csmonitor--2020-01-24--Can diversity be ‘too much of a good thing’? More Americans wonder.

Which is of course a thing , Mr. Mazzella says .
And of course there are racists as well as white nationalists .
But emphasizing the “ pluribus ” while ignoring the “ unum , ” he says , is a sure way to tear at the country ’ s social fabric .
“ We need to seek to find common ground and celebrate our unity , ” says Mr. Mazzella .
“ When I was growing up , we disagreed about everything , but in the end you were an American first and everything else second , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could bring on a charge of bigotry .
There has long been a bipartisan consensus in the U.S that openness to different kinds of cultures is “ essential to who we are as a nation , ” according to Pew Research Center .
In its 2018 survey , nearly 6 in 10 Americans expressed a positive view of the country ’ s racial and ethnic diversity , saying it makes the country a better place to live .
Only 9 % said it made it worse .
But last year , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. and Europe began to express reservations , according to Pew .
“ To just say diversity , pluralism will make us stronger is to say separating the strands of a rope will add to its strength , ” says Mr. Mazzella , now chief operating officer and editorial director of Information Strategies .
Donald Mazzella , onetime publisher of Essence magazine , thinks something has been lost in America ’ s motto , “ e pluribus unum , ” or “ out of many , one.
” Jonette and Ken Christian have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people place on the idea of diversity .
It ’ s a fraught subject to criticize , they say .
As liberal Democrats living in Holden , Maine , they ’ ve sometimes been frustrated that even raising concerns about the scope of immigration policy , say , is often met with charges of xenophobia or , even worse , racism .
“ It seems that we ’ ve been so pummeled with the ‘ inclusivity ’ narrative , we can ’ t set any limits on diversity , or defend our own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who last month retired after decades as a child and family therapist .
“ Of course we have the values of America as an open , generous , inclusive , and diverse nation .
But anyone questioning how diverse , or how open , or how generous , is looked at with suspicion — or as a heretic.
” It ’ s exasperating , she feels , especially since their family has a decidedly international flavor .
She chatters in Spanish with her sisters-in-law , one from Honduras and the other from Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her niece is Japanese .
“ But diversity in isolation , without universally agreed upon and unifying values such as individual rights , freedom of speech , religion , and the press , risks deteriorating into tribalism and factions , ” says her husband , a retired emergency room physician who works part time at an opiate addiction treatment clinic .
Even aside from legitimate policy disputes and the rough and tumble political process , the fundamental idea of diversity , they say , has become nearly impossible to critique in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they feel only those on the furthest political extremes have a say .
“ Not all diversity deserves celebration , ” continues Dr. Christian , who notes he ’ s voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election from George McGovern to Hillary Clinton .
“ We obviously should not celebrate the presence of neo-Nazis , those who practice female genital mutilation , homophobes , terrorists , etc .
And while diversity can enrich our culture , there can be too much of a good thing .
Sheer numbers can inspire fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long been a general bipartisan consensus in the United States that openness to different kinds of people and different kinds of cultures is “ essential to who we are as a nation , ” according to Pew Research Center .
In its 2018 survey , nearly 6 in 10 Americans expressed a positive view of the country ’ s fast-growing racial and ethnic diversity , saying it makes the country a better place to live .
Only 9 % said it made it a worse place to live .
But last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Europe began to express reservations , according to Pew .
Most of the spike in the U.S. last year has come from Republican-leaning voters , the survey found , as well as older generations , but some Democrats and liberals have similar worries .
It ’ s been even more pronounced in countries such as Sweden , the United Kingdom , and Spain , where only about a third of their populations describe their growing diversity in positive terms .
In countries such as Greece and Italy , solid majorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries a worse place to live .
“ Diversity really can be a challenge , and people actually find it very difficult , ” says Sally Scholz , professor and chair of the philosophy department at Villanova University in Pennsylvania .
“ But I think part of what the call for diversity and the valuing of pluralism in our culture is , is a call for recognition , ” continues Dr. Scholz , who studies political solidarity and coalitions of those with diverse cultural and ideological perspectives .
“ And recognition is really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom , like equality .
If we can ’ t be equal , if we ’ re not recognized as equal , we can ’ t be recognized as rights holders.
” Many who want to tap the brakes on diversity in the U.S. point to the nation ’ s seeming growing unrest , including acts of violence in places of worship , or the attacks on Hasidic Jews in New York over the holidays .
