Today’s Headlines and Commentary

Victoria Gallegos
Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 3:03 PM

Lawfare’s daily roundup of national security news and opinion

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Senate Democrats and Republicans reached a deal on an organizing resolution, reports the Wall Street Journal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated his party was “ready to hit the ground running.” While the details of the organizing resolution are not known, the arrangement will give Democrats control of committees that had been under Republican control during the two weeks of negotiations.

House Republicans will meet later today to discuss the future of Rep. Liz Cheney’s position in leadership and the uproar around Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, writes the New York Times. Cheney voted to impeach former President Trump, while Greene has endorsed conspiracy theories and used violent language. On Thursday, the House will vote to remove Greene from her committee assignments.

The U.S. Supreme Court cancelled upcoming hearings which challenged the Trump administration's border wall and asylum policies, reports the Hill. The cancellation comes after the Biden administration signaled plans to end construction of the wall and suspend Trump’s “remain in Mexico” policy.

A U.S. Navy panel released dozens of recommendations about how to improve equality in the service, writes the Washington Post. The Navy task force, led by Rear Adm. Alvin Holsey, was created in the wake of last year’s racial justice protests. The report stated that the Navy “clearly fell short of adequately addressing societal challenges of today.”

The International Court of Justice ruled it can hear a case filed by Iran against the United States about U.S.-imposed sanctions, according to Reuters. The case was brought forward in 2018, following President Trump’s reimposed sanctions after the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. It will likely be several years before the court reaches a final decision.

The Myanmar police filed charges against ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for illegally importing 10 walkie talkies, reports the Wall Street Journal. Suu Kyi is currently detained in her home, and if found guilty, she could be imprisoned for up to three years.

Facebook has designated Myanmar a “Temporary High-Risk Location” for two weeks, and has outlined a series of measures to remove content that spreads threats of violence or supports the coup, according to Buzzfeed News. The social media company is reportedly also “removing misinformation that delegitimizes the outcome of November’s election.”

Canada formally designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist group on Wednesday, reports the Times. The Canadian government explained its decision stating that the members “espouse misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and/or white supremacist ideologies and associate with white supremacist groups.”

Russia accused the West of hysteria over the jailing of Alexei Navalny and justified the use of force to break up what it described as illegal and unauthorized protests, writes Reuters. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “In recent days we’ve encountered calls for illegal protests several times and measures are taken to prevent them from leading to…worse consequences.”

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Rohini Kurup shared the impeachment brief filed by the House Democrats. Kurup also shared the response filed by former President Trump’s lawyers.

Stewart Baker shared an episode of the Cyberlaw Podcast, featuring an interview with Ciaran Martin, the first director of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Center.

Abby Lemert and Eleanor Runde discussed recent U.S.-China technology and related national security news.

John Foote analyzed the defects of laws pertaining to importing goods made with forced labor, and if the U.S. can end supply chain links to forced Uighur labor.

Jen Patja Howell shared an episode of the Lawfare Podcast, featuring a conversation between Lawfare’s Benjamin Wittes and Alina Polyakova, the president of the Center for European Analysis, about the protests in Russia.

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 openings on our Job Board.


Victoria Gallegos is a senior at the University of Mississippi, studying international studies and Spanish. She is an intern at Lawfare.

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