politicususa--2020-01-23--Schumer Rips GOP Senate Cowards For Fearing The Truth

Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) where he blasted Republicans for fearing and not wanting to know the truth about Trump and Ukraine .
I don ’ t see how any senator , Democrat or Republican , could sit on the floor , listen to Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers and not demand witnesses and documents , unless , that is , they ’ re not interested in the truth , that they ’ re afraid of the truth , that they know the president is hiding the truth .
I think the case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of my Republican colleagues are desperate to talk about anything else .
They ’ re so eager to change the conversation from witnesses and documents from over the question of fairness of the trial that they ’ re inventing shiny objects and so-called outrages .
We don ’ t know what the next one will be , but it will surely be something irrelevant to a fair trial .
Because they don ’ t want to debate that issue .
So they try to turn you , the press and the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has nothing to do with the make no mistake about it , the issue of relevant evidence , documents and witnesses , is going to come back up and Senate Republicans will have the power to bring that evidence into the trial .
Sen. Schumer made the point that public pressure is the only way to end the Republican obstruction of a fair trial .
If the public pressures the vulnerable 2020 Republican Senate incumbents , they will pressure McConnell , and changes will be made .
The Republican incumbents who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big mistake in standing with McConnell and hoping that voters forget about their cover-up for Trump , but voters in Arizona , Colorado , North Carolina , and Maine will remember , and those Republicans who are helping McConnell cover up Trump ’ s crimes stand to lose their seats in November .
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Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) where he blasted Republicans for fearing and not wanting to know the truth about Trump and Ukraine.
Schumer said:
I don’t see how any senator, Democrat or Republican, could sit on the floor, listen to Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers and not demand witnesses and documents, unless, that is, they’re not interested in the truth, that they’re afraid of the truth, that they know the president is hiding the truth. I think the case for witnesses and documents is so self-evident that many of my Republican colleagues are desperate to talk about anything else. They’re so eager to change the conversation from witnesses and documents from over the question of fairness of the trial that they’re inventing shiny objects and so-called outrages.
We don’t know what the next one will be, but it will surely be something irrelevant to a fair trial. Because they don’t want to debate that issue. So they try to turn you, the press and the American people away to look at something else that has nothing to do with the make no mistake about it, the issue of relevant evidence, documents and witnesses, is going to come back up and Senate Republicans will have the power to bring that evidence into the trial.
Sen. Schumer made the point that public pressure is the only way to end the Republican obstruction of a fair trial. If the public pressures the vulnerable 2020 Republican Senate incumbents, they will pressure McConnell, and changes will be made.
The Republican incumbents who are facing difficult reelection campaigns are making a big mistake in standing with McConnell and hoping that voters forget about their cover-up for Trump, but voters in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, and Maine will remember, and those Republicans who are helping McConnell cover up Trump’s crimes stand to lose their seats in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Adam Schiff Powerfully Rallies A Nation To Rid Itself Of Donald Trump

Adam Schiff was addressing the nation as much as he was talking to Republican Senators when he said that Donald Trump can ’ t be trusted to do what ’ s right .
Let ’ s say they start interfering in our election again to help Donald Trump .
Can you have the least bit of confidence that Donald Trump will stand up to them and protect our national interest over his own personal interest ?
You know you can ’ t .
Which makes him dangerous to this country .
You know you can ’ t .
You know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
None of us can .
None of us can .
What happens if China got the message ?
Now , you can say , well , he ’ s just joking , of course , he didn ’ t really mean China should investigate the Bidens .
You know that ’ s no joke .
Now , maybe you could have argued three years ago when he said , hey , Russia , if you ’ re listening , hack Hillary ’ s emails .
Maybe you could give him a freebie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now we know better .
Hours after he did that , we know Russia , in fact , tried to hack Hillary ’ s emails .
There ’ s no mulligan here when it comes to our national security .
So what if China does overtly or covertly start to help the Trump campaign ?
You think he ’ s going to call them out on it ?
Or do you think he ’ s going to give them a better trade deal on it ?
Can any of us really have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal interests ahead of the national interests ?
Is there really any evidence in this presidency that should give us the ironclad confidence that he would do so ?
You know you can ’ t count on him to do that .
That ’ s the sad truth .
You know you can ’ t count on him to do that .
If right doesn ’ t matter , if right doesn ’ t matter , it doesn ’ t matter how good the constitution is .
It doesn ’ t matter how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t matter how good or bad our advocacy in this trial is .
It doesn ’ t matter how well-written the oa impartiality is .
If right doesn ’ t matter , we ’ re lost .
If truth doesn ’ t matter , we ’ re lost .
The framers couldn ’ t protect us from ourselves , if right and truth don ’ t matter .
And you know that what he did was not right .
You know , that ’ s what they do in the old country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from or the old country that my great-grandfather came from , or the old countries that your ancestors came from or that maybe you came from .
But here , right is supposed to matter .
It ’ s what ’ s made us the greatest nation on Earth .
No constitution can protect us if right doesn ’ t matter anymore .
And you know you can ’ t trust this president to do what ’ s right for this country .
You can trust he will do what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll do it now .
He ’ s done it before .
He ’ ll do it for the next several months .
He ’ ll do it in the election if he ’ s allowed to .
This is why , if you find him guilty , you must find that he should be removed .
Because right matters .
Because right matters .
And the truth matters .
Otherwise , we are lost .
When the history of this impeachment trial is documented , Adam Schiff ’ s spellbinding speech will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country more than he was addressing the lost cause Republican Senate majority .
Right and wrong are on trial as much as Donald Trump , and Adam Schiff ’ s was as much about why Trump needs to be voted out of office as much as a call for his removal .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Adam Schiff was addressing the nation as much as he was talking to Republican Senators when he said that Donald Trump can’t be trusted to do what’s right.
Schiff said:
Let’s say they start interfering in our election again to help Donald Trump. Can you have the least bit of confidence that Donald Trump will stand up to them and protect our national interest over his own personal interest? You know you can’t. Which makes him dangerous to this country. You know you can’t. You know you can’t count on him. None of us can. None of us can. What happens if China got the message? Now, you can say, well, he’s just joking, of course, he didn’t really mean China should investigate the Bidens. You know that’s no joke. Now, maybe you could have argued three years ago when he said, hey, Russia, if you’re listening, hack Hillary’s emails. Maybe you could give him a freebie and say he was joking. But now we know better. Hours after he did that, we know Russia, in fact, tried to hack Hillary’s emails.
Video:
Adam Schiff tells Republicans that they know they can't trust Trump to put America ahead of his own personal interests. pic.twitter.com/b4L4A2rypn — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 24, 2020
There’s no mulligan here when it comes to our national security. So what if China does overtly or covertly start to help the Trump campaign? You think he’s going to call them out on it? Or do you think he’s going to give them a better trade deal on it? Can any of us really have the confidence that Donald Trump will put his personal interests ahead of the national interests? Is there really any evidence in this presidency that should give us the ironclad confidence that he would do so? You know you can’t count on him to do that. That’s the sad truth. You know you can’t count on him to do that.
Schiff closed with:
If right doesn’t matter, if right doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter how good the constitution is. It doesn’t matter how brilliant the framers were.
It doesn’t matter how good or bad our advocacy in this trial is. It doesn’t matter how well-written the oa impartiality is. If right doesn’t matter, we’re lost. If truth doesn’t matter, we’re lost. The framers couldn’t protect us from ourselves, if right and truth don’t matter. And you know that what he did was not right. You know, that’s what they do in the old country, that Colonel Vindman’s father came from or the old country that my great-grandfather came from, or the old countries that your ancestors came from or that maybe you came from. But here, right is supposed to matter.
It’s what’s made us the greatest nation on Earth. No constitution can protect us if right doesn’t matter anymore. And you know you can’t trust this president to do what’s right for this country. You can trust he will do what’s right for Donald Trump. He’ll do it now. He’s done it before. He’ll do it for the next several months. He’ll do it in the election if he’s allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters. Because right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost.
Video:
Adam Schiff tells Republicans that they can't trust Trump to do what is right for the country. pic.twitter.com/WSaTLWgbe5 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 24, 2020
When the history of this impeachment trial is documented, Adam Schiff’s spellbinding speech will stand out. Schiff was addressing the country more than he was addressing the lost cause Republican Senate majority.
Right and wrong are on trial as much as Donald Trump, and Adam Schiff’s was as much about why Trump needs to be voted out of office as much as a call for his removal.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Democrats May Only Need 1 More Vote To Get Witnesses At Trump’s Trial

Three Republican Senators are open to voting for witnesses at Trump ’ s trial , which means that Democrats may only be one vote short of a fair trial .
Three GOP senators have expressed some level of support for calling witnesses , and if they joined all Democrats , it would result in a 50-50 tie and likely be defeated .
Unless Chief Justice John Roberts shocked Washington by wading in with a tie-break , Democrats need one more Republican to break ranks and upend GOP plans for a swift Trump acquittal .
That ’ s got both parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a retiring defender of the Senate as an institution who ’ s occasionally bucked his party , but he also counts Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a longtime ally .
He ’ s more hesitant to criticize Trump than some other Republicans but has also said it was “ inappropriate ” for Trump to ask foreign governments to investigate his political opponents .
The Politico report was backed up by Jonathan Swan from Axios : The Republican dream of a quick sham impeachment trial could be dead in a few days .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a witness agreement , it will be a sign that he doesn ’ t have the votes to block witnesses .
Republicans who are facing reelection want the trial to look fair , but it might be the retiring Lamar Alexander that gets witnesses at Trump ’ s trial .
One suspects that the floodgates could open on witnesses if the fourth Republican breaks with the Majority Leader .
The public pressure is working as Democrats might be a single vote from making Trump ’ s nightmares come true .
For more discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and MSNBC group .