And with the U.S. in what seems to be a perfect storm of political polarization – including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foster myopic echo chambers – more people say they are starting to see the idea of diversity as one of the possible causes of the country ’ s dysfunction .
Donald Mazzella thinks something has been lost in America ’ s motto , “ e pluribus unum , ” or “ out of many , one.
” A longtime media professional , he recalls his years as a publisher at Essence magazine , when the New Jersey native got a lot of smiles when he called everyone “ paisan.
” “ To just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stronger is to say separating the strands of a rope will add to its strength , ” says Mr. Mazzella , now the chief operating officer and editorial director of Information Strategies , a business consultancy in New Jersey .
“ No , we need to seek to find common ground and celebrate our unity , ” he says .
“ When I was growing up , we disagreed about everything , but in the end you were an American first and everything else second , ” he says , noting that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge of bigotry .
Which is of course a thing , Mr. Mazzella says .
And of course there are out-and-out racists , as well as white nationalists .
But emphasizing the “ pluribus ” while ignoring the “ unum , ” he says , is a sure way to tear at the country ’ s social fabric .
On one level , human beings may have certain built-in aversions to group differences , many anthropologists say .
The human species , with its unusually long gestation and child-rearing periods , develops especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family level and then extend to other closely-clustered groups , fostering an instinctive group altruism and willingness to sacrifice for others within groups .
Even at six months , however , infants have an instinct to fear those they do not recognize , observers note , and there is a tendency to be wary of outsiders .
In his book “ The Righteous Mind : Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion , ” the moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains how humans are not necessarily predisposed to valuing diversity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about social life in a tenth of a second .
“ Which is long before our reasoning portion of our brain – which may want to put our prejudgments aside and ‘ listen to alternate sides ’ – can become engaged , ” says the Rev .
Gregory Love , professor of Christian theology at the University of Redlands in California .
Nevertheless , humans do have the intellectual and even spiritual capacity to universalize the group instincts for altruism and direct them to all of humanity , scholars say .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religions have shown quite a mixed effect on this issue , ” says Dr. Love .
“ We are to love all humanity , and consider all persons human , as we are.
” “ All the world religions , however , also display that deep human sentiment of rejecting difference , and privileging one ’ s group over others , ” continues Dr. Love .
“ Frequently , religion has deepened the problem.
” Similarly , the secular universalism at the heart of liberal democratic theory has also had mixed effects , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that there is a thing called a culture , and certainly in a culture within a political sphere , ” says Charlie Copeland , president of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute , which promotes conservative values on college campuses .
“ If the populace writ large does not share a certain set of components , it ’ s just hard to govern.
” Mr. Copeland and others express concern that the “ identity politics ” of the left often dismisses the idea of foundational principles , focusing instead on their failures and hypocrisies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are real .
“ But sometimes you also need to hold up the examples of other countries across the globe and go , you know what ?
Compared to how those citizens are allowed to live , we ’ ve done more right than wrong , and certainly more right when it comes to human flourishing than any other country in the world or in the history of the world , ” he says .
People like Dr. and Mrs. Christian feel that the emphasis on identity politics and a focus on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger picture .
“ Expressing pride in America today is often met with endless reminders of our historic failures and hypocrisies , ” says Mrs. Christian , seeing a series of “ shamings and scoldings ” or accusations of “ privileging Western civilization.
” “ Yes , we did make some grievous mistakes , but we have also been more willing than almost any other country to tell the truth about our mistakes and make amends.
” In many ways , with such a wide bipartisan consensus on the value of diversity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of emphasis and the scope of diversity .
“ Political solidarity actually allows for , and really centralizes , diversity and pluralism , ” says Dr. Scholz .
“ Because each of us is coming to our commitment in our own individual way , we ’ re able to see different facets of a problem , and we ’ re trying to address it together.
” It ’ s similar to old-fashioned coalition-building , in which diverse identities unite in solidarity to petition the government for a redress of grievances .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too .
“ We often have our own way of looking at the world , and we encounter other people , and they show us a different way of looking at the world , ” Professor Scholz says .
“ And there ’ s value in that .
You come to see yourself as others see you .
...
I think often we could even say that one of the strengths of having diversity in our solidarity is that different people show us , or open up for us , a new understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own world .
”

Which is of course a thing, Mr. Mazzella says. And of course there are racists as well as white nationalists. But emphasizing the “pluribus” while ignoring the “unum,” he says, is a sure way to tear at the country’s social fabric.
