Today's Headlines and Commentary

Maria Butina, a Russian gun rights activist arrested in July for involvement in an alleged conspiracy to influence U.S. politics, pleaded guilty to one conspiracy charge on Thursday, reports the Washington Post.

In the wake of the arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities on request of the United States, China has detained two Canadian citizens on accusations of harming national security, says the BBC.

Turkey announced that it has planned a military operation into northern Syria to target Kurdish militia fighters, according to Reuters. The Pentagon has warned any unilateral military action on Turkey’s part would be “unacceptable.”

The government of Yemen and the country’s Houthi rebels have agreed to a cease-fire in the embattled port of Hodeidah to allow humanitarian access, says the Wall Street Journal. The cease-fire follows a week of U.N.-led peace talks in Sweden.

After surviving a vote of no confidence on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May has stated that she will not lead the Conservative Party into the next general election, scheduled for 2022, reports the BBC.

Israeli security forces killed two Palestinians who were the subject of separate manhunts in connection with deadly attacks in the West Bank. Violence continued Thursday morning after a Palestinian gunman killed at least two Israelis, according to the New York Times.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Bobby Chesney examined an oral history interview with attorney general nominee Bill Barr, and discussed what it says about Barr’s views on the Constitution’s allocation of war powers.

Kathleen Claussen provided an overview of the latest battles in the U.S.’s various trade wars.

Julian Ku examined the complex legal and political environment surrounding the arrest and detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.

Bobby Chesney and Steve Vladeck shared this week’s episode of the National Security Law Podcast, covering Barr’s nomination to be attorney general, updates in Guantanamo litigation and some news on national security law hotspots around the globe.

Jen Patja Howell shared the latest edition of the Rational Security Podcast, in which Tamara Cofman Wittes, Shane Harris and Susan Hennessey discussed the slew of updates in the Russia investigation, U.S.-China tension and the relationship between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and White House advisor Jared Kushner.

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