OUR PICKSIran-Israel War Is Coming | Lessons for the Next Pandemic | Explosion at a Texas Energy Plant, and more

Deal or No Deal, Iran-Israel War Is Coming to the Middle East  (Sean Durns, National Interest)
It seems increasingly likely that Israel will strike Iran to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Microsoft: Russian Cyber Spying Targets 42 Ukraine Allies  (Associated Press / VOA News)
Coinciding with unrelenting cyberattacks against Ukraine, state-backed Russian hackers have engaged in “strategic espionage” against governments, think tanks, businesses and aid groups in 42 countries supporting Kyiv, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.

U.S. Investment in Ukraine’s Energy Security Focuses on Cybersecurity for Power Grid  (Bridget Johnson, HSToday)
DOE official says $10 million being transferred to national labs “with deep expertise on cyber and physical energy infrastructure security.”

DHS ‘Centralizing’ Disciplinary Processes Following 45-Day Review  (Justin Doubleday, Federal News Network)
The Department of Homeland Security is moving to centralize and standardize disciplinary processes for serious misconduct after unpublished reports showed cases of sexual harassment, domestic violence and other misconduct being overlooked at DHS law enforcement components.

Cyber Insurance: Action Needed to Assess Potential Federal Response to Catastrophic Attacks  (GAO)
Cyber insurance can help offset costs of some common cyber risks, like data breaches or ransomware. But cyber risks are growing, and cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure—like utilities or financial services—could affect entire systems and result in catastrophic financial loss.
Insurers and the government’s terrorism risk insurance may not be able to cover such losses. For example, the government’s insurance may only cover cyberattacks if they can be considered “terrorism” under its defined criteria.
GAO recommended that Treasury and Homeland Security jointly assess if a federal response is needed to address the situation.

New Technology Modernization Fund Investments to Boost Network Security for Critical Services  (GSA)
Three new TMF investments support food security for American families, consumer protection, and information access for first responders.

Allies: How Did the U.S. Leave So Many of Its Local Allies in Afghanistan?  (Max Johnston and Bryce Klehm, Lawfare)
This week, Lawfare and Goat Rodeo released the final episode of Allies.

What Caused an Explosion at a Texas Energy Plant? (Jim Geraghty, National Review)
Questions about a possible Russian connection are troubling.

Lessons for the Next Pandemic  (Tevi Troy, National Affairs)
The Covid-19 pandemic is largely behind us, but in time, others will surely follow. To prepare for the next pandemic, we have to learn from the experience of the past two and a half years — to step back and look at what worked and what didn’t — without descending into the noisy lockdown, mask, and vaccine fights that have shaped our pandemic politics.

John Eastman’s Phony “Plenary Authority” Theory  (William Saletan, Bulwark)
How the Trump lawyer and Claremont scholar tried to convince Republicans they could overturn the 2020 election.