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Three Republican Senators are open to voting for witnesses at Trump’s trial, which means that Democrats may only be one vote short of a fair trial.
Politico reported:
Three GOP senators have expressed some level of support for calling witnesses, and if they joined all Democrats, it would result in a 50-50 tie and likely be defeated. Unless Chief Justice John Roberts shocked Washington by wading in with a tie-break, Democrats need one more Republican to break ranks and upend GOP plans for a swift Trump acquittal.
That’s got both parties eagerly eyeing Alexander. He’s a retiring defender of the Senate as an institution who’s occasionally bucked his party, but he also counts Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a longtime ally. He’s more hesitant to criticize Trump than some other Republicans but has also said it was “inappropriate” for Trump to ask foreign governments to investigate his political opponents.
The Politico report was backed up by Jonathan Swan from Axios:
This reporting squares with everything I heard from Republican aides on the Hill today https://t.co/X7vq39CwXW — Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) January 24, 2020
The Republican dream of a quick sham impeachment trial could be dead in a few days. If Republicans suddenly start negotiating with Democrats on a witness agreement, it will be a sign that he doesn’t have the votes to block witnesses.
Republicans who are facing reelection want the trial to look fair, but it might be the retiring Lamar Alexander that gets witnesses at Trump’s trial. One suspects that the floodgates could open on witnesses if the fourth Republican breaks with the Majority Leader.
The public pressure is working as Democrats might be a single vote from making Trump’s nightmares come true.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Republican Senators Admit Trump Doesn’t Know What He’s Talking About

Former Sen. Claire McCaskill said that Republican Senators tell her that Trump has no idea what he is talking about .
McCaskill said on MSNBC , “ I mean , that ’ s the thing about the Republican senators in that chamber , they know this guy doesn ’ t know whit about public policy .
You should hear stories they tell when they come back from meetings at the White House .
I have Republican senators tell me they were in a meeting at the White House with the president on health care and it was clear he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I mean , what , just yesterday , he does a meeting with the Iraqi leader — Of the Kurdistan in Iraq .
And he starts talking about safe zones in Syria .
He doesn ’ t even know the difference .
So the notion that he is drilled down in Ukraine and is trying to implement public policy , nobody in that chamber believes it.
” Republican Senators know that Trump is lying .
They know that his actions toward Ukraine have nothing to do with public policy because Trump knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public policy .
Yet , Republicans are going to vote to not convict and remove this president from office .
Every single Republican Senator who votes not to convict Trump is an accomplice to his crimes and must face the verdict of the voters in their home states in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Former Sen. Claire McCaskill said that Republican Senators tell her that Trump has no idea what he is talking about.
McCaskill said on MSNBC, “I mean, that’s the thing about the Republican senators in that chamber, they know this guy doesn’t know whit about public policy. You should hear stories they tell when they come back from meetings at the White House. I have Republican senators tell me they were in a meeting at the White House with the president on health care and it was clear he had no idea what he was talking about. I mean, what, just yesterday, he does a meeting with the Iraqi leader — Of the Kurdistan in Iraq. And he starts talking about safe zones in Syria. He doesn’t even know the difference. So the notion that he is drilled down in Ukraine and is trying to implement public policy, nobody in that chamber believes it.”
Video:
Claire McCaskill says on MSNBC that Republican Senators have told her that Trump doesn't know what he is talking about. pic.twitter.com/vPGWIwVBX6 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 24, 2020
Republican Senators know that Trump is lying. They know that his actions toward Ukraine have nothing to do with public policy because Trump knows nothing and doesn’t care about public policy.
Yet, Republicans are going to vote to not convict and remove this president from office.
Every single Republican Senator who votes not to convict Trump is an accomplice to his crimes and must face the verdict of the voters in their home states in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Even Fox News Admits There’s Ample Evidence To Remove Trump

Fox News ’ s Judge Andrew Napolitano broke down the evidence against Trump and concluded that there is ample evidence to support Trump ’ s conviction and removal .
We know that obstruction of Congress is a crime .
Just ask former New York Yankees pitching great Roger Clemens , who was tried for it and acquitted .
We also know that obstruction of Congress — by ordering subordinates not to comply with House impeachment subpoenas — is an impeachable offense .
We know that because the House Judiciary Committee voted to charge President Nixon with obstruction of Congress when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the full House voted for an article of impeachment against President Clinton when he refused to surrender subpoenaed evidence .
Where does all this leave us at the outset of Trump ’ s Senate trial ?
It leaves us with valid , lawful , constitutional arguments for Trump ’ s impeachment that he ought to take seriously .
That is , unless he knows he will be acquitted because Republican senators have told him so .
Whoever may have whispered that into his ear is unworthy of sitting as a juror and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice ” and fidelity to the Constitution and the law .
What is required for removal of the president ?
A demonstration of presidential commission of high crimes and misdemeanors , of which in Trump ’ s case the evidence is ample and uncontradicted .
Democrats continue to say that the evidence is overwhelming because it is .
There are documents , first-hand witnesses , and the president himself has admitted that he tried to blackmail Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden .
There is more than enough evidence to support the conviction and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The volume of evidence has yet to be contested by Trump ’ s defenders or his attorneys .
Trump and his team have thrown smears and conspiracies at the wall in the hope that something sticks .
The evidence is so completely uncontested that even Fox News ’ s top legal analyst is admitting that there is more than enough to support removing Trump from office .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Fox News’s Judge Andrew Napolitano broke down the evidence against Trump and concluded that there is ample evidence to support Trump’s conviction and removal.
Napolitano wrote on FoxNews.com:
We know that obstruction of Congress is a crime. Just ask former New York Yankees pitching great Roger Clemens, who was tried for it and acquitted. We also know that obstruction of Congress — by ordering subordinates not to comply with House impeachment subpoenas — is an impeachable offense. We know that because the House Judiciary Committee voted to charge President Nixon with obstruction of Congress when he refused to comply with subpoenas. And the full House voted for an article of impeachment against President Clinton when he refused to surrender subpoenaed evidence.
Where does all this leave us at the outset of Trump’s Senate trial?
It leaves us with valid, lawful, constitutional arguments for Trump’s impeachment that he ought to take seriously. That is, unless he knows he will be acquitted because Republican senators have told him so. Whoever may have whispered that into his ear is unworthy of sitting as a juror and has violated the oath of “impartial justice” and fidelity to the Constitution and the law.
What is required for removal of the president? A demonstration of presidential commission of high crimes and misdemeanors, of which in Trump’s case the evidence is ample and uncontradicted.
Democrats continue to say that the evidence is overwhelming because it is. There are documents, first-hand witnesses, and the president himself has admitted that he tried to blackmail Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden.
There is more than enough evidence to support the conviction and removal of Donald Trump from office. The volume of evidence has yet to be contested by Trump’s defenders or his attorneys. Trump and his team have thrown smears and conspiracies at the wall in the hope that something sticks.
The evidence is so completely uncontested that even Fox News’s top legal analyst is admitting that there is more than enough to support removing Trump from office.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Trump Threatens To Skip Presidential Debates Unless He Rigs Them

The Trump campaign is threatening to skip the 2020 presidential debates unless they are held by someone who they think is “ fair ” a.k.a a Trump supporter .
President Trump ’ s campaign is considering only participating in general election debates if an outside firm serves as the host , and his advisers recently sat down with the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates to complain about the debates it hosted in 2016 .
The Dec. 19 meeting between Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. , a prominent Republican and co-chairman of the commission , Brad Parscale , the campaign manager for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and another political adviser , Michael Glassner , came soon after Mr. Trump posted on Twitter that the 2016 debates had been “ biased.
” The Commission on Presidential Debates is non-partisan .
It is composed of both Republicans and Democrats .
It is a commission that is designed to hold objective presidential debates .
When Trump or his campaign complains about bias or fairness , what they mean is that they want a supporter holding the debates .
Trump thinks Fox and Friends and Sean Hannity are fairness .
Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
Trump may dodge the debates if he has to face objective questions on neutral ground .
The president is trying to rig the presidential debates , which is another sign that he doesn ’ t believe that he can win a fair fight .
The presidential debates are the biggest audiences of the campaign , so what Trump is really trying to do with his threat is pressure the commission into a debate process that gives him an unfair advantage .
The Commission isn ’ t going to go for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will show up at the debates this fall .
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The Trump campaign is threatening to skip the 2020 presidential debates unless they are held by someone who they think is “fair” a.k.a a Trump supporter.
The New York Times reported:
President Trump’s campaign is considering only participating in general election debates if an outside firm serves as the host, and his advisers recently sat down with the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates to complain about the debates it hosted in 2016.
The Dec. 19 meeting between Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., a prominent Republican and co-chairman of the commission, Brad Parscale, the campaign manager for Mr. Trump’s re-election effort, and another political adviser, Michael Glassner, came soon after Mr. Trump posted on Twitter that the 2016 debates had been “biased.”
The Commission on Presidential Debates is non-partisan. It is composed of both Republicans and Democrats. It is a commission that is designed to hold objective presidential debates.
When Trump or his campaign complains about bias or fairness, what they mean is that they want a supporter holding the debates. Trump thinks Fox and Friends and Sean Hannity are fairness. Trump’s definition of “fairness” is supporting Donald Trump.
Trump may dodge the debates if he has to face objective questions on neutral ground.
The president is trying to rig the presidential debates, which is another sign that he doesn’t believe that he can win a fair fight.
The presidential debates are the biggest audiences of the campaign, so what Trump is really trying to do with his threat is pressure the commission into a debate process that gives him an unfair advantage.
The Commission isn’t going to go for it, and the odds are that Trump will show up at the debates this fall.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Eric Trump Melts Down And Throws An Impeachment Pity Party

