Today’s Headlines and Commentary

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FBI agents were looking for classified documents related to nuclear weapons in their search at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, according to the Washington Post. The agents took four sets of top secret documents, three sets of secret documents, and three sets of confidential documents in the search. The agency also removed 20 boxes of material, documents related to the pardon of Roger Stone, and information concerning the French President Emmanuel Macron.

A judge in Southern Florida approved the release of the search warrant executed at former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The warrant permitted the seizure of classified materials, communications regarding national security information, Presidential records during Trump’s time in office, and evidence related to the “alteration, destruction, or concealment” of classified documents and Presidential Records.

Authorities shot and killed Ricky Shiffer, the armed man who attempted to break into the FBI’s Cincinnati office on Thursday, after an hours-long standoff. Officials said that law enforcement had been investigating Shiffer’s potential involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Authorities also confirmed that they were looking into whether he attended a rally the night before the attack. On Thursday, a person using an account with Shiffer’s name on Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform, seems to have confessed to the attempted break in.

Author Salmon Rushdie was attacked on stage during a lecture in Chautauqua, New York. Rushdie was rushed to a local hospital via helicopter and is now in surgery. His condition is currently unknown. Witnesses say he suffered multiple stab wounds, but appeared to have a pulse following the attack. It is unclear why the attacker stabbed Rushdie. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for Rushdie’s execution following the 1988 publication of Rushdie’s novel, “The Satanic Verses.”

The secretary-general of Kenya said that the presidential election was rigged, without offering proof to support the claim. The allegations were made as media outlet election tallies have slowed amid varying counts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping intends to meet with President Biden in-person in November. The meeting would be the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders since the start of Biden’s presidency in November 2021. Xi’s visit to Southeast Asia—where the meeting is expected to be held—will be the first international trip the Chinese president has taken in almost three years.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Jen Patja Howell shared an episode of the Lawfare Podcast in which Scott R. Anderson sat down with Sarah Yerkes and Sharan Grewel to discuss Tunisia’s new constitution which gives the country’s president expansive powers.

David Priess shared an episode of Chatter in which Shane Harris sat down with Mary Louise Kelly to discuss how Kelly got her start in journalism, her travels around the world, and how journalism influences her fiction writing.

Adam Segal discussed a new report on U.S. cyber policy from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and compared it to a report on the same topic nine years ago from CFR, both of which he was the project director for.

Matt Gluck and Katherine Pompilio shared a Justice Department motion to unseal parts of a search warrant executed at former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.

Hyemin Han and Tia Sewell shared a Justice Department motion in opposition to a petition for a writ of habeas corpus regarding the transfer of Guantánamo detainee Majid Khan.

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