“We need to seek to find common ground and celebrate our unity,” says Mr. Mazzella. “When I was growing up, we disagreed about everything, but in the end you were an American first and everything else second,” he says, noting that a statement like that could bring on a charge of bigotry.
There has long been a bipartisan consensus in the U.S that openness to different kinds of cultures is “essential to who we are as a nation,” according to Pew Research Center . In its 2018 survey, nearly 6 in 10 Americans expressed a positive view of the country’s racial and ethnic diversity, saying it makes the country a better place to live. Only 9% said it made it worse. But last year, a growing number of people in both the U.S. and Europe began to express reservations, according to Pew .
Is there such a thing as too much diversity? While the idea that “our strength is in our diversity” has gained favor, some on the left wonder: “Shouldn’t there be core American values that unify?”
“To just say diversity, pluralism will make us stronger is to say separating the strands of a rope will add to its strength,” says Mr. Mazzella, now chief operating officer and editorial director of Information Strategies.
Donald Mazzella, onetime publisher of Essence magazine, thinks something has been lost in America’s motto, “e pluribus unum,” or “out of many, one.”
Jonette and Ken Christian have become a bit uneasy with the emphasis people place on the idea of diversity.
It’s a fraught subject to criticize, they say. As liberal Democrats living in Holden, Maine, they’ve sometimes been frustrated that even raising concerns about the scope of immigration policy, say, is often met with charges of xenophobia or, even worse, racism.
“It seems that we’ve been so pummeled with the ‘inclusivity’ narrative, we can’t set any limits on diversity, or defend our own values,” says Ms. Christian, who last month retired after decades as a child and family therapist. “Of course we have the values of America as an open, generous, inclusive, and diverse nation. But anyone questioning how diverse, or how open, or how generous, is looked at with suspicion — or as a heretic.”
Why We Wrote This Is there such a thing as too much diversity? While the idea that “our strength is in our diversity” has gained favor, some on the left wonder: “Shouldn’t there be core American values that unify?”
It’s exasperating, she feels, especially since their family has a decidedly international flavor. She chatters in Spanish with her sisters-in-law, one from Honduras and the other from Mexico. Her brother-in-law is from Poland, and her niece is Japanese.
“But diversity in isolation, without universally agreed upon and unifying values such as individual rights, freedom of speech, religion, and the press, risks deteriorating into tribalism and factions,” says her husband, a retired emergency room physician who works part time at an opiate addiction treatment clinic.
Even aside from legitimate policy disputes and the rough and tumble political process, the fundamental idea of diversity, they say, has become nearly impossible to critique in this era of toxic polarization, in which they feel only those on the furthest political extremes have a say.
“Not all diversity deserves celebration,” continues Dr. Christian, who notes he’s voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election from George McGovern to Hillary Clinton. “We obviously should not celebrate the presence of neo-Nazis, those who practice female genital mutilation, homophobes, terrorists, etc. And while diversity can enrich our culture, there can be too much of a good thing. Sheer numbers can inspire fear and misunderstanding.”
Still, there has long been a general bipartisan consensus in the United States that openness to different kinds of people and different kinds of cultures is “essential to who we are as a nation,” according to Pew Research Center. In its 2018 survey, nearly 6 in 10 Americans expressed a positive view of the country’s fast-growing racial and ethnic diversity, saying it makes the country a better place to live. Only 9% said it made it a worse place to live.
But last year, a growing number of people in both the U.S. and Europe began to express reservations, according to Pew. Most of the spike in the U.S. last year has come from Republican-leaning voters, the survey found, as well as older generations, but some Democrats and liberals have similar worries.
It’s been even more pronounced in countries such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Spain, where only about a third of their populations describe their growing diversity in positive terms. In countries such as Greece and Italy, solid majorities now describe such growth as making their countries a worse place to live.
“Diversity really can be a challenge, and people actually find it very difficult,” says Sally Scholz, professor and chair of the philosophy department at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
“But I think part of what the call for diversity and the valuing of pluralism in our culture is, is a call for recognition,” continues Dr. Scholz, who studies political solidarity and coalitions of those with diverse cultural and ideological perspectives. “And recognition is really fundamental to other liberal values, like freedom, like equality. If we can’t be equal, if we’re not recognized as equal, we can’t be recognized as rights holders.”
Many who want to tap the brakes on diversity in the U.S. point to the nation’s seeming growing unrest, including acts of violence in places of worship, or the attacks on Hasidic Jews in New York over the holidays.
