Today’s Headlines and Commentary

President Trump delivered a speech at the White House yesterday where he denounced “evil” and “crooked” lawmakers and the “top scum” at the FBI. The Treasury Department complied with a request from Senate Republicans for documents related to Hunter Biden’s ties to a Ukranian energy company, reports The New York Times.

Russian officials will visit Turkey on Saturday for talks aimed at stopping the Syrian government’s offensive in northwestern Syria, according to Reuters.

A Senate Intelligence Committee report released yesterday attributed responsibility for a delayed response by the Obama administration in 2016 to partisan divisions and Republican congressional leaders’ reluctance to publicly acknowledge Russian election interference reports The New York Times.

Israeli warplanes have fired missiles at targets near Syria’s capital, killing 23 people, according to the BBC.

The U.S. plans to renew a waiver that allows Iraq to import natural gas and electricity from Iran without facing sanctions, reports The Wall Street Journal. The move aims to ease tensions after diplomatic ties became strained in the aftermath of the Qassem Soleimani strike.

At least three Palestinans were killed during clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday, and an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded on Thursday, according to The New York Times. The surge of violence was precipitated by the release of President Trump’s plan for Middle East peace.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Jeh Johnson argued during a speech at the American Constitution Society Symposium that the War Powers Resolution should be repealed and replaced.

Keith Whittington criticized the House impeachment process for failing to move beyond politics as usual.

Elliot Setzer shared the third volume of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on Russian election interference.

Margaret Taylor shared the final episode of The Report: Impeachment podcast, bringing you the final day of President Trump’s impeachment trial and a discussion from Lawfare’s impeachment experts.

Mikhaila Fogel shared a special edition of The Lawfare Podcast on the Senate’s acquittal of Donald Trump, featuring analysis from Quinta Jurecic, David Priess, Margaret Taylor and Benjamin Wittes.

Ranj Alaaldin analyzed the resiliency of Iraq’s protesters.

Michael Fischerkeller and Richard Harknett argue that cost imposition should be reconceptualized to align with the realities of cyber strategic competition.

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