The Trump family is not handling impeachment well as Eric Trump claimed that his daddy and family are the most @ @ @ @ @ are warning signs that impeachment is hurting Trump .
Some of the worst-performing tweets on @ @ @ @ @ account are about impeachment .
Trump has been trying to use impeachment to motivate and @ @ @ @ @ it appears not to be working .
As far as Eric Trump ’ s claim @ @ @ @ @ politically harassed family in history is concerned , the Kennedys , Clintons , and Obamas @ @ @ @ @ word with him .
Impeachment isn ’ t firing up Republicans .
Eric Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ of how the Trumps are trying to politically benefit by playing the victim .
It @ @ @ @ @ reveals the damage that impeachment is doing to this president , his brand , and @ @ @ @ @ discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The Trump family is not handling impeachment well as Eric Trump claimed that his daddy and family are the most harassed in history.
Eric Trump tweeted:
Never before in American history has a person or family been on the receiving end of more coordinated political harassment and retaliation. Frankly it is disgusting and validates exactly why @realDonaldTrump was elected POTUS… it is so transparent and America isn’t fooled. — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) January 22, 2020
There are warning signs that impeachment is hurting Trump. Some of the worst-performing tweets on the president’s Twitter account are about impeachment. Trump has been trying to use impeachment to motivate and interest Republican voters, but it appears not to be working.
As far as Eric Trump’s claim that they are the most politically harassed family in history is concerned, the Kennedys, Clintons, and Obamas would like to have a word with him.
Impeachment isn’t firing up Republicans. Eric Trump’s tweet is an example of how the Trumps are trying to politically benefit by playing the victim. It is a self-pity party that reveals the damage that impeachment is doing to this president, his brand, and his business.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Trump’s Nightmare Worsens As 72% Demand Trial Witnesses

Trump ’ s sham impeachment trial has turned into a nightmare as a new poll reveals that 72 % of Americans want impeachment witnesses .
The poll showed that Republicans and Democrats want to see people like Bolton and Pompeo tell the Senate what they know about the administration ’ s policies in Ukraine .
About 72 % agreed that the trial “ should allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the impeachment charges to testify , ” including 84 % of Democrats and 69 % of Republicans .
And 70 % of the public , including 80 % of Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators should “ act as impartial jurors ” during the trial .
About 40 % of Americans said they had a favorable view of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , while 60 % said they have an unfavorable view of him .
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer explained on Wednesday that public pressure is getting to vulnerable incumbent Republican Senators who are up for reelection who are then pressuring Mitch McConnell for changes in the trial .
Large majorities of Republicans and Democrats want to see witnesses testify at Trump ’ s trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be satisfied with a sham that sweeps impeachment under the rug .
Substantial majorities on both sides of the aisle want a real trial with evidence and witnesses .
The pressure is growing on Senate Republicans .
Democrats are close to having the votes that they need to pass a resolution calling witnesses .
Voters aren ’ t going to forget what McConnell and his party are trying to do , and they aren ’ t allowing them to get away with a show trial for Donald Trump .
For more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump’s sham impeachment trial has turned into a nightmare as a new poll reveals that 72% of Americans want impeachment witnesses.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found:
The poll showed that Republicans and Democrats want to see people like Bolton and Pompeo tell the Senate what they know about the administration’s policies in Ukraine.
About 72% agreed that the trial “should allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the impeachment charges to testify,” including 84% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans. And 70% of the public, including 80% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans, said senators should “act as impartial jurors” during the trial.
About 40% of Americans said they had a favorable view of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, while 60% said they have an unfavorable view of him.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer explained on Wednesday that public pressure is getting to vulnerable incumbent Republican Senators who are up for reelection who are then pressuring Mitch McConnell for changes in the trial. Large majorities of Republicans and Democrats want to see witnesses testify at Trump’s trial.
The American people aren’t going to be satisfied with a sham that sweeps impeachment under the rug. Substantial majorities on both sides of the aisle want a real trial with evidence and witnesses.
The pressure is growing on Senate Republicans. Democrats are close to having the votes that they need to pass a resolution calling witnesses. Voters aren’t going to forget what McConnell and his party are trying to do, and they aren’t allowing them to get away with a show trial for Donald Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Trump Caught On Leaked Audio Ordering Ukraine Ambassador Taken Out

Secretly recorded audio of a dinner at the Trump Hotel captured Donald Trump ordering the firing of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch .
ABC News has the recording and reported : The recording appears to contradict statements by President Trump and support the narrative that has been offered by Parnas during broadcast interviews in recent days .
Sources familiar with the recording said the recording was made during an intimate April 30 , 2018 , dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington , D.C. “ Get rid of her !
” is what the voice that appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying .
“ Get her out tomorrow .
I don ’ t care .
Get her out tomorrow .
Take her out .
Okay ?
Do it.
” It only took a $ 375,000 donation to Trump ’ s super PAC to get a dinner with the president where Giuliani ’ s associates got him to fire his own ambassador to Ukraine .
All they had to tell Trump was that she was badmouthing him , and immediately flew into a rage and ordered her taken out .
The tape backs up public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has told the same story about the firing of the former ambassador to Ukraine in television interviews .
Trump ’ s claim that he didn ’ t know Parnas was a lie .
Trump ’ s story about why the Ukraine ambassador was fired is another lie .
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that he doesn ’ t have the tape of the dinner , but it is a safe bet that Congress soon will .
More information will continue to come out long after the impeachment trial ends .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Trump ’ s presidency soon might be .
Democrats are close to getting the votes to have witnesses at Trump ’ s trial , and tape is another moment that could push one Republican Senator over the edge .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Secretly recorded audio of a dinner at the Trump Hotel captured Donald Trump ordering the firing of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.
ABC News has the recording and reported:
The recording appears to contradict statements by President Trump and support the narrative that has been offered by Parnas during broadcast interviews in recent days. Sources familiar with the recording said the recording was made during an intimate April 30, 2018, dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
….
“Get rid of her!” is what the voice that appears to be President Trump’s is heard saying. “Get her out tomorrow. I don’t care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it.”
It only took a $375,000 donation to Trump’s super PAC to get a dinner with the president where Giuliani’s associates got him to fire his own ambassador to Ukraine. All they had to tell Trump was that she was badmouthing him, and immediately flew into a rage and ordered her taken out.
The tape backs up public statements made by Lev Parnas, who has told the same story about the firing of the former ambassador to Ukraine in television interviews. Trump’s claim that he didn’t know Parnas was a lie. Trump’s story about why the Ukraine ambassador was fired is another lie.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that he doesn’t have the tape of the dinner, but it is a safe bet that Congress soon will.
More information will continue to come out long after the impeachment trial ends.
The Ukraine scandal isn’t going away, but Trump’s presidency soon might be.
Democrats are close to getting the votes to have witnesses at Trump’s trial, and tape is another moment that could push one Republican Senator over the edge.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-24--Trump Throws A Fit Because His Defense Will Start On Saturday

Trump is throwing a tantrum because his impeachment defense will start on Saturday , a day of the week of @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t have any idea how the impeachment trial was set up , so @ @ @ @ @ McConnell and the Republican majority set the schedule .
Democrats proposed moving everything up a @ @ @ @ @ night/Saturday .
Trump ’ s lawyers opposed it , and Senate Republicans voted it down @ @ @ @ @ one point .
The viewership for Trump ’ s impeachment defense is going to be @ @ @ @ @ are going to be banished to the weekend where few people will see them , @ @ @ @ @ fault .
If the president and Mitch McConnell had agreed to a fair and unrushed @ @ @ @ @ s defense wouldn ’ t be starting over the weekend .
Trump can only blame @ @ @ @ @ trial that he and Mitch McConnell have cooked up .
For more discussion about this @ @ @ @ @ and MSNBC group .

