Today's Headlines and Commentary

Two unnamed sources close to new Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said on Thursday that Whitaker does not plan on recusing himself from the Mueller investigation, and is skeptical of efforts to force testimony from the president through subpoena, reports the Washington Post.

A U.S. destroyer narrowly avoided collision with a Chinese warship in the South China Sea on Thursday; the incident market the closest call that the U.S. and China have had in the region as the ships came within 45 yards of each other, says the New York Times.

The Trump administration is considering labeling Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist group, reports the Post. Critics argue that a formal designation by the State Department would further worsen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

A new U.N. estimate finds that 3 million Venezuelans have fled the country due to its economic collapse, making the crisis comparable to mass migrations out of war-ravaged Syria, South Sudan and Afghanistan, says the Post.

The Taliban, the Afghan government and representatives of 11 countries attended a peace conference hosted by the Russian Federation focused on working toward a peaceful Afghanistan, says the Post.

The Trump administration issued a presidential proclamation on Thursday denying asylum rights to migrants who enter the country between designated ports of entry, reports the Post.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Stephen Bates argued that Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski’s Road Map may not be a good guide for Robert Mueller.

John E. Bies explored three lingering questions related to Matthew Whitaker’s appointment as acting attorney general: Is the appointment constitutional? Does the president have authority under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to appoint him? And does Whitaker have obligations to recuse from overseeing the Mueller investigation?

Jeremy Gordon provided a comprehensive preview of the oral argument in In Re: Grand Jury Investigation, Andrew Miller’s suit protesting the constitutionality of the Mueller investigation.

Matthew Kahn shared the Justice Department’s amended rule on asylum on the southern border.

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