Stories We’re Watching

Turkey, Iran, & Russia Meet in Sochi

Earlier today, Presidents Putin, Erdogan, and Rouhani met in Sochi to hold talks on Syria. The meeting coincides with the US-led, Iran-focused summit in Warsaw. The three leaders discussed a possible joint operation in Syria’s northwestern Idlib district but did not announce specifics. Tensions between Turkey and Russia have increased due to Putin’s continued support for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Erdogan’s disdain for the Syrian leader. The three leaders have worked more closely to fill a potential security vacuum following President Trump’s announcement of US troop withdrawal.

• Voice of America: Turkey, Russia at Odds Over Syria Ahead of Key Summit
• Deutsche Welle: Putin, Erdogan, Rouhani talk Syria in Sochi
• RFE/RL: Russia, Turkey, Iran See US Pullout From Syria As ‘Positive Step
• Reuters: Russia to Turkey: You can’t have Syrian safe zone without Assad’s consent

Saudi Celebrates Valentine’s Day as EU Adds the Magic Kingdom to Money-laundering Blacklist

While speaking at the US-led Warsaw summit, Vice President Mike Pence called on the EU to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal. Instead, Germany, France, and the UK are preparing to implement a new trade mechanism to bypass US sanctions on Iran. The EU has also proposed adding Saudi Arabia to a money-laundering blacklist, a move analysts call a rebuke to the pro-Saudi Trump administration. Meanwhile, in Riyadh, Saudis are celebrating Valentine’s Day for the first time since religious police announced a fatwa in 2008 against selling anything red or heart-shaped on February 14.

• Reuters: Pence calls on EU to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal
• CNBC: The EU’s ‘dirty-money’ blacklist now includes Saudi Arabia and some
• Saudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia regrets EU money laundering list proposal
• Bloomberg: Saudi Arabia Is Quietly Letting Valentine’s Day Happen
• NPR: Concern Grows For Loujain Al-Hathloul, Jailed Saudi Women

House Votes to End Support for Saudi-backed War in Yemen

Yesterday, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution to end US military support for the Saudi-backed war in Yemen. The resolution is a direct check on the Trump administration’s foreign policy. Since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi last October, Saudi has faced growing criticism over human rights violations at home and abroad. The Saudi-led war has devastated Yemen’s civilian population, pushing nearly 10 million to the brink of famine. And, several high profile asylum cases have highlighted gross human rights abuses against women in the Kingdom. US Senators have called on Google & Apple to drop Saudi’s Absher app which allows Saudi men to manage women under their guardianship.

Axios: House votes to end military support for Saudi-backed war in Yemen
Reuters: Starving girl shows impact of Yemen war, economic collapse
WSJ: House Votes to Withdraw US From War in Yemen
Financial Times: Yemen’s forgotten conflict will leave a deadly legacy

Mueller Updates: Judge Rules Manafort Lied to Investigators in Breach of Plea Deal

A federal judge has ruled that Paul Manafort lied to federal investigators in breach of a plea deal. Although the judge declined to charge the former Trump campaign chairman with new crimes, the ruling voids the special counsel’s obligations under the initial plea bargain. Manafort’s communications with Russian political consultant Konstantin Kilimnik have come under increasing scrutiny as the Mueller investigation zeros in on the role of Russian intelligence operatives. Manafort is scheduled to be sentenced in DC next month.

• Axios: Judge rules Paul Manafort violated Mueller plea deal by lying
• CNN: Robert Mueller’s report is coming whether Trump likes it or not
• Daily Beast: Mueller May Find ‘No Collusion,’ but Still Find Crimes
• Lawfare: William Barr’s Remarkable Non-Commitments About the Mueller Report

British Parliament Rejects Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit Strategy

Earlier today, the British House of Commons rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy. May’s current deal would have prevented a no-deal exit, and right wing MPs have objected strongly to such a requirement. MPs also proposed several amendments on extending the Brexit deadline past March 29; on publishing government studies on the impact of a no-deal scenario; and on reopening negotiations with the EU over the Irish backstop. The UK is set to exit the EU, deal or not, at the end of next month.

• Atlantic Council: May’s Brexit Defeat Splits Parties and Could Prompt a Constitutional
• Reuters: Ireland under pressure over border plans for no-deal Brexit
• The Guardian: Dutch PM on Brexit: UK is a waning country too small to stand
• DutchNews: Brexit is a blue fluffy monster, according to the Dutch
• The Independent: Brexit vote – live: Theresa May braces for humiliation as Tory rebellion

From Deep State Radio

PODCAST: What If We Were President?

What if Rosa Brooks was president?  What if Kori Schake were?  What about Evelyn Farkas?  We live in an era of strong women candidates…what about strong women from the Deep State?  Tune in and you will discover that’s the answer to all our problems…in what will probably be your favorite Deep State Radio episode effort.  Featuring: Pepin the Short!

WASHINGTON FOR BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: Twitter’s Dynamic Duo: My Funny, Profanity Laced, Insightful Conversation with Rick Wilson and Molly Jong-fast 

They’re twitter’s dynamic duo: he’s the peanut butter to her jelly, the Mickey to her Minnie, the Batman to…you get the point. These two guests are hilarious and when you bring them together on this podcast, THEY ARE FIRE. You’d think that leading GOP strategist Rick Wilson and liberal writer Molly Jong-Fast would have nothing in common, but you’re wrong. They have two very important things in common; they hate Trump and they love our country. In this podcast we talked about twitter trolls (Molly LOVES them) the best nickname ever given to a shady Governor (thank you Rick) and guesses for 2020, along with a ton of other politichitchat. Tune in!

PODCAST: What Do Virginia’s Confederate Monuments Have to Do with Foreign Policy?

Virginia’s leadership mess obscures deeper problems within the state…and the country.  How do our flaws–from racism to anti-semitism to our corrupt current leadership–impact America’s standing and create opportunities for our enemies? Join Rosa Brooks, Evelyn Farkas and host, David Rothkopf for an introspective journey into our moment and what to do about it. Tune in!