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Trump is throwing a tantrum because his impeachment defense will start on Saturday, a day of the week of low TV viewership.
Trump tweeted:
After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020
Trump doesn’t have any idea how the impeachment trial was set up, so he is lying. Mitch McConnell and the Republican majority set the schedule. Democrats proposed moving everything up a day and finishing on Friday night/Saturday. Trump’s lawyers opposed it, and Senate Republicans voted it down.
Trump is correct on one point. The viewership for Trump’s impeachment defense is going to be low. His Biden conspiracies are going to be banished to the weekend where few people will see them, but it is his own fault.
If the president and Mitch McConnell had agreed to a fair and unrushed trial schedule, Trump’s defense wouldn’t be starting over the weekend. Trump can only blame himself for the sham impeachment trial that he and Mitch McConnell have cooked up.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Lev Parnas’s Lawyer Calls For The Release Of Incriminating Trump Tape

Joseph Bondy , the lawyer for Lev Parnas , called on Congress to release the tape of Trump demanding the former ambassador to Ukraine be taken out .
Bondy said on MSNBC , “ I hope they make it public .
I was noting Senator Schumer saying we have to make it public .
I think we have to hear the I think that ’ s the best way we have to ensure our chances of having a fair trial or a real trial if you will.
” Parnas ’ s lawyer didn ’ t rule out releasing the tape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will , but I want to listen to the full tape as you might imagine as Mr. Parnas ’ s lawyer .
I think it ’ s important that it gets out there .
I think this is one of the most important ways that we can try to push the issue of having a trial that ’ s not like a mime show that has evidence and witnesses and we know the time is short.
” The best way forward would be for the House Intelligence Committee to release the tape ASAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything that they can to prevent the tape from playing a role in Trump ’ s trial , but the public needs to hear this recording in order to understand that Trump has been working on the Ukraine plot for a long time and that the president has been lying about his role in the scheme .
Either way , it looks like the tape will be coming out soon , and when it does , Trump is going to have an even bigger set of political woes to tweet about .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Joseph Bondy, the lawyer for Lev Parnas, called on Congress to release the tape of Trump demanding the former ambassador to Ukraine be taken out.
Bondy said on MSNBC, “I hope they make it public. I was noting Senator Schumer saying we have to make it public. I think we have to hear the I think that’s the best way we have to ensure our chances of having a fair trial or a real trial if you will.”
Parnas’s lawyer didn’t rule out releasing the tape himself, “Well, maybe we will, but I want to listen to the full tape as you might imagine as Mr. Parnas’s lawyer. I think it’s important that it gets out there. I think this is one of the most important ways that we can try to push the issue of having a trial that’s not like a mime show that has evidence and witnesses and we know the time is short.”
Video:
Lev Parnas's lawyer calls for Trump tape to be made public by Congress and suggests he may release it himself after review. pic.twitter.com/yTk8T7OH8W — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 25, 2020
The best way forward would be for the House Intelligence Committee to release the tape ASAP. Senate Republicans are going to do everything that they can to prevent the tape from playing a role in Trump’s trial, but the public needs to hear this recording in order to understand that Trump has been working on the Ukraine plot for a long time and that the president has been lying about his role in the scheme.
Either way, it looks like the tape will be coming out soon, and when it does, Trump is going to have an even bigger set of political woes to tweet about.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Senator Warns That Trump And Giuliani Are Being Manipulated By Russia

Sen. Mark Warner ( D-VA ) is warning that Trump and Rudy Giuliani are potentially being manipulated by Russia on Ukraine .
I am going to point out there is no one in the law enforcement community , or for that matter , I don ’ t think any of my colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee that are Republicans believe there ’ s any credibility in this notion that somehow Ukraine was the active involver — involvement in the election rather than Russia .
This has been a Putin , Russian intelligence services propaganda effort .
And I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents of the president , potentially Rudy Giuliani , are being part of the spin .
As Adam Schiff laid out , if this story holds , it is such a net win for Putin both in terms of the split with America and Ukraine , somehow that the story is being advanced and the fact that the President Of The United States continues to believe his own personal lawyer rather than his own intelligence leaders .
For that matter , his own Republican senators on the intelligence committee .
As the Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Warner is an expert on Russian election interference and propaganda techniques .
It is obvious that Giuliani is being manipulated by Russia , and if Russia has Giuliani , they also have Trump .
Warner ’ s warning should be taken seriously by every American .
The only goals that were satisfied by the Ukraine plot belong to Putin .
Trump got led straight into impeachment by Putin and Rudy Giuliani .
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Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is warning that Trump and Rudy Giuliani are potentially being manipulated by Russia on Ukraine.
Sen. Mark Warner said to Rachel Maddow:
I am going to point out there is no one in the law enforcement community, or for that matter, I don’t think any of my colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee that are Republicans believe there’s any credibility in this notion that somehow Ukraine was the active involver — involvement in the election rather than Russia.
This has been a Putin, Russian intelligence services propaganda effort. And I do believe there’s the potential that agents of the president, potentially Rudy Giuliani, are being part of the spin. As Adam Schiff laid out, if this story holds, it is such a net win for Putin both in terms of the split with America and Ukraine, somehow that the story is being advanced and the fact that the President Of The United States continues to believe his own personal lawyer rather than his own intelligence leaders. For that matter, his own Republican senators on the intelligence committee.
Video:
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) warns that Trump and Giuliani are potentially being manipulated by Russia. pic.twitter.com/1ClIcCrv08 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 25, 2020
As the Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner is an expert on Russian election interference and propaganda techniques. It is obvious that Giuliani is being manipulated by Russia, and if Russia has Giuliani, they also have Trump. Warner’s warning should be taken seriously by every American. The only goals that were satisfied by the Ukraine plot belong to Putin.
Trump got led straight into impeachment by Putin and Rudy Giuliani.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Trump’s Lawyers Are Worried Because The Democrats’ Case Has Been So Good

Trump ’ s lawyers are worried because they have watched the Democratic case against Trump , and they are surprised that it has been so strong and good .
As Donald Trump ’ s defense team prepares to make its first arguments on the floor of the Senate on Saturday , top Republicans are increasingly worried that Trump ’ s lawyers are woefully unprepared to counter Democrats ’ meticulous , fact-based case for removing Trump .
In the president ’ s circle there ’ s not full-blown panic—but there ’ s worry .
“ A lot of Republicans think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a prominent Republican who is close to Trump ’ s legal team told me .
“ It ’ s been a lot better than we expected.
” Florida congressman Matt Gaetz , one of Trump ’ s fiercest House allies , seemingly spoke for many when he blasted Trump ’ s lawyers , telling Politico this week that the Trump team ’ s presentation was worse than “ an eighth-grade book report.
” Trump himself is making the situation worse , both with his rages—he set a 142-tweet record on Wednesday—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his defense strategy .
“ It ’ s really not helpful , ” the Republican close to the legal team said .
The White House has realized that impeachment is dragging down Trump ’ s reelection campaign , and Trump is thinking about shaking up his staff because Jared Kushner got a Time magazine cover .
Trump ’ s lawyers appeared to be woefully unprepared during the first day of the trial .
The president ’ s defense has no facts to argue , so they are going to spin conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that they are scared .
The president ’ s lawyers must not have been paying attention , because Democrats have had a strong case from day one .
Donald Trump is in deep trouble , and the White House is realizing that the political damage from impeachment will linger long after the end of the trial .
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Trump’s lawyers are worried because they have watched the Democratic case against Trump, and they are surprised that it has been so strong and good.
Gabriel Sherman reported in Vanity Fair:
As Donald Trump’s defense team prepares to make its first arguments on the floor of the Senate on Saturday, top Republicans are increasingly worried that Trump’s lawyers are woefully unprepared to counter Democrats’ meticulous, fact-based case for removing Trump. In the president’s circle there’s not full-blown panic—but there’s worry. “A lot of Republicans think the Democrats have done a very good job,” a prominent Republican who is close to Trump’s legal team told me. “It’s been a lot better than we expected.” Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, one of Trump’s fiercest House allies, seemingly spoke for many when he blasted Trump’s lawyers, telling Politico this week that the Trump team’s presentation was worse than “an eighth-grade book report.”
Trump himself is making the situation worse, both with his rages—he set a 142-tweet record on Wednesday—and his insistence that Republicans buy in fully to his defense strategy. “It’s really not helpful,” the Republican close to the legal team said.
The White House has realized that impeachment is dragging down Trump’s reelection campaign, and Trump is thinking about shaking up his staff because Jared Kushner got a Time magazine cover.
Trump’s lawyers appeared to be woefully unprepared during the first day of the trial. The president’s defense has no facts to argue, so they are going to spin conspiracy theories and tall tales, but the reality is that they are scared.
The president’s lawyers must not have been paying attention, because Democrats have had a strong case from day one.
Donald Trump is in deep trouble, and the White House is realizing that the political damage from impeachment will linger long after the end of the trial.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Adam Schiff Just Preemptively Destroyed Trump’s Impeachment Defense