And with the U.S. in what seems to be a perfect storm of political polarization – including the challenges of algorithm-driven news feeds that foster myopic echo chambers – more people say they are starting to see the idea of diversity as one of the possible causes of the country’s dysfunction.
“E pluribus unum”
Donald Mazzella thinks something has been lost in America’s motto, “e pluribus unum,” or “out of many, one.” A longtime media professional, he recalls his years as a publisher at Essence magazine, when the New Jersey native got a lot of smiles when he called everyone “paisan.”
“To just say diversity, pluralism will make us stronger is to say separating the strands of a rope will add to its strength,” says Mr. Mazzella, now the chief operating officer and editorial director of Information Strategies, a business consultancy in New Jersey.
“No, we need to seek to find common ground and celebrate our unity,” he says. “When I was growing up, we disagreed about everything, but in the end you were an American first and everything else second,” he says, noting that even a statement like that could bring a charge of bigotry.
Which is of course a thing, Mr. Mazzella says. And of course there are out-and-out racists, as well as white nationalists. But emphasizing the “pluribus” while ignoring the “unum,” he says, is a sure way to tear at the country’s social fabric.
Dual impulses: altruism versus othering
On one level, human beings may have certain built-in aversions to group differences, many anthropologists say. The human species, with its unusually long gestation and child-rearing periods, develops especially close interpersonal bonds. These begin at the family level and then extend to other closely-clustered groups, fostering an instinctive group altruism and willingness to sacrifice for others within groups.
Even at six months, however, infants have an instinct to fear those they do not recognize, observers note, and there is a tendency to be wary of outsiders. In his book “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion,” the moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains how humans are not necessarily predisposed to valuing diversity and pluralism, since they make instinctive decisions about social life in a tenth of a second.
“Which is long before our reasoning portion of our brain – which may want to put our prejudgments aside and ‘listen to alternate sides’ – can become engaged,” says the Rev. Gregory Love, professor of Christian theology at the University of Redlands in California.
Nevertheless, humans do have the intellectual and even spiritual capacity to universalize the group instincts for altruism and direct them to all of humanity, scholars say.
“In their histories, the world’s religions have shown quite a mixed effect on this issue,” says Dr. Love. “We are to love all humanity, and consider all persons human, as we are.”
“All the world religions, however, also display that deep human sentiment of rejecting difference, and privileging one’s group over others,” continues Dr. Love. “Frequently, religion has deepened the problem.”
Question of foundational principles
Similarly, the secular universalism at the heart of liberal democratic theory has also had mixed effects, some scholars say.
“I do believe that there is a thing called a culture, and certainly a culture within a political sphere,” says Charlie Copeland, president of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, which promotes conservative values on college campuses. “If the populace writ large does not share a certain set of components, it’s just hard to govern.”
Mr. Copeland and others express concern that the “identity politics” of the left often dismisses the idea of foundational principles, focusing instead on their failures and hypocrisies, which he doesn’t deny are real.
“But sometimes you also need to hold up the examples of other countries across the globe and go, you know what? Compared to how those citizens are allowed to live, we’ve done more right than wrong, and certainly more right when it comes to human flourishing than any other country in the world or in the history of the world,” he says.
People like Dr. and Ms. Christian feel that the emphasis on identity politics and a focus on the nation’s obvious flaws misses the bigger picture.
“Expressing pride in America today is often met with endless reminders of our historic failures and hypocrisies,” says Ms. Christian, seeing a series of “shamings and scoldings” or accusations of “privileging Western civilization.” “Yes, we did make some grievous mistakes, but we have also been more willing than almost any other country to tell the truth about our mistakes and make amends.”
In many ways, with such a wide bipartisan consensus on the value of diversity, some of the debate is more a matter of emphasis and the scope of diversity.
“Political solidarity actually allows for, and really centralizes, diversity and pluralism,” says Dr. Scholz. “Because each of us is coming to our commitment in our own individual way, we’re able to see different facets of a problem, and we’re trying to address it together.”
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It’s similar to old-fashioned coalition-building, in which diverse identities unite in solidarity to petition the government for a redress of grievances. But diverse perspectives can bring personal benefits, too.
“We often have our own way of looking at the world, and we encounter other people, and they show us a different way of looking at the world,” Professor Scholz says. “And there’s value in that. You come to see yourself as others see you. ... I think often we could even say that one of the strengths of having diversity in our solidarity is that different people show us, or open up for us, a new understanding of our own existence, or of our own world.”


csmonitor--2020-01-24--Are senators listening? Democrats argue 'right matters'

Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case at Donald Trump 's impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history , swept up by a `` completely bogus '' Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani .
