Today's Headlines and Commentary

The Senate approved the rules for the impeachment trial early Wednesday morning, according to the Washington Post. The rules allow both sides more time to present their case and automatically enter any findings from the House impeachment probe into evidence. The impeachment trial will resume on Wednesday afternoon. 

Third-party investigative analysis found with “medium to high confidence” that Amazon chief Jeff Bezos’ cell phone was hacked after Bezos received a WhatsApp video message from an account allegedly operated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reports the New York Times. 

The Trump administration announced plans to expand travel restrictions to seven new countries, according to the Wall Street Journal. The affected countries are Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania. The Journal reports that the restriction will likely not take the form of a ban, but rather as restrictions on types of visas.

Abdolhossein Mojaddami, a commander of Iran’s Basij militia and an ally of Qassem Soleimani, was shot dead Wednesday in Darkhovin, Iraq, reports Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Susan Hennessey and Benjamin Wittes announced their new book, “Unmaking the Presidency: Donald Trump’s War on the World’s Most Powerful Office.”

David V. Gioe analyzed why the so-called Afghanistan Papers published by the Washington Post did not inspire a response equal to that triggered by previous releases of documents, such as the Pentagon Papers.

William Ford chronicled a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Jan. 15. featuring John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction.

Hadley Baker posted a livestream of the Senate impeachment trial.
Baker also shared the House Managers’ reply brief to President Trump’s brief in the Senate impeachment trial.

Hannah Kris posted Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R.-Ky.)  proposed rules for the Senate impeachment trial.

Matt Perault reflected on the changing perception of the internet in the ten years since Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s internet freedom speech. 

Jen Patja Howell shared the most recent episode of The Lawfare Podcast, a recording of a launch event for “Unmaking the Presidency: Donald Trump’s War on the World’s Most Powerful Office,” the new book by Susan Hennessey and Benjamin Wittes. 

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