Rational Security 2.0: The ‘Bloody Valentine’ Edition

This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by their Lawfare colleague Dominic Bustillos! They talked through some of the week's biggest national security news, including:

• “Giving Chicken Kiev New Meaning.” The showdown over Ukraine may be headed to a dangerous climax this week, and it’s not clear who, if anyone, is going to blink. What do we make of the Biden administration’s strategy thus far, which has ruled out military involvement in favor of economic sanctions and has focused on exposing Russian misinformation? 
• “Legitimate Political Discord.” The Republican National Committee’s sanction of Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger for their participation in the Jan. 6 committee has triggered a rare backlash among many Republicans, leading chairperson Ronna McDaniel scrambling to explain the RNC’s assertion that the events of Jan. 6 were “legitimate political discourse.” Is this a sign of the strength of Trumpism’s hold on the Republican party, its limits, or both? 
• “I’ve Got 230 Problems and This Fix Is One.” The Senate Judiciary Committee recently advanced the revived EARN IT Act, a proposal that would limit Section 230 liability protections for online social media platforms in order to combat child sexual abuse material. But does the Act risk infringing on legitimate speech too much, as many advocates maintain?

For object lessons, Alan recommended a rainmaker toy that has been invaluable in soothing his toddler. Quinta celebrated the return of her green thumb, as the cuttings from her deceased tropical plant from several weeks back have found new root. Scott endorsed the book (and forthcoming HBO series) “Circe” by Madeline Miller, expressed his excitement for her new forthcoming book “Persephone,” but urged her not to give up on the novelization of “The Tempest” that she was working on previously. And Dominic celebrated the simple joys of a game of basketball, courtesy of a thoughtful gift from his girlfriend.