On Friday , the Democrats will press their final day of arguments before skeptical Republican senators , focusing on the second article of impeachment , obstruction of Congress ' investigation .
Mr. Trump 's legal team is expected to begin presenting its defense on Saturday , a fact Mr. Trump bemoaned in a Friday tweet , saying `` looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday , which is called Death Valley in T.V . ''
As the audience of Senate jurors sat through another long day , and night on Thursday , the prosecutors outlined the charge .
They argued that Mr. Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election , even as the nation 's top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine , not Russia , that interfered in the 2016 election .
`` That 's what Donald Trump wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory , '' said Rep. Adam Schiff , the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution during Thursday 's session .
At the close of the evening Representative Schiff made an emotional plea to senators to consider what was at stake as Mr. Trump is accused of seeking Ukrainian probes of political foe Joe Biden and Mr. Biden 's son while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage .
`` Right matters , '' he said , quoting Army officer Lt. Col. Alex Vindman who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are lost . ''
The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month , accusing Mr. Trump of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a United States ally at war with bordering Russia .
The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe .
Republicans , growing tired of the long hours of proceedings , have defended Mr. Trump 's actions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and acquittal is considered likely .
The Democrats ' challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year .
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding , Democrats argued on Thursday that Mr. Trump 's motives were apparent .
`` No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerrold Nadler of New York , the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , told the senators .
He said the nation 's founders would be shocked .
`` The president 's conduct is wrong .
It is illegal .
It is dangerous . ''
Democrats scoffed at Mr. Trump 's claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden or other political foes .
Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas , herself a former judge , aid there is `` no evidence , nothing , nada '' to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealings with Ukraine .
Mr. Trump , with Mr. Giuliani , pursued investigations of Mr. Biden and his son , Hunter , who served on a Ukrainian gas company 's board , and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election .
It 's a story line many in the president 's camp are still pushing .
Mr. Giuliani , in an appearance Friday on `` Fox & Friends , '' insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast of `` collusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 election in favor of Hillary Clinton . ''
Pressed by one of the TV hosts as to what that evidence was , Mr. Giuliani claimed he had `` witnesses '' willing to speak on the record next week .
Democrats seemed to be anticipating arguments expected from the president 's attorneys in the days ahead .
At one point , they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham , then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Mr. Trump , arguing during Bill Clinton 's 1999 impeachment that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
Mr. Trump 's defense team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against him are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime .
The president 's defenders ' turn will come Saturday .
`` We will be putting on a vigorous defense of both facts , rebutting what they said , '' and the Constitution , said attorney Jay Sekulow .
During their presentations , Democrats have been summarizing much of the evidence and testimony already presented during the televised impeachment hearings .
But Senator Schumer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time .
He contended they ca n't help but be `` glued '' to his testimony .
Senators were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice President Mike Pence , Jennifer Williams , who was among those who had concerns about Mr. Trump 's actions .
Democrats said the testimony , which is classified , bolsters their impeachment case .
Holding the room 's attention has been difficult for the Democrats , but senators seemed to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that grew dramatic .
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they did n't know enough to have an opinion .
One issue with wide agreement : Mr. Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial .
About 7 in 10 respondents said so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the poll .
After both cases have been presented , senators will face the question of whether to call witnesses to testify , an issue that seems all but settled .
Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Mr. Trump 's aides , including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week .
It 's likely to come up for a Senate vote next week .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker, and Zeke Miller

Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case at Donald Trump's impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a "completely bogus" Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.
On Friday, the Democrats will press their final day of arguments before skeptical Republican senators, focusing on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress' investigation.
Mr. Trump's legal team is expected to begin presenting its defense on Saturday, a fact Mr. Trump bemoaned in a Friday tweet, saying "looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V."
As the audience of Senate jurors sat through another long day, and night on Thursday, the prosecutors outlined the charge. They argued that Mr. Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election, even as the nation's top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.
"That's what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced – this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory," said Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution during Thursday's session.
At the close of the evening Representative Schiff made an emotional plea to senators to consider what was at stake as Mr. Trump is accused of seeking Ukrainian probes of political foe Joe Biden and Mr. Biden's son while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage.
"Right matters," he said, quoting Army officer Lt. Col. Alex Vindman who had testified in the House. "Otherwise we are lost."
The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing Mr. Trump of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a United States ally at war with bordering Russia. The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.
