There is still time

Managing Director Patrick Cole shares why Lawfare matters now

Dear Lawfare Readers and Listeners,

At the start of this month, I explained how your support at even a modest level could have an outsized impact for Lawfare. That remains true.

To put it in perspective, if just one-third of our free subscribers on Substack make even a one-time contribution of $10, we will reach our campaign goal of $250,000.

Yet, perhaps, you are still hesitating because this is another request in a life filled with competing demands. You appreciate Lawfare. Even admire it. But it feels removed from daily life and more like a “nice to have” than a “must have”.

Let me see if I can give you a glimpse into the ethos of Lawfare, why it matters, and why you can make a difference.

Lawfare is something that is becoming increasingly difficult find in the modern media ecosystem: a principled team with an organization culture that believes we owe our readers and listeners fact-based, nonpartisan analysis at the pace of news which they can trust.

In order to uphold that standard, Lawfare chooses to be an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We never allow any funder or outside interest to influence our editorial decisions. We also make all of our core content freely available because we believe informed public debate on national security and law is critical for democracy and shouldn’t sit behind a paywall.

Some of the things my colleagues have shared over the last month drive this point home.

“Lawfare doesn’t exist to tell people what they want to hear. It exists to help people understand what’s actually happening—even when the truth is complicated, uncomfortable, or difficult. That kind of work is becoming harder to sustain everywhere. But it is also becoming more necessary.”

- Jen Patja, Lawfare Audience Engagement Director

“Lawfare publishes diverse perspectives on subjects ranging from war powers to artificial intelligence to the clashes between the courts and the Trump administration. (There is, obviously, some overlap.) Not everyone agrees with each other—far from it. But our authors do agree on the need to disagree honestly and independently, in service of our national security and our democracy.”

- Molly Roberts, Lawfare Senior Editor

“The pace of news these days can feel relentless. We hear over and over that we live in unprecedented times, and in many ways, we do. But if everything is an emergency, nothing is an emergency. That’s why I’m so grateful for Lawfare and the many thoughtful characters—legal scholars, federal workers, journalists, and more—who make up that extended universe. Like you, I turn to them every day to help me parse whether something in the headlines is “awful but lawful,” whether it’s a novel legal interpretation, or whether it’s just a blatant violation of the law.”

- Tyler McBrien, Lawfare Managing Editor

“And make no mistake: Lawfare has impact. Through Lawfare, I’ve been able to help protect key U.S. alliances, preserve important foreign assistance programs, shape critical legislation, and use novel legal arguments to push the executive branch on issues ranging from war powers to international agreements. My colleagues have poked holes in government arguments, uncovered important precedents, secured undisclosed historical documents, and broken stories that are genuinely unbelievable. Together, we’ve shed light on what’s happening inside our national security agencies, done deep dives into critical national security issues, and diligently documented some of the most important investigations and trials of our time. All while producing a constant stream of articles and podcasts that give daily insights on the technical details of national security law and policy to policymakers, journalists, and citizens alike.”

- Scott R. Anderson, Lawfare Senior Editor & General Counsel

In this challenging and constantly changing world, concerns of national security and law intersect with events at the international, national, and local level. The topics are weighty, the issues complicated, and at times they impact people’s daily lives. That’s why Lawfare takes its responsibility to be a trusted, independent, fact-based, nonpartisan resource with the utmost seriousness.

But in order for Lawfare to be there for you, we need you to be there for Lawfare.

So, here’s the kicker, can we count on you?

There is no wrong way to support Lawfare’s work. You can become a monthly supporter at only $10/month, or become a Founding Member for $240/year. If a subscription is beyond your means, please consider a one-time donation.

Thank you for choosing to support Lawfare. It’s an honor to serve our audience and the public good.

If you ever have any questions about Lawfare or making a contribution, please email me at patrick.cole@lawfaremedia.org or call (240) 922-3172.

With deep gratitude,

Patrick Cole
Lawfare Managing Director