Stories We’re Watching

Huawei Sues the US Government over ‘Unconstitutional’ Equipment Ban

The world’s largest telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei has filed suit against the US government in a federal Texas court earlier today. Huawei alleges that the National Defense Authorization Act, which banned federal agencies from using their equipment, was unconstitutional. Huawei equipment was banned last August over security concerns that the equipment could be used to conduct state-sponsored espionage on behalf of China. Legal experts expect the Texas court to dismiss the case over issues of national security and separation of powers.

• Reuters: Huawei fights back against US black out with Texas lawsuit
• NPR: Huawei Sues US After Congress Bans Government Purchase
• Fortune: Why Chinese Telecom Giant Huawei Is Suing the US Government

Lawyers File First War Crimes Cases Against Assad at the ICC

This week, lawyers have submitted the first war crimes cases against Syrian President Bashar Assad. So far, Assad has avoided persecution since Syria is not party to the Rome Statute. The lawsuits were filed against Assad on behalf of 28 refugees who fled to Jordan during the country’s brutal civil war. The legal teams have called on the ICC to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the Assad regime.

• Haaretz: How Assad Defied the Odds, Won in Syria and Pushed the US Out
• BBC: Syria war: Lawyers submit first war crimes cases against Assad
• WSJ: ‘Assad or We Burn the Country’: How the Syrian Regime Prevailed
• The Guardian: Syrian refugees launch legal bid to try Assad for crimes against humanity

Israeli Electoral Committee Bans Arab Party, Approves Far-right

Yesterday, Israel’s Central Elections Committee formally banned an Israeli-Arab party from upcoming elections after Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party filed a motion to disqualify the party. The Committee then approved far-right, ultra-nationalists candidates who have been accused of blatant racism. Regional analysts expect the ban to be challenged in Israel’s Supreme Court. Meanwhile in the US, remarks by Ilhan Omar, a newly-elected lawmaker, about the power of Israeli lobbies have exposed divides within the US Jewish population and the Democrat party.

• Reuters: Far-rightists cleared for Israel election, Arab party blocked
• Haaretz: US Jewish Groups Slam Israeli Decision to Let Kahanist Party Run
• VOX: The Ilhan Omar controversy shows how little we care about Palestinian lives

Saudi Arabia Rebuked by 36 Countries over Human Rights Violations

Earlier today, 36 countries including Canada, Australia, and all 28 members of the EU formally rebuked Saudi Arabia over human rights violations. The three dozen countries joined the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s call for Saudi Arabia to release 10 detained activists and to cooperate with the investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 9 of the 10 jailed activists are women being held for protesting the Kingdom’s oppressive guardianship laws. The detained women are believed to have been tortured and sexually abused.

• CNBC: China won’t judge you: Why Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is betting
• INSIDER: An American woman has been trapped in Saudi Arabia with her 4
• Reuters: Europeans, Canada, Australia issue first rebuke of Saudi Arabia at
• Washington Post: Saudi Arabia Scores a Big Win on Dirty Money

Mueller Updates: Manafort Faces First Round of Sentencing

Earlier today, a judge of the US District Court in Alexandria, VA sentenced Paul Manafort for tax and bank fraud after rejecting his request for a reduced sentence. Although the prosecution didn’t request a specific sentence, prosecutors allege that Manafort behaved with blatant disregard for the law. The former Trump campaign chairman faces his second sentencing in a Washington DC court next week.

• Bloomberg: Manafort To Be Sentenced
• Reuters: Megaphones and more: Mueller details Russian U.S. election meddling

From Deep State Radio

NATIONAL SECURITY MAGAZINE: AMB. TIM ROEMER: IS OUR MOST NEGLECTED BIG POWER RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIA? AND WHAT’S AHEAD FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2020?

America and India are entering a rough patch in the relationship between the world’s two biggest democracies.  Trade issues are at the center of the current trouble but the problems go deeper.  And of course, we have seen disturbing tension between India and Pakistan recently.  Is this relationship getting the attention from the Trump Administration it deserves?  Is the attention its getting helping or hurting.  We speak with former US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer about this and much more…including his perspectives as a former Congressman from Indiana about how the Democrats can win the middle of America and who can do it.  You won’t want to miss this great conversation with an exceptional American leader. Tune in.

WASHINGTON FOR BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: THE PODCAST THAT ALMOST DROVE AMERICA’S SWEETHEART TO DRINK: A CONVERSATION WITH VALERIE BERTINELLI

It’s not often that America’s Sweetheart exclaims “this conversation is going to drive me to drink.” That’s the sign of a fiery conversation about Trump, politics and giving back. Valerie Bertinelli has graced our tv screens as an actress and as a food personality.  Valerie is also a passionate critic of this administration and that’s where things got interesting. In this podcast, Valerie talks politics, dream 2020 candidates, twitter clap backs, dog & cat spooning and of course birthday meals (it’s Valerie, there had to be food talk.) Join us for a funny, candid wide ranging conversation with Valerie Bertinelli.

PODCAST: TIME FOR A TIME OUT FROM THE SAUDIS?

Jared Kushner is in charge of the US relations with the Saudis (among others).  How’s that working for us?  Is he the one giving the Saudis the thumbs up that they can abuse human rights to their hearts content without any consequences if they only accept his hare-brained scheme for Middle East Peace (which will never happen)?  Is it time for a new approach?  And what about the Congressional investigations into Trump?  Bibi’s indictment?  Brexit?  Ed Luce of the Financial Times and Rosa Brooks of Georgetown University Law School join host David Rothkopf to discuss all this and more.  Essential listening.  Join us!