Topic: Cyber Sanctions

Hillary Clinton called for aggressive cyber attacks against Russian government institutions and oligarchs, citing the Arab Spring as a precedent for such intervention. She denied organizing the 2011 protests in Russia, though critics argue her State Department was deeply involved in those events. The discussion suggests that billions in U.S. aid will likely be funneled to NGOs to continue these types of disruptive operations.

The Biden administration is working on "attribution" for the recent cyber attacks in Ukraine before determining a response. Jake Sullivan warned that if Russia is found to be "pummeling" Ukraine with cyber warfare, the U.S. and its allies will coordinate severe economic consequences. The hosts remain skeptical of the "Russian fingerprints" narrative.

President Obama discussed the U.S. response to Russian election interference, noting that some actions would be public while others would remain classified. He emphasized that the relationship with Russia has deteriorated significantly over several years. The administration maintains that its primary goal was ensuring the integrity of the voting process itself.

New York Times reporter David Sanger discusses the risks of cyber escalation with Russia. The hosts suggest the hacking narrative is a "smoke screen" to cover for potential Democratic voter registration fraud or to provide a pretext for federalizing US elections. They argue the timing of the formal accusation is politically motivated.

President Obama signed an executive order allowing the Treasury Department to impose sanctions on foreign hackers who threaten U.S. national security or economic health. The order uses broad language, including "cyber-enabled activities," which could potentially implicate a wide range of digital behaviors. The definition of a "person" under the order includes both individuals and entities, such as corporations or partnerships, allowing for the freezing of assets and travel bans.