Well, 2017 is almost done.  No doubt there are a few more kicks-in-the-pants on the way before it's all said and done, but hey, we can at least offer you one final episode of this podcast!  So, you've got that going for you, which is nice...

Four topics today:

ACLU v. Mattis - Judge Chutkan has ruled.  It's brief, it's favorable to ACLU, and it's got a good shot at ... being reversed on an interlocutory appeal, at least in part.

Section 702 renewal - well, here's another storyline that will certainly last into 2018.  Congress officially kicked the can down the road, extending 702 unchanged until January 19th.  Looks like we'll have something to chat about next month, for sure.

The first wave of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act have arrived, giving us the perhaps-unexpected scene of President Trump issuing an executive order declaring human rights violations and corruption abroad to be national emergencies.

Predictions for 2018?  Sure, why not!  Here's a preview:  We will be back with 50+ episodes in 2018, every one of them featuring something about...surveillance, or detention, or war powers, or movies.

Naturally, we end this week--and 2017--with our patented frivolity segment.  Our theme?  Movies that have significant national security law elements in them.  We only mention a couple, so be sure to send us tips on the ones we missed!