Today's Headlines and Commentary

The first phase of a new trade deal between the U.S. and China will be signed Wednesday morning, reports the Wall Street Journal. The plan includes approximately $200 billion in Chinese purchases of American exports over the next two years.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has resigned as Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests new changes to the constitution that could allow him to wield power after his term ends in 2024, reports the Journal.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) chose seven House members as impeachment managers for the Senate trial of President Trump, according to the Washington Post. The managers include Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D.-N.Y.).

House Democrats released text messages and documents that contained threatening messages about former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch sent by an associate of former Giuliani colleague Lev Parnas, reports the Post. The documents also exposed new details about efforts by Giuliani to acquire damaging information about Trump’s Democratic opponents in Ukraine.

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn has withdrawn his guilty plea on charges of lying to federal investigators, according to the New York Times.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Bruce Riedel examined the reign of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos.

Amanda Sloat analyzed new developments in Brexit.

Mieke Eoyang and Anisha Hindocha criticized Mitch McConnell’s views on the procedure of the Senate impeachment trial.

Hannah Kris shared a livestream of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s hearing on the Trump administration’s Iran policy. Kris also shared a livestream of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s hearing on DHS efforts to prevent child deaths in custody.

Jacob Schulz posted new materials that were provided to the House of Representatives by Lev Parnas to be included in the impeachment inquiry.

Jen Patja Howell shared a new episode of The Lawfare Podcast, which features David Priess, Molly Reynolds, Jonathan Shaub, Margaret Taylor and Benjamin Wittes imagining what the Senate impeachment trial will look like.

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