Red, Red Lines

This week on Bombshell we take a long look at Syria with special guest Melissa Dalton: what happened, what questions to ask, what hot takes to avoid, and where to go from here. And then we drink a lot. Also on the table: Devin Nunes and the Great Unmasking, reading tea-leaves in the National Security Council staff and membership, Jared Kushner’s Wes Anderson adventure, how one dresses to go to war, and a few of our favorite spy novels.

Readings:

• Jane Perlez, After Xi Leaves, Chinese Media Assail Strike on Syria  (NYT)
• Declan Walsh, Attacks Shows ISIS’ New Plan: Divide Egypt by Killing Christians (NYT)
• Ryan Lizza, on the House Russia investigation (New Yorker)
• Michael Crowley, Susan Rice Becomes the Target of Conservative Attacks(Politico)
• Susan Hennessey and April Doss, What Intelligence Officials Really Mean when the Talk About Unmasking(Lawfare)
• Susan Hennessey and Ben Wittes, It’s Time for a Select Committee On Russia (Also, We Told You So) (Lawfare)
• Michael Hanna and Sam Heller, Journey into the Unknown (WOTR)
• Carl Prine, Why didn’t Trump drop bombs (San Diego Union-Trib)
• CSIS report, Deterring Iran After the Nuclear Deal
• Adam Weinstein, Jared Goes to Iraq (Task and Purpose)