Dear Colleagues,
I want to let you know about a new podcast series that I am personally hosting, “The Engine Room of Democracy.” At a time when Americans are deeply questioning our trajectory as a country, these podcast sessions discuss the foundations of American democracy. Each week, I will interview a former government official to discuss a key dimension of rule of law in America, how they made it work in practice, and why it is important in all our lives. I hope you’ll listen to the podcast.
In the first episode, I speak with Suzanne Spaulding, director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at CSIS. Suzanne is a lawyer, and she served as chief clerk of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and later as under secretary in the Department of Homeland Security. Our conversation examines how established institutions and procedures keep government agencies accountable to its citizens. This process is especially important for intelligence organizations that operate in secrecy. Suzanne offers a powerful tutorial on one of the foundation stones of our democracy.
Some of our upcoming episodes will feature:
• Jamie Gorelick, former deputy attorney general and former general counsel for the Department of Defense, who discusses the dynamic interactions among police, prosecutors, and judges, and how they are grounded in the Constitution.
• Stephen Preston, former general counsel for the Department of Defense and general counsel for the Central Intelligence Agency, who discusses how the United States authorizes and controls the use of military forces and covert intelligence operations in a lawful manner.
• James Dubik, retired lieutenant general in the Army, who discusses how the U.S. military maintains good order and discipline in conformity with the Constitution, and how we work to ensure lawful actions on the battlefield.
These are just a few of the dozen sessions to come. You can listen to my full conversation with Suzanne on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you would like to receive e-mail alerts for this podcast, please subscribe to the mailing list here.
Please join me for a fascinating refresher course in American constitutional democracy.
John
John J. Hamre
President and CEO, and Langone Chair in American Leadership
Center for Strategic and International Studies
1616 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036 |
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The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1962 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It seeks to advance global security and prosperity by providing strategic insights and policy solutions to decisionmakers.
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