Today's Headlines and Commentary

President Trump will deliver an address from the Oval Office on Tuesday evening to discuss the government shutdown and border security, reports the New York Times.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to rebuke former President Obama’s vision of the Middle East and his engagement with Iran, in a speech later this week in Cairo, says Politico.

Trump administration officials laid the groundwork for the president to declare a national emergency on the southern border in an attempt to secure funding for a border wall, reports the Washington Post.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would not provide any assurances that Turkey will refrain from targeting Kurdish forces in Syria if the United States withdraws its troops and refused meet with national security adviser John Bolton during his trip to Turkey, says the Washington Post.

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un made an unannounced visit to China, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, details the BBC.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Benjamin Wittes examined how the Department of Justice has backed away from an inaccurate report it released last January, concerning immigrants and terrorism.

Margaret Taylor considered what existing statutory authorities the president could rely on to use already-appropriated funds to build the wall.

Bobby Chesney assessed whether the National Emergencies Act of 1976 allows President Trump to fund a border wall by declaring a national emergency.

Michelle Melton evaluated the national security threats and challenges posed by climate change from today through the year 2100.

Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck shared Episode 105 of The National Security Law Podcast, in which they discuss Syria, the government shutdown and the military commissions.

Matthew Kahn shared the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit’s ruling in Davidson v. Randall, which held that a Virginia county official who blocked a constituent's access to the official’s Facebook page had violated the First Amendment.

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