Today's Headlines and Commentary

Hannah Kris
Monday, January 27, 2020, 11:18 AM

Lawfare’s daily roundup of national-security news and opinions.

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Former national security adviser John Bolton alleged in a draft of an upcoming book that President Trump withheld aid from Ukraine until the Ukrainian officials helped to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, according to the New York Times. Bolton’s claim challenges arguments made by President Trump’s lawyers during the impeachment trial.

Attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department will meet with at least seven state attorneys general to discuss information from state and federal investigations concerning Google’s potential monopolistic behavior, reports the Wall Street Journal. The meeting has led some to speculate that both groups will join forces.

The mayor of Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus, has announced that he will resign, along with other top Communist Party officials in the city, in order to “appease public indignation” regarding the city’s handling of the outbreak, according to the Times. There have been 2,744 confirmed cases of coronavirus in China and at least 80 deaths from the disease.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was hit by three rockets late Sunday, injuring one, reports the Washington Post. So far, no group has claimed responsibility.

ICYMI: Last Weekend on Lawfare

Margaret Taylor shared the third episode of The Report podcast, which condensed the third day of the impeachment trial into one hour and 38 minutes.

Taylor also shared the fourth episode of The Report podcast, which condensed the fourth day of the impeachment trial into one hour and 39 minutes.

Taylor also shared the fifth episode of The Report podcast, which condensed the fifth day of the impeachment trial into one hour and 14 minutes.

Hannah Kris posted the livestream of the fourth day of the Senate impeachment trial.

Geoffrey S. Corn and Chris Jenks responded to Michael Glennon’s recent Lawfare post and argued that the legality of the Soleimani strike should be assessed according to the law of armed conflict.

Jacob Schulz posted new filings submitted by the House to the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia in both the Mueller grand jury material case and the case about the testimony of former White House Counsel Don McGahn.

Schulz also posted the livestream of the fifth day of the Senate impeachment trial.

Jen Patja Howell shared the most recent episode of The Lawfare Podcast, in which David Priess interviewed Michael Schwirtz about Russian covert actions across Europe.

Joshua Rover analyzed the Trump administration's strategy of deterrence in Iran.

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job opening on our Job Board.


Hannah Kris is a freshman student at Oberlin College pursuing a major in Economics and Math.

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