In the Democrats ’ closing argument , Adam Schiff stood up and preemptively obliterated the expected defense that will be presented by Trump ’ s lawyers .
Schiff said : Now , shortly the president ’ s lawyers will have a chance to make their presentation .
And as we will not have the ability to respond to what they say , I want to give you a little preview of what I think they ’ re going to have in store for you so when you do hear it , you can put it into some perspective .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t think that ’ s any mystery .
But I want to tell you both what I expect they will share with you and what it really means when you cut through all the chaff , what does it mean what they are saying .
Here ’ s what I suspect that they will tell you .
The process was so unfair .
It was the most unfair in the history of the world .
Because the house took depositions .
How dare they take depositions .
How dare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dare they follow the Republican procedures that preceded their investigation .
How dare they .
And they were so secret .
In the bunker in the basement as if whether it ’ s on the ground floor , basement , or first floor makes any difference .
Those super-secret depositions in which only 100 members of congress equivalent to the entire senate could participate .
That ’ s how secret they were .
That ’ s how exclusive they were .
Every Democrat , every Republican on three committees could participate .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more , stormed the skiff .
You heard earlier .
But the Republicans weren ’ t allowed to participate .
That ’ s just false .
You know how we did it in those super-secret depositions ?
And you can look this up yourself because we released them .
We got an hour , they got an hour .
We got 45 minutes , they got 45 minutes .
We did that back and forth until everyone was done asking their questions .
You hear , oh , Chairman Schiff was so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to ask our questions .
Well , there were certain questions I didn ’ t allow .
Questions like who is the whistle-blower ?
Because we want to punish that whistle-blower .
Because , yes , some of us in this House and in this House believe we ought to protect whistle-blowers .
So , yes , I did not allow the outing of the whistle-blower .
So when they say the chairman wouldn ’ t allow certain questions , that ’ s what they mean .
Chairman Schiff stepped up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s expected defense .
The Trump team can ’ t dispute the facts , so they will try to throw everything at the wall to see what sticks .
After three days of solid legal arguments and evidence , the conspiracy circus is coming to town , but Adam Schiff is ready and waiting for them .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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In the Democrats’ closing argument, Adam Schiff stood up and preemptively obliterated the expected defense that will be presented by Trump’s lawyers.
Schiff said:
Now, shortly the president’s lawyers will have a chance to make their presentation. And as we will not have the ability to respond to what they say, I want to give you a little preview of what I think they’re going to have in store for you so when you do hear it, you can put it into some perspective. I expect that they will attack the process. I don’t think that’s any mystery. But I want to tell you both what I expect they will share with you and what it really means when you cut through all the chaff, what does it mean what they are saying. Here’s what I suspect that they will tell you. The process was so unfair. It was the most unfair in the history of the world. Because the house took depositions. How dare they take depositions. How dare they listen to Trey Gowdy, how dare they follow the Republican procedures that
preceded their investigation. How dare they. And they were so secret. In the bunker in the basement as if whether it’s on the ground floor, basement, or first floor makes any difference. Those super-secret depositions in which only 100 members of congress equivalent to the entire senate could participate. That’s how secret they were. That’s how exclusive they were. Every Democrat, every Republican on three committees could participate. That wasn’t enough. So, even more, stormed the skiff.
You heard earlier. But the Republicans weren’t allowed to participate. That’s just false. You know how we did it in those super-secret depositions? And you can look this up yourself because we released them. We got an hour, they got an hour. We got 45 minutes, they got 45 minutes. We did that back and forth until everyone was done asking their questions.
You hear, oh, Chairman Schiff was so unfair, he wouldn’t allow us to ask our questions. Well, there were certain questions I didn’t allow. Questions like who is the whistle-blower? Because we want to punish that whistle-blower. Because, yes, some of us in this House and in this House believe we ought to protect whistle-blowers. So, yes, I did not allow the outing of the whistle-blower. So when they say the chairman wouldn’t allow certain questions, that’s what they mean.
Video:
Adam Schiff preemptively destroys Trump's impeachment defense. #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/7e9lQ0u2Tc — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 25, 2020
Chairman Schiff stepped up and took apart every single element of Trump’s expected defense. The Trump team can’t dispute the facts, so they will try to throw everything at the wall to see what sticks.
After three days of solid legal arguments and evidence, the conspiracy circus is coming to town, but Adam Schiff is ready and waiting for them.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Mike Pompeo Drops F-Bombs And Shouts At NPR Host For Asking About Ukraine

Mike Pompeo dropped F-bombs and shouted at NPR All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly for asking about Ukraine .
NPR provided PoliticusUSA with the segment of the interview that enraged Pompeo : On whether he owes former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine , Marie Yovanovitch , an apology for her ouster in 2019 : You know , I agreed to come on your show today to talk about Iran .
That ’ s what I intend to do .
I know what our Ukraine policy has been now for the three years of this administration .
I ’ m proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This administration delivered the capability for the Ukrainians to defend themselves .
President Obama showed up with MREs ( meals , ready-to-eat . )
We showed up with Javelin missiles .
The previous administration did nothing to take down corruption in Ukraine .
We ’ re working hard on that .
We ’ re going to continue to do it .
When pushed on the question of whether he defended or should defend Yovanovitch : I have defended every State Department official .
We ’ ve built a great team .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work around the world… I ’ ve defended every single person on this team .
I ’ ve done what ’ s right for every single person on this team .
On All Things Considered , Kelly described what happened after the interview ended : I was taken to the Secretary ’ s private living room where he was waiting and where he shouted at me for about same amount of time as the interview itself .
He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine .
He asked , “ do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He used the F-word in that sentence and many others .
He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map .
I said yes , and he called out for aides to bring us a map of the world with no writing .
I pointed to Ukraine .
He put the map away .
He said , “ people will hear about this.
” Kelly asked Pompeo about Ukraine because he is going there this week .
It wasn ’ t a gotcha question or a topic that was out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is traveling there in days .
There is speculation , especially in Ukraine , that Pompeo is going there to keep them quiet during the impeachment trial .
Pompeo ’ s conduct was unprofessional and completely uncalled for .
Why is the Secretary of Stats so afraid of questions about Ukraine ?
The answer is the Pompeo is in up to his eyeballs in the plot , and he is worried that he is going to go down .
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Mike Pompeo dropped F-bombs and shouted at NPR All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly for asking about Ukraine.
NPR provided PoliticusUSA with the segment of the interview that enraged Pompeo:
On whether he owes former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, an apology for her ouster in 2019:
You know, I agreed to come on your show today to talk about Iran. That’s what I intend to do. I know what our Ukraine policy has been now for the three years of this administration. I’m proud of the work we’ve done. This administration delivered the capability for the Ukrainians to defend themselves. President Obama showed up with MREs (meals, ready-to-eat.) We showed up with Javelin missiles. The previous administration did nothing to take down corruption in Ukraine. We’re working hard on that. We’re going to continue to do it.
When pushed on the question of whether he defended or should defend Yovanovitch:
I have defended every State Department official. We’ve built a great team. The team that works here is doing amazing work around the world… I’ve defended every single person on this team. I’ve done what’s right for every single person on this team.
On All Things Considered, Kelly described what happened after the interview ended:
I was taken to the Secretary’s private living room where he was waiting and where he shouted at me for about same amount of time as the interview itself. He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine.
He asked, “do you think Americans care about Ukraine?”
He used the F-word in that sentence and many others. He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map. I said yes, and he called out for aides to bring us a map of the world with no writing. I pointed to Ukraine. He put the map away.
He said, “people will hear about this.”
Kelly asked Pompeo about Ukraine because he is going there this week. It wasn’t a gotcha question or a topic that was out of left field. The Secretary of State is traveling there in days. There is speculation, especially in Ukraine, that Pompeo is going there to keep them quiet during the impeachment trial.
Pompeo’s conduct was unprofessional and completely uncalled for. Why is the Secretary of Stats so afraid of questions about Ukraine? The answer is the Pompeo is in up to his eyeballs in the plot, and he is worried that he is going to go down.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Republicans Fake Anger At Adam Schiff To Distract From Cover-Up For Trump

Republicans are faking anger at Adam Schiff and using it as an excuse for their predetermined votes not to convict Donald Trump .
It was genuine umbrage .
I know everyone is trying to say this is false flags that Republicans wear their emotions on their sleeves , that ’ s ridiculous .
We know we ’ ve had plenty of attacks .
It was the implication from Adam Schiff that all senators live in fear of the president .
They know the president is going to take them down and put their head on the pike , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you ’ re all in this conspiracy .
That ’ s what he was saying .
It was genuine frustration .
In the room , it was the first audible statement of the crowd back to him as he ’ s speaking to say that ’ s not true .
And most of us have been sitting in the hearing all day and not heard anyone bring it up .
Someone mentioned it to me early in the morning .
I thought , what crazy statement is that ?
I heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring it up , to say I hope it ’ s not true , but I understand , it was absurd to make that statement .
Senate Republicans are faking their anger and outrage at Schiff .
Notice that they never dispute the facts of the case that Schiff and the House managers put on .
The head on a pike quote fake anger at Schiff is another outrage distraction that Republicans are going to use to justify their votes not to convict Donald Trump .
The anger is fake , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out their cowardice and bowing to Trump .
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Republicans are faking anger at Adam Schiff and using it as an excuse for their predetermined votes not to convict Donald Trump.
Sen. James Langford (R-OK) said on MSNBC:
It was genuine umbrage. I know everyone is trying to say this is false flags that Republicans wear their emotions on their sleeves, that’s ridiculous. We know we’ve had plenty of attacks. It was the implication from Adam Schiff that all senators live in fear of the president. They know the president is going to take them down and put their head on the pike, and you’re all a party to him, and you’re all in this conspiracy.
That’s what he was saying. It was genuine frustration. In the room, it was the first audible statement of the crowd back to him as he’s speaking to say that’s not true. And most of us have been sitting in the hearing all day and not heard anyone bring it up. Someone mentioned it to me early in the morning. I thought, what crazy statement is that? I heard of that and then for Adam Schiff to bring it up, to say I hope it’s not true, but I understand, it was absurd to make that statement.
Video:
Rep. James Langford (R-OK) provides an example of the Republican fake outrage at Adam Schiff that they are using to justify covering up for Trump. pic.twitter.com/XneVngg3yf — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 25, 2020
Senate Republicans are faking their anger and outrage at Schiff. Notice that they never dispute the facts of the case that Schiff and the House managers put on. The head on a pike quote fake anger at Schiff is another outrage distraction that Republicans are going to use to justify their votes not to convict Donald Trump.
The anger is fake, but Senate Republicans are embarrassed that Schiff called out their cowardice and bowing to Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Democrats Drop 28,578-Pages Of Trial Record On The Senate As Trump Introduces 0

