering jumping into what may be the greatest means of local transportation out there: eBikes!And here’s an article we mentioned in this week’s episode:Ben Wittes’s article in Lawfare on “How to Read a News Story About an Investigation: Eight Tips on Who Is Saying What” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More episodes of the podcast Rational Security
The “Pickled Fish in Cozy Sweaters” Edition
22/10/2025
The “Don’t Upset the Masks” Edition
15/10/2025
The “F*cked by Five” Edition
08/10/2025
The “I AM an Object Lesson” Edition
25/09/2025
The “Ten Years, Still Off-Key” Edition
17/09/2025
The “Trump Ruined My Dinner” Edition
11/09/2025
The “Master of the House” Edition
03/09/2025
The “Room Raider” Edition
27/08/2025
The “Whole Etsy Store of Horrors” Edition
20/08/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.