How secure is the Homeland?

In this episode, special guest expert Paul Rosenzweig, founder of the Homeland Security consulting company, Red Branch Consulting, and senior advisor to the Chertoff Group joins Politics: Meet Me in the Middle. He was the first deputy assistant secretary for policy in the Department of Homeland Security and he's an author, a consistent contributor to the Atlantic, and a frequent authority on CNN. Paul joins the panel of: host Bill Curtis, and co-hosts Pulitzer Prize winning historian Ed Larson and International Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht to discuss questions of the use of force of the use of Homeland Security "troops" to quell local protests, especially regarding the protests in Portland, Oregon. Did the federal response go too far and is the executive expression of force written too broadly? 

Professor Ed Larson provides historical context of Federal militia entering and occupying a state and the entire panel discusses cybersecurity and the vulnerability of U.S. elections. 

Paul and Jane also discuss the role of the Department of Homeland Security including why and how it was formulated after 9/11, how it has changed in the last 20 years, and the role it is currently playing in today's administration - with a targeted focus on immigration monitoring.​

The conversation moves towards Paul's time at Homeland Security, especially his focus on rules for International Data Protection, what it means, and how it helps track terrorists' movements around the globe, and continues into how this data share personally affects Americans in their day-to-day lives.​

Paul shares his thoughts and experiences on the current state of checks-and-balances and the panel weighs in with their perspectives.

They also delve into the issue of the safety and security of the upcoming election and the role of DHS in protecting the election, including issues with electronic voting versus mail in voting and the problems each option poses.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:35) - History of using Federal troops in local disputes.

(4:00) Federal "Troops" versus Law Enforcement. Border Tactical Unit.

(7:30) Can the Federal Government deploy troops against the wishes of a State Governor?

(13:50) How and why was the Department of Homeland Security DHS created.

(19:00) Cybersecurity and Data.

(23:00) China and data theft.

(27:30) Checks and Balances versus Executive Power.

(35:20) Election security and DHS.

(39:00) Mail-in balloting.

-------------------------------------

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Guest: Paul Rosenzweig - Follow Paul on Twitter @rosenzweigp

Producer: Mike Thomas

Edited by: Aj Moseley

Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.