Democrats have the evidence in the impeachment case , as they turned over 28,578 pages of trial record while Trump introduced zero documents in his defense .
According to a statement provided to PoliticusUSA by the Democratic House impeachment managers : Managers for the U.S. House of Representatives filed a 28,578-page trial record with the Secretary of the Senate for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
The trial record serves as the evidentiary foundation informing the Senate impeachment trial and provides a permanent accounting to the Senate and the public of the evidence gathered against the President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not include thousands of documents and witness testimony that President Trump is blocking from Congress and the American people .
The record delivered today presents a mountain of evidence showing the President has committed the impeachable offenses that the House has charged – Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress – and he should be removed from office .
The factual and legal record laid out by the House Managers has yet to be substantively rebutted by President Trump or his lawyers , who have instead sought to hide behind novel and frivolous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public trial record filed today , the House Managers also previously filed with the Secretary of the Senate a non-public classified document which was admitted into evidence and has been made available to Senators for consideration during trial .
Trump bragged earlier this week that he has all the evidence , but none of it was offered during the first day of his impeachment defense .
In fact , Trump ’ s lawyers offered no new documents in his own defense on Saturday .
Trump ’ s defense is Russian conspiracy theories , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s Twitter .
What ’ s happening in the Senate isn ’ t a trial .
Trump ’ s lawyers are ignoring the evidence and spending their time spinning lies and conspiracies .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Democrats have the evidence in the impeachment case, as they turned over 28,578 pages of trial record while Trump introduced zero documents in his defense.
According to a statement provided to PoliticusUSA by the Democratic House impeachment managers:
Managers for the U.S. House of Representatives filed a 28,578-page trial record with the Secretary of the Senate for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. The trial record serves as the evidentiary foundation informing the Senate impeachment trial and provides a permanent accounting to the Senate and the public of the evidence gathered against the President of the United States. This record does not include thousands of documents and witness testimony that President Trump is blocking from Congress and the American people.
The record delivered today presents a mountain of evidence showing the President has committed the impeachable offenses that the House has charged – Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress – and he should be removed from office. The factual and legal record laid out by the House Managers has yet to be substantively rebutted by President Trump or his lawyers, who have instead sought to hide behind novel and frivolous legal theories.
In addition to the public trial record filed today, the House Managers also previously filed with the Secretary of the Senate a non-public classified document which was admitted into evidence and has been made available to Senators for consideration during trial.
Trump bragged earlier this week that he has all the evidence, but none of it was offered during the first day of his impeachment defense. In fact, Trump’s lawyers offered no new documents in his own defense on Saturday.
Trump’s defense is Russian conspiracy theories, Russian propaganda, and lies straight from the president’s Twitter.
What’s happening in the Senate isn’t a trial. Trump’s lawyers are ignoring the evidence and spending their time spinning lies and conspiracies.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Trump Is Going To Spend Most Of His Defense Pushing Russian Propaganda

Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-CT ) said that Trump ’ s lawyers have previewed that most of his impeachment defense will be Russian propaganda .
I was shocked that he previewed that apparently they ’ re going to spend a big portion of their testimony peddling Russian propaganda .
I figured they would side step that question because there is no way to build a case that this phony story about a server existing somewhere in Ukraine is true .
So I was fairly shocked , a , to hear Russian propaganda being introduced into evidence by the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday and Tuesday , we might get Putin ’ s case put out in full before us , and I think the American people are going to see that it ’ s just empty .
It ’ s devoid of facts .
And I think it ’ s going to make people even more concerned , not less concerned , that the president was pushing for that investigation as a condition of zelensky getting a meeting or Ukraine getting their aid .
The Trump defense is that his call with Zelensky was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s inference in the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton .
Trump ’ s defense is a debunked Russian conspiracy theory that everyone from the intelligence community to government officials within the Trump administration has been debunked as not true .
Trump was not investigating corruption .
He was using corruption as a pretext to shakedown to get Ukraine to launch a sham investigation of Joe Biden .
Donald Trump ’ s impeachment defense won ’ t be a defense of the president , but a defense of Putin ’ s election interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said that Trump’s lawyers have previewed that most of his impeachment defense will be Russian propaganda.
Sen. Murphy said on MSNBC:
I was shocked that he previewed that apparently they’re going to spend a big portion of their testimony peddling Russian propaganda. I figured they would side step that question because there is no way to build a case that this phony story about a server existing somewhere in Ukraine is true.
So I was fairly shocked, a, to hear Russian propaganda being introduced into evidence by the president’s lawyers, but also to know on Monday and Tuesday, we might get Putin’s case put out in full before us, and I think the American people are going to see that it’s just empty. It’s devoid of facts. And I think it’s going to make people even more concerned, not less concerned, that the president was pushing for that investigation as a condition of zelensky getting a meeting or Ukraine getting their aid.
Video:
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) says Trump is going to spend most of his impeachment defense pushing Russian propaganda. #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/ByuquiTzA8 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 25, 2020
The Trump defense is that his call with Zelensky was about corruption. Specifically, Ukraine’s inference in the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton. Trump’s defense is a debunked Russian conspiracy theory that everyone from the intelligence community to government officials within the Trump administration has been debunked as not true.
Trump was not investigating corruption. He was using corruption as a pretext to shakedown to get Ukraine to launch a sham investigation of Joe Biden.
Donald Trump’s impeachment defense won’t be a defense of the president, but a defense of Putin’s election interference in the 2016 election.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Mike Pompeo Issues Lie Filled Statement Attacking NPR

Mike Pompeo had the State Department issue a lie-filled statement attacking NPR because they asked him about Ukraine .
Pompeo was outraged that All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly asked him about Ukraine .
After the interview , NPR reported that Pompeo shouted at the reporter and dropped F-bombs .
He then had an assistant get a map , and made the host point to Ukraine on a map .
Once the story became public , Pompeo made the State Department issue a statement that attacked NPR and lied about the exchange : Pompeo wants the world to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in European Studies from Cambridge , didn ’ t know where Ukraine was on a map .
It is pretty obvious who is lying , and it isn ’ t the All Things Considered host who has nothing to gain from not telling the truth .
The great unanswered question is , why is Pompeo so sensitive to questions about Ukraine ?
If the president and his administration did nothing wrong , Pompeo should have no problem with answering questions about the former Ambassador to Ukraine .
The answer is that Pompeo ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine plot , and he is afraid of questions because he knows that any answer will only dig himself in deeper .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Mike Pompeo had the State Department issue a lie-filled statement attacking NPR because they asked him about Ukraine.
Pompeo was outraged that All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly asked him about Ukraine. After the interview, NPR reported that Pompeo shouted at the reporter and dropped F-bombs. He then had an assistant get a map, and made the host point to Ukraine on a map.
Once the story became public, Pompeo made the State Department issue a statement that attacked NPR and lied about the exchange:
Starting to think that the West Point class of 1986 never fully internalized that Honor Code pic.twitter.com/IbKlA1gVAr — Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) January 25, 2020
Pompeo wants the world to believe that Kelly, who has a Masters in European Studies from Cambridge, didn’t know where Ukraine was on a map.
It is pretty obvious who is lying, and it isn’t the All Things Considered host who has nothing to gain from not telling the truth.
The great unanswered question is, why is Pompeo so sensitive to questions about Ukraine? If the president and his administration did nothing wrong, Pompeo should have no problem with answering questions about the former Ambassador to Ukraine.
The answer is that Pompeo’s hands are also dirty on the Ukraine plot, and he is afraid of questions because he knows that any answer will only dig himself in deeper.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-25--Trump’s Lawyer Pushes Russian Propaganda As Impeachment Defense

Trump ’ s defense consists of a Russian propaganda conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election .
Trump lawyer Mike Purpura argued , “ President Trump then turned to corruption in the form of foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election .
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a foreign leader to help get to the bottom of all forms of foreign interference in an American presidential election.
” Purpura was pushing the Crowdstrike conspiracy theory that was widely debunked by witnesses at the House impeachment investigation .
The president ’ s own lawyer is admitting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine who really interfered in the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton .
Sen. Mark Warner warned that Trump and Giuliani are potentially being manipulated by Russian propaganda , and that same propaganda has found its way into Trump ’ s impeachment defense .
Trump and his legal team are using the impeachment trial to push Russian misinformation to the American people .
Even when he is defending himself at an impeachment trial , Donald Trump continues to push Putin ’ s agenda .
For more discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and MSNBC group .

