The "Bad Vlad" Edition

<p>This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by&nbsp;<em>Lawfare&nbsp;</em>contributor and University of Kentucky law professor Jonathan Shaub!&nbsp;They sat down to discuss the week's national security news, including:</p><ul><li>“Not So Quiet on the Eastern Front”: President Biden and President Putin recently sat down for a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-putin-hold-video-call-tuesday-will-discuss-ukraine-2021-12-04/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">one-on-one meeting</a>, in an effort to curb tensions brought on by Russia’s apparent preparations for an invasion of Ukraine. Are Russia and the United States headed towards conflict?</li><li>“January 6th Pleads the Fifth”: The January 6th committee’s subpoenas are beginning to bear fruit, as a number of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/06/jeffrey-clark-john-eastman-join-some-rare-company-pleading-fifth-jan-6-committee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">associates of former President Trump</a> have either agreed to cooperate, refused and face possible civil and criminal penalties, or have invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. What, if anything, is the committee likely to get from their testimony?</li><li>“Apple Bites Back”: Apple has now joined WhatsApp in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/technology/apple-nso-group-lawsuit.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">suing the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group</a> for hacking its devices and networks on behalf of foreign regimes, including to spy on U.S. diplomats. What might this mean for the future of private sector hackers?</li></ul><p>For object lessons, Quinta gave a touching tribute to her former boss, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2021/12/06/fred-hiatt-dies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">late Fred Hiatt of the Washington Post</a>.&nbsp;Alan gave a shout out to Minnesota's first snowfall of the season. Scott endorsed what is, in his view, perhaps the bes