New professional guidelines for psychedelic practitioners
This month, the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA), together with BrainFutures, issued guidelines for psychedelic-assisted therapy practitioners. CERL Executive Board member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, M.D., who heads up the APPA and has spoken about the promise of psychedelics treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD, told Axios about this first-of-a-kind development. Brig. Gen. Xenakis is […]
BGen Baker discusses Guantánamo and his time at the MCDO
Brigadier General (Ret.) John Baker joined the host of Public Defenseless Podcast, Hunter Parnel, to discuss Guantánamo Bay, the work of the Military Commissions Defense Organization (MCDO) defense counsel, and the importance of upholding the rule of law. BGen Baker is the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of North Carolina. He is also […]
The mistakes that were made at Guantánamo
Recent reporting sheds light on issues facing the former Guantánamo detainees who were released as part of resettlement deals with third countries. On Rattling the Bars, The Intercept‘s Elise Swain explains these revelations, citing points made by CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon in his book Unjustifiable Means. Mark Fallon spent over three decades as a national security professional, principally as a special […]
Radio segment features conversation with General Votel
CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel spoke with Jon Olson on KYMN’s National Security This Week about several topics, including the Department of Defense’s acquisition system, the Iranian nuclear program, and preparedness for large-scale conventional warfare. General (Ret.) Joseph L. Votel is President & Chief Executive Officer of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), […]
A response to the ACLU on FISA Section 702
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress votes to extend it. In a co-authored opinion for Just Security, CERL Advisory Council member George Croner and James Petrila address the concerns about reauthorization raised by the the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) […]
Two California bills would advance corporate climate disclosure
Proposed legislation in California would require some companies to report annually on climate-related financial risk and greenhouse gas emissions. In a co-authored opinion for Columbia Law School’s The CLS Blue Sky Blog, Michael B. Gerrard and CERL Affiliated Faculty Eric Orts discuss why these bills would be a win for corporate climate disclosure. Eric Orts […]
Minimizing humanitarian risk of cluster munitions
Ukraine is now in possession of cluster munitions supplied by the United States. In a co-authored opinion for Lawfare, CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn and Chris Jenks explain why the United States must turn its focus to ensuring that the Ukrainian commanders armed with this weapon system are complying with the law of armed […]
The impact on women of Iran’s “morality police”
Street patrols to enforce Iran’s hijab rules have returned after a 10-month pause. At TIME, CERL Affiliated Faculty Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet explains what these enforcement measures will mean for women across the country. Prof. Kashani-Sabet is the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the CERL […]
Considerations in request to delay Trump trial
The legal team for former President Donald Trump requested on July 10 an indefinite postponement of his criminal trial concerning the alleged mishandling of classified documents. At The Messenger, CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn discusses the question of whether a delay will be granted and if Trump’s motivations as a presidential candidate should be considered. […]
New FDA guidelines on psychedelics show promise
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued in June 2023 draft guidelines for clinical investigations of psychedelic drugs. CERL Executive Board Member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, who was recently appointed to lead the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA), spoke with Behavioral Health Business about this development. Brig. Gen. Xenakis is an adult, child, […]
Opinion: Why the U.S. Should Give Saudi Arabia Nuclear Technology
President Biden and his aides are engaging in diplomatic efforts to broker a Saudi-Israel deal. In Newsweek, read why former CERL Fellow Nicholas Saidel, now Associate Director of the Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis and Response, believes the United States should aid the Saudis in establishing a civilian nuclear program as part of a negotiated […]
Why Guantánamo remains open two decades later
CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon spoke with EL PAÍS about the 30 prisoners who remain imprisoned at the Guantánamo Bay detention facility. What is preventing its closure, he explains, are efforts on the part of the U.S. government to withhold information about the torture program and its proponents. Mark Fallon spent over three decades […]
Claire Finkelstein discusses “dereliction of duty” accusations
Articles of impeachment submitted by Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert cite concerns over President Biden’s handling of immigration and border issues, namely “dereliction of duty” and “abuse of power.” CERL’s Prof. Claire Finkelstein told The Hill the term “dereliction of duty” is somewhat contrived and not tied to traditional notions of presidential impeachment. Claire Finkelstein is […]
New UN report documents conditions at U.S. prison in Cuba
A new UN report details the cruel treatment of detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon is quoted in a World Is One News article explaining findings from and reactions to the report. Mark Fallon spent over three decades as a national security professional, principally as a […]
Trump trial likely to face delays
The criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents is tentatively scheduled for August 14, 2023. CERL’s Prof. Claire Finkelstein told The Irish Times the trial is unlikely to move swiftly. Other indictments could delay the process, and Trump may run his own interference. Claire Finkelstein is the Algernon Biddle Professor of […]
SCOTUS rejection of “independent state legislature” theory
In a 6-to-3 majority, the Supreme Court rejected a legal theory that would give state legislatures largely unrestricted power over federal elections. CERL Executive Board Member Stuart Gerson discusses this ruling and others in a blog post for Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. Stuart Gerson is Member of the Firm at Epstein Becker Green, former […]
CERL Executive Director discusses intelligence assessments of COVID origins
CERL Executive Director David Joanson joined This Week in Virology, a podcast on the sciences hosted by Professor Vincent Racaniello of Columbia University, to discuss the COVID origins debate. In conversation with Professors Susan Weiss, Rick Bushman, and Gigi Gronvall, Joanson explained how the intelligence community analyzes national security incidents and cases in which China […]
Brig. Gen. Stephen Xenakis, MD appointed to lead APPA
CERL Executive Board Member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, M.D., has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association (APPA). The organization supports the safe integration of “psychedelic-assisted therapy” into the health care system in the United States. Brig. Gen. Xenakis is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist with […]
Gauging support for heritage reconstruction efforts in Mosul, Iraq
In a co-authored piece for The Conversation, CERL Affiliated Faculty Lynn Meskell discusses findings from a survey gauging how residents across Mosul feel about the reconstruction of heritage sites that were destroyed by the Islamic State. Lynn Meskell is Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation and Department of City and Regional […]
Kermit Roosevelt reflects on Juneteenth’s history
June 19 marks the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with news of the Emancipation Proclamation. Penn Today discussed the holiday’s history with Profs. Mary Frances Berry and Kermit Roosevelt of CERL’s Affiliated Faculty, who feature in a new documentary produced by the Annenberg Public Policy […]
Legal experts weigh in on Trump’s obstruction of justice charges
Former president Donald Trump and his aide Walter Nauta face a number of federal charges, among them obstruction of justice. CERL’s Prof. Claire Finkelstein told ABC News the federal government treats obstruction allegations seriously, particularly when it comes to reinforcing that no one is above the law. Claire Finkelstein is the Algernon Biddle Professor of […]
Proof of taking the oath of office is not a constitutional requirement
A video circulating on social media incorrectly claims that officials in the Biden administration have not taken their oaths of office and therefore are serving illegitimately. APPC’s FactCheck.org explains why the video’s claims, and a petition on which they are based, are false, citing commentary from CERL Affiliated Faculty Kermit Roosevelt. Kermit Roosevelt works in […]
Lawfire features April conference on super soldiers
In a feature of Lawfire, Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap Jr., USAD (Ret.), profiles CERL’s conference on super soldiers that was held in partnership with the Annenberg Public Policy Center and the University of Massachusetts Lowell in April of this past academic year. Maj. Gen. Dunlap, the former deputy judge advocate general of the United […]
Should Biden consider a Plan B when it comes to the debt ceiling crisis?
CERL Affiliated Faculty Eric Orts spoke with The Andrea Mitchell Center Podcast about the debt ceiling crisis. In a conversation with Matthew Berkman, Prof. Orts expresses concern about Republican brinksmanship and urges Biden to consider executive actions that could prevent ruinous outcomes such as financial panic or a recession. Eric Orts is the Guardsmark Professor […]
FISA devised “to add a neutral judicial role” to collection of foreign intelligence
Unless Congress votes to extend it, FISA Section 702 will expire at the end of the year. CERL Advisory Council member George Croner joined C-SPAN’s Washington Journal to discuss the surveillance program and what is in store for the reauthorization debate. George Croner is a member of the CERL Advisory Council. He is a Senior […]
Prof. Ewald receives Penn Carey Law School teaching award
CERL Affiliated Faculty William Ewald is among six Penn Carey Law School faculty members who received teaching awards for the 2022-2023 academic year. Join us in congratulating Prof. Ewald for receiving the LLM Award for Teaching Excellence! William Ewald is an internationally recognized scholar in legal philosophy and comparative law. He is the author of […]
Examining public sentiment in cultural heritage sites
As part of a Penn Global Engagement Fund project grant, conducted in collaboration with Vit Henisz of the Wharton School, CERL Affiliated Faculty Lynn Meskell examined public sentiment in every UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed since 1990. What she found is that popular notions of these sites are often at odds with how international organizations […]
Opinion: The FISA Section 702 Debate Intensifies
With Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023, this is a critical year for the foreign intelligence collection program. In his latest for Lawfare, CERL Advisory Council member George Croner explores how the balance between national security imperatives and protecting the privacy and civil liberties of […]
Opinion: Calling Republicans’ Bluff on the Debt Ceiling – and Creating Contingency Plans
Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen has warned the United States could run out of cash to pay its bills by early June if a debt limit deal is not reached. In a piece for Columbia Law School’s blog, CERL Affiliated Faculty Eric Orts urges President Biden to continue negotiating in good faith while considering other […]