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Trump’s defense consists of a Russian propaganda conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election.
Trump lawyer Mike Purpura argued, “President Trump then turned to corruption in the form of foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a foreign leader to help get to the bottom of all forms of foreign interference in an American presidential election.”
Video:
Trump's defense consists of Russian propaganda that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. Yes, Trump is using a Russian conspiracy theory as part of his impeachment defense. pic.twitter.com/f8XTAivxQQ — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 25, 2020
Purpura was pushing the Crowdstrike conspiracy theory that was widely debunked by witnesses at the House impeachment investigation. The president’s own lawyer is admitting that the basis for extorting Ukraine was a Russian conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine who really interfered in the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton.
Sen. Mark Warner warned that Trump and Giuliani are potentially being manipulated by Russian propaganda, and that same propaganda has found its way into Trump’s impeachment defense.
Trump and his legal team are using the impeachment trial to push Russian misinformation to the American people. Even when he is defending himself at an impeachment trial, Donald Trump continues to push Putin’s agenda.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-26--Opinion: Democracy Dies at Amazon, Are Trump and Bezos Really Such Strange Bedfellows?

Recently Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters for The Washington Post Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig published their assessment of Donald Trump ’ s presidency to date , seeking to step out of the news cycle and “ assess the reverberations ” of his administration throughout the nation .
Titled A Very Stable Genius : Donald J. Trump ’ s Testing of America , the book layers scene after scene of Trump ’ s ineptitude , prioritization of self-interest over care for the nation ’ s well-being , and general lack of any moral compass or intellectual rigor .
As Dwight Garner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times characterized the tale Rucker and Leonnig weave , “ It reads like a horror story , an almost comic immorality tale .
It ’ s as if the president , as patient zero , had bitten an aide and slowly , bite by bite , an entire nation had lost its wits and its compass.
” The story is a compelling one , and one seemingly validated for Americans by what we have witnessed in the impeachment hearings played out in the House of Representatives and now in the ongoing trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , corrupt to the core , is dismantling democracy and putting the nation ’ s well-being and security at risk for his own private gain and ego interests .
And yet we shouldn ’ t let the high drama of the very necessary impeachment process distract us from the more mundane threats to American democracy that seem to have become largely accepted in American life but which are no less deleterious to the American people and our supposed political ideals than Trump ’ s presidency is .
As an example of what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Bezos and his Amazon empire , which includes , by the way , The Washington Post .
The admonitory slogan of The Washington Post is , of course , “ Democracy Dies in Darkness.
” The sentiment is a warm and fuzzy one for sure , even articulating a noble mission and role for the free press in sustaining our democracy .
But what he “ gives ” with one hand ( it is a business after all ) , he taketh with the other , underscoring the severely limited application of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can we call a form of government that limits democratic rights in practice a democracy at all ?
Bezos ’ Amazon , for example , recently threatened to fire its employees who spoke out publicly against the company ’ s environmental policies .
As Annie Palmer reported for CNBC earlier this month , employees reported that Amazon ’ s policy on workers ’ external communications was updated last September and now “ requires employees to seek prior approval to speak about Amazon in any public forum while identified as an employee.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the suppression of employee free speech : How will the world remember Jeff Bezos in the era of climate emergency ?
Will he use his immense economic power to help , or not ?
Please tell @ Amazon and @ JeffBezos : Our world is on fire & desperately needs climate leadership .
Stop silencing employees who are sounding the alarm .
It needs to be stressed , of course , that Amazon ’ s suppression of its workers ’ speech is not illegal and certainly not unique .
In other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights in the workplace .
U.S. law allows for the denial of First Amendment rights when you are at work , as I ’ ve written about previously for PoliticusUsa .
So , as conceived currently in our nation ’ s legal codes , the most sacred tenets of democracy are only applicable in American life on a part-time basis .
Ask Colin Kaepernick .
When you are at work for 40 to 60 hours per week , please know that democracy is on hold .
Please leave your rights in your locker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remember Juli Briskman , a marketing executive at Akima , a government contracting firm , who was fired for flipping off President Trump ’ s motorcade while riding her bike ?
She wasn ’ t even at work .
Because she had been photographed and the photograph had been published with great popularity , she identified herself to her company and was promptly called into a room and fired for violating code-of-conduct policies .
Clearly , she did not have the right to express herself as she chooses , even outside of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democracy dies in the workplace , and certainly at Amazon , where , similar to many companies , workers ’ efforts to unionize are vigorously resisted .
Like Target and Walmart , among others , Amazon has produced its own anti-union video that is part of employee training .
And the union structure , which collectively organizes workers and negotiates their rights and remuneration , is the main and really only means for workers to have a voice in their workplace , where they spend a good deal of their lives contributing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live .
Bezos and Trump have a long adversarial history , as they spar over the size of their .
.
.
bank accounts .
Trump basically foiled a Pentagon contract that seemed destined for Amazon but was eventually awarded to Microsoft .
Trump regularly attacks The Washington Postas Bezos ’ lobbying group ( even though , admittedly , he does reporting critical of Amazon ) .
In the end , though , Trump and Bezos , along with much of corporate America , stand together against democracy and in favor of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak .
Let money and private ownership have the biggest voice in decision-making .
Perhaps the impeachment hearings and trial will enliven the democratic sensibilities in the American people to understand not just Trump ’ s horror show but also these wider efforts at work in our culture and society aimed at preventing and dismantling democracy .

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Recently Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters for The Washington Post Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig published their assessment of Donald Trump’s presidency to date, seeking to step out of the news cycle and “assess the reverberations” of his administration throughout the nation. Titled A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump’s Testing of America, the book layers scene after scene of Trump’s ineptitude, prioritization of self-interest over care for the nation’s well-being, and general lack of any moral compass or intellectual rigor.
As Dwight Garner, in his review for The New York Times characterized the tale Rucker and Leonnig weave, “It reads like a horror story, an almost comic immorality tale. It’s as if the president, as patient zero, had bitten an aide and slowly, bite by bite, an entire nation had lost its wits and its compass.”
The story is a compelling one, and one seemingly validated for Americans by what we have witnessed in the impeachment hearings played out in the House of Representatives and now in the ongoing trial in U.S. Senate.
The wealthy businessman Trump, corrupt to the core, is dismantling democracy and putting the nation’s well-being and security at risk for his own private gain and ego interests.
And yet we shouldn’t let the high drama of the very necessary impeachment process distract us from the more mundane threats to American democracy that seem to have become largely accepted in American life but which are no less deleterious to the American people and our supposed political ideals than Trump’s presidency is.
As an example of what I’m talking about, take billionaire Jeff Bezos and his Amazon empire, which includes, by the way, The Washington Post.
The admonitory slogan of The Washington Post is, of course, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”
The sentiment is a warm and fuzzy one for sure, even articulating a noble mission and role for the free press in sustaining our democracy.
And Jeff Bezos’ dollars nobly enable that mission.
But what he “gives” with one hand (it is a business after all), he taketh with the other, underscoring the severely limited application of democratic principles throughout American society.
And can we call a form of government that limits democratic rights in practice a democracy at all?
Bezos’ Amazon, for example, recently threatened to fire its employees who spoke out publicly against the company’s environmental policies.
As Annie Palmer reported for CNBC earlier this month, employees reported that Amazon’s policy on workers’ external communications was updated last September and now “requires employees to seek prior approval to speak about Amazon in any public forum while identified as an employee.”
The Amazon Employees for Climate Justice tweeted in response to the suppression of employee free speech:
How will the world remember Jeff Bezos in the era of climate emergency? Will he use his immense economic power to help, or not?Please tell @Amazon and @JeffBezos: Our world is on fire & desperately needs climate leadership. Stop silencing employees who are sounding the alarm.
It needs to be stressed, of course, that Amazon’s suppression of its workers’ speech is not illegal and certainly not unique.
In other words, Americans do not enjoy democratic rights in the workplace. U.S. law allows for the denial of First Amendment rights when you are at work, as I’ve written about previously for PoliticusUsa.
So, as conceived currently in our nation’s legal codes, the most sacred tenets of democracy are only applicable in American life on a part-time basis. Ask Colin Kaepernick.
When you are at work for 40 to 60 hours per week, please know that democracy is on hold. Please leave your rights in your locker before you punch your time card.
Sometimes it’s even worse.
Remember Juli Briskman, a marketing executive at Akima, a government contracting firm, who was fired for flipping off President Trump’s motorcade while riding her bike? She wasn’t even at work. Because she had been photographed and the photograph had been published with great popularity, she identified herself to her company and was promptly called into a room and fired for violating code-of-conduct policies. Clearly, she did not have the right to express herself as she chooses, even outside of the workplace, without consequences for her employment.
Democracy dies in the workplace, and certainly at Amazon, where, similar to many companies, workers’ efforts to unionize are vigorously resisted. Like Target and Walmart, among others, Amazon has produced its own anti-union video that is part of employee training.
And the union structure, which collectively organizes workers and negotiates their rights and remuneration, is the main and really only means for workers to have a voice in their workplace, where they spend a good deal of their lives contributing to the world in which we all live.
Bezos and Trump have a long adversarial history, as they spar over the size of their . . . bank accounts.
Trump basically foiled a Pentagon contract that seemed destined for Amazon but was eventually awarded to Microsoft.
Trump regularly attacks The Washington Post as Bezos’ lobbying group (even though, admittedly, he does reporting critical of Amazon).
In the end, though, Trump and Bezos, along with much of corporate America, stand together against democracy and in favor of American oligarchy.
Indeed, Trump’s attacks on Bezos on some level are disingenuous and pure showmanship, as when he criticizes Amazon for not paying enough in taxes. Who supported and signed legislation slashing the corporate tax rate? Oh, yeah, that’s right: Trump.
Don’t let people speak. Let money and private ownership have the biggest voice in decision-making.
Perhaps the impeachment hearings and trial will enliven the democratic sensibilities in the American people to understand not just Trump’s horror show but also these wider efforts at work in our culture and society aimed at preventing and dismantling democracy.


