Rational Security: The “Forbidden Fruit” Edition
The Lawfare Podcast's 'Rational Security: The "Forbidden Fruit" Edition' opens with a humorous yet alarming tale of Molly Roberts' dog consuming 140 grapes—a toxic hazard for canines that remains a mystery in veterinary science despite being discovered only in 2011. This anecdote sets a tone of absurdity and danger, quickly pivoting to a serious national security crisis: President Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche as permanent Attorney General. The panel, including Mike Feinberg, Ben Wittes, and Molly Roberts, delivers a scathing critique of Blanche’s record, arguing that his moral and professional unfit status is evident in his support for politicized prosecutions, public misstatements of law, and the controversial '1776 fund.' They warn that confirming Blanche would cement the Justice Department’s collapse, with no credible path to restoration under his leadership. The discussion then turns to the appointment of Bill Pulte—lacking any national security experience—as Acting Director of National Intelligence, a move seen as a direct weaponization of intelligence for political vendettas. The panel stresses that Pulte’s appointment threatens Section 702 surveillance authority, which is vital for national security, but they argue that Democrats are justified in withholding reauthorization due to the risk of abuse.
Todd Blanche is morally unfit for Attorney General due to repeated politicization of DOJ, including false public statements about law and support for weaponization efforts.
The Justice Department is already functionally broken, with no credible path to recovery under Blanche or any current nominee.
Bill Pulte’s appointment as Acting DNI is a direct threat to national security, as he lacks qualifications and has a history of weaponizing agencies for political revenge.
Democrats are justified in withholding Section 702 reauthorization if Pulte remains in charge, as the program’s integrity depends on trustworthy leadership.
Unsubstantiated fraud claims in the LA mayoral election are part of a broader strategy to delegitimize elections and intimidate officials.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Grape Carnage: A Dog’s Forbidden Fruit
“There were grape stems all over the ground. I mean, this was truly like a battlefield post-battle grape carnage.”
The Blanche Nomination: A Career in Service to Power
The panel discusses Todd Blanche’s formal nomination as Attorney General, contrasting his conventional resume with his radical departure from institutional norms. Despite early hopes that he’d be an 'adult in the room,' his tenure has been marked by politicized prosecutions, public misstatements of law, and support for the controversial '1776 fund.'
The DOJ’s Collapse: When the Institution Dies
The hosts argue that the Justice Department is already beyond repair. Even if Blanche were replaced, the damage to trust and institutional integrity would take generations to undo. The panel emphasizes that Blanche’s confirmation is not just a bad choice—it’s a symptom of a deeper, systemic rot.
The Broadview 6 Scandal: Grand Jury Abuse and Institutional Decay
The episode examines the Broadview 6 case, where prosecutors vouched for their own evidence before a grand jury—a clear violation of procedure. The fact that the DOJ dropped charges after this revelation underscores the depth of the crisis. The panel argues this is not an isolated incident but a systemic failure driven by leadership.
Pulte’s Dual Hat: Weaponizing Intelligence for Vengeance
The nomination of Bill Pulte as Acting DNI is condemned as a direct threat to national security. His history of weaponizing the FHFA to target political enemies like Letitia James and James Comey is presented as a blueprint for abuse. The panel warns that Pulte’s access to intelligence could be used to destroy reputations through selective declassification.
“I want to add a really depressing corollary to my analysis, which is the Justice Department is already gone. The rest of you may disagree with me in terms of degree, but I don't think You can test the main point, which is we are already in a situation where it is going to take a generation, if not longer, to restore the functioning of DOJ and also to restore the trust in it of the American people.”
“There were grape stems all over the ground. I mean, this was truly like a battlefield post -battle grape carnage.”
“You can't imagine that process happening under Todd Blanche. Todd Blanche went on national television to defend the Southern Poverty Law Center indictment, which is facially invalid.”
Host
Guests
Benjamin Wittes
person
Todd Blanche
person
Bill Pulte
person
Mike Feinberg
person
Section 702
other
Molly Roberts
person
Broadview 6
other
Federal Housing Finance Agency
organization
Spencer Pratt
person
Bill Asseli
person
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