politicususa--2020-01-26--John Bolton Destroys Trump’s Impeachment Defense With Sunday Night Bombshell

Trump ’ s former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in an unpublished manuscript that Trump conditioned aid to Ukraine on a Biden investigation .
The New York Times reported : President Trump told his national security adviser in August that he wanted to continue freezing $ 391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens , according to an unpublished manuscript by the former adviser , John R. Bolton .
The president ’ s statement as described by Mr. Bolton could undercut a key element of his impeachment defense : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Mr. Trump ’ s requests that Ukraine announce investigations into his perceived enemies , including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son Hunter Biden , who had worked for a Ukrainian energy firm while his father was in office .
Trump was caught on tape ordering his former Ukraine ambassador to be taken out .
The president ’ s former national security adviser is willing to testify that Trump conditioned Ukraine getting their aid on a Biden investigation .
It is clear to everyone who is not a Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Donald Trump is guilty .
The Ukraine scandal is not going to go away with the end of the Senate trial .
More documents and revelations will continue to come out .
Eventually , perhaps when he is losing to the Democratic nominee in the fall of 2020 , and several endangered Senators who aided Trump with the cover-up are poised to lose their seats , Republicans will realize that Trump is damaged goods .
The House should subpoena John Bolton as part of the ongoing Trump investigation .
Trump will try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the American people deserve to hear the truth about Trump ’ s corruption .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in an unpublished manuscript that Trump conditioned aid to Ukraine on a Biden investigation.
The New York Times reported:
President Trump told his national security adviser in August that he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens, according to an unpublished manuscript by the former adviser, John R. Bolton.
The president’s statement as described by Mr. Bolton could undercut a key element of his impeachment defense: that the holdup in aid was separate from Mr. Trump’s requests that Ukraine announce investigations into his perceived enemies, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son Hunter Biden, who had worked for a Ukrainian energy firm while his father was in office.
Trump was caught on tape ordering his former Ukraine ambassador to be taken out. The president’s former national security adviser is willing to testify that Trump conditioned Ukraine getting their aid on a Biden investigation. It is clear to everyone who is not a Trump supporter or Republican in the US Senate that Donald Trump is guilty.
The Ukraine scandal is not going to go away with the end of the Senate trial. More documents and revelations will continue to come out. Eventually, perhaps when he is losing to the Democratic nominee in the fall of 2020, and several endangered Senators who aided Trump with the cover-up are poised to lose their seats, Republicans will realize that Trump is damaged goods.
The House should subpoena John Bolton as part of the ongoing Trump investigation. Trump will try to block Bolton’s testimony, but the American people deserve to hear the truth about Trump’s corruption.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-26--Trump Tweets Inaccurate Kobe Bryant News As Rockets Hit US Embassy

Trump was tweeting incorrect information about the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash as rockets were reported hitting the US embassy in @ @ @ @ @ was going on as Trump was tweeting inaccurate Kobe Bryant news : While Trump was @ @ @ @ @ Bryant report that he likely got from Fox News , rockets were hitting the US @ @ @ @ @ is why the White House used to have a functioning Communications Office .
The President @ @ @ @ @ be focused on protecting American troops , not live-tweeting incorrect Fox News reports .
The @ @ @ @ @ release a statement about the death of Kobe Bryant , while Trump should be focused @ @ @ @ @ by the presidency .
Kobe Bryant ’ s death is a big story , but @ @ @ @ @ of the president to be tweeting Fox News reports as rockets hit a US embassy @ @ @ @ @ this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump was tweeting incorrect information about the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash as rockets were reported hitting the US embassy in Baghdad.
Trump tweeted:
Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
This is what was going on as Trump was tweeting inaccurate Kobe Bryant news:
#BREAKING Of five rockets fired, three made a direct hit on the US embassy in Baghdad, according to a security source pic.twitter.com/pNBg7JqZxd — AFP news agency (@AFP) January 26, 2020
While Trump was tweeting out an inaccurate Kobe Bryant report that he likely got from Fox News, rockets were hitting the US embassy in Baghdad.
This is why the White House used to have a functioning Communications Office. The President Of The United States should be focused on protecting American troops, not live-tweeting incorrect Fox News reports.
The White House Press Secretary could release a statement about the death of Kobe Bryant, while Trump should be focused on the actual duties required by the presidency.
Kobe Bryant’s death is a big story, but it is not the job of the president to be tweeting Fox News reports as rockets hit a US embassy.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-26--Tom Cotton Defends Trump Mocking Troops With Brain Injuries

Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AK ) invented an explanation to pretend like Trump wasn ’ t mocking or downplaying troops with brain injuries .
Sen. Tom Cotton went on CBS ’ s Face The Nation and invented an explanation for Trump downplaying the traumatic brain injuries suffered by the troops .
MARGARET BRENNAN : I- I want to play though , here ’ s how the president described it when he was asked about these injuries .
PRESIDENT TRUMP : I heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things , but I would say- and I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MARGARET BRENNAN : Veterans groups are calling for the president to apologize .
Should he apologize for calling it nothing serious ?
SEN. COTTON : No I thi- he ’ s just descr- he ’ s not dismissing their injuries .
He ’ s describing their injuries .
MARGARET BRENNAN : He said they ’ re headaches and not very serious .
SEN. COTTON : I think he ’ s describing their injuries .
He ’ s not dismissing their injuries .
Head injuries can be on anywhere– MARGARET BRENNAN : He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them very serious .
SEN. COTTON : Well , that ’ s like saying that having a flesh wound is not very serious than having a– MARGARET BRENNAN : Well , veterans groups and I know you ’ re a veteran and I know you– MARGARET BRENNAN : –know people who have suffered from TBI– SEN. COTTON : –veterans can have a different point of view .
MARGARET BRENNAN : As do I.
Don ’ t you think it ’ s serious that the president may need to apologize ?
SEN. COTTON : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t- if they are in fact , all these injuries are not serious , if they ’ re on the less serious side of the scale than the severe traumatic side of the scale , the president is just describing what happened .
And I ’ m not dismissing them .
MARGARET BRENNAN : So you consider TBI serious injury ?
Video : Cotton was making up a defense for Trump downplaying suffered by the troops in retaliation that was caused by his decision to attack Iran .
Republicans will defend Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they won ’ t cross to defend the president .
Sen. Cotton also said he didn ’ t see the need for more documents and witnesses at Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
At a time when Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are calling for Senate Republicans to display courage , Tom Cotton engaged in the ultimate act of political cowardice .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) invented an explanation to pretend like Trump wasn’t mocking or downplaying troops with brain injuries.
Tom Cotton Defends Trump Downplaying Troops’ Brain Injuries
Sen. Tom Cotton went on CBS’s Face The Nation and invented an explanation for Trump downplaying the traumatic brain injuries suffered by the troops.
Transcript via CBS’s Face The Nation:
MARGARET BRENNAN: I- I want to play though, here’s how the president described it when he was asked about these injuries.
(BEGIN CLIP)
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things, but I would say- and I can report it is not very serious.
(END CLIP)
SEN. COTTON: So I-I thi–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Veterans groups are calling for the president to apologize. Should he apologize for calling it nothing serious?
SEN. COTTON: No I thi- he’s just descr- he’s not dismissing their injuries. He’s describing their injuries.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He said they’re headaches and not very serious.
SEN. COTTON: I think he’s describing their injuries. He’s not dismissing their injuries. Head injuries can be on anywhere–
MARGARET BRENNAN: He said headaches, I don’t consider them very serious.
SEN. COTTON: Well, that’s like saying that having a flesh wound is not very serious than having a–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, veterans groups and I know you’re a veteran and I know you–
SEN. COTTON: And veterans–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –know people who have suffered from TBI–
SEN. COTTON: –veterans can have a different point of view.
MARGARET BRENNAN:As do I. Don’t you think it’s serious that the president may need to apologize?
SEN. COTTON: No I mean, if it isn’t- if they are in fact, all these injuries are not serious, if they’re on the less serious side of the scale than the severe traumatic side of the scale, the president is just describing what happened. And I’m not dismissing them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you consider TBI serious injury?
SEN. COTTON: Yes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
Video:Cotton was making up a defense for Trump downplaying suffered by the troops in retaliation that was caused by his decision to attack Iran. Republicans will defend Trump on anything. There is no line that they won’t cross to defend the president. Sen. Cotton also said he didn’t see the need for more documents and witnesses at Trump’s impeachment trial. At a time when Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are calling for Senate Republicans to display courage, Tom Cotton engaged in the ultimate act of political cowardice. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.