Republicans, growing tired of the long hours of proceedings, have defended Mr. Trump's actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.
The Democrats' challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year.
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Mr. Trump's motives were apparent.
"No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections," Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the senators. He said the nation's founders would be shocked. "The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous."
Democrats scoffed at Mr. Trump's claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden or other political foes.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, herself a former judge, aid there is "no evidence, nothing, nada" to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine.
Mr. Trump, with Mr. Giuliani, pursued investigations of Mr. Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas company's board, and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
It's a story line many in the president's camp are still pushing. Mr. Giuliani, in an appearance Friday on "Fox & Friends," insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast of "collusion going on in Ukraine to fix the 2016 election in favor of Hillary Clinton."
Pressed by one of the TV hosts as to what that evidence was, Mr. Giuliani claimed he had "witnesses" willing to speak on the record next week.
Democrats seemed to be anticipating arguments expected from the president's attorneys in the days ahead.
At one point, they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham, then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Mr. Trump, arguing during Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president. Mr. Trump's defense team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against him are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime.
The president's defenders' turn will come Saturday.
"We will be putting on a vigorous defense of both facts, rebutting what they said," and the Constitution, said attorney Jay Sekulow.
During their presentations, Democrats have been summarizing much of the evidence and testimony already presented during the televised impeachment hearings.
But Senator Schumer said Representative Schiff has been outlining a compelling case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time. He contended they can't help but be "glued" to his testimony.
Senators were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, Jennifer Williams, who was among those who had concerns about Mr. Trump's actions. Democrats said the testimony, which is classified, bolsters their impeachment case.
Holding the room's attention has been difficult for the Democrats, but senators seemed to pay closer mind to Representative Schiff's testimony that grew dramatic.
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45% to 40%. But a sizable percentage, 14%, said they didn't know enough to have an opinion.
One issue with wide agreement: Mr. Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial. About 7 in 10 respondents said so, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
After both cases have been presented, senators will face the question of whether to call witnesses to testify, an issue that seems all but settled. Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Mr. Trump's aides, including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week. It's likely to come up for a Senate vote next week.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-01-26--What John Bolton says about U.S. aid withheld from Ukraine

President Donald Trump told his national security adviser he wanted to maintain a freeze on military assistance to Ukraine until it launched political investigations into his Democratic rivals , according to a report in The New York Times on Sunday .
The newspaper said John Bolton 's description of his exchange with Trump appears in drafts of his forthcoming book .
The revelation challenges the defense offered up by Trump and his attorneys in his Senate impeachment trial and raises the stakes as the chamber decided this week whether to seek sworn testimony from Bolton and other witnesses .
Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day before Trump ultimately released the Ukraine aid on Sept. 11 , has already told lawmakers that he is willing to testify , despite the president 's order barring aides from cooperating in the probe .
Trump denied the claims in a series of tweets early Monday .
“ I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats , including the Bidens , '' Trump said in a tweet .
`` In fact , he never complained about this at the time of his very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , it was only to sell a book.
” Trump said people could look at transcripts of his call and statements by Ukraine President Vlodymyr Zelinskiy that there was no pressure for such investigations to get the aid .
Bolton , who acrimoniously left the White House a day before Trump ultimately released the Ukraine aid on Sept. 11 , has already told lawmakers that he is willing to testify , despite the president 's order barring aides from cooperating in the probe .
Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ukraine affair , replied to a request for comment with a text : “ I used to like and respect John and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was .
I was wrong.
” Democrats need at least four Republicans to vote with them to seek witness testimony .
Those prospects looked unlikely in recent days and it 's unclear if the new revelations about Bolton 's book will sway any GOP senators .
Democrats quickly sought to ramp up the pressure on their Republican counterparts .
“ John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer .
“ It ’ s up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton , Mick Mulvaney , and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump ’ s actions testify in the Senate trial.
” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had no immediate comment , according to his office .
The New York Times story was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the manuscript on the condition of anonymity to discuss the book , “ The Room Where It Happened ; A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its release March 17 .
A person familiar with the matter told the AP the book had been submitted to the White House for pre-publication review , which is standard for the work of former officials with security clearances .
The person insisted on anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject .
Sarah Tinsley , an adviser to Bolton , said : “ The ambassador 's manuscript was transmitted to the White House in hard copy several weeks ago for pre-publication review by the NSC .
The ambassador has not passed the draft manuscript @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney Charles J. Cooper said in a statement that the pre-publication review process had been “ corrupted and that information has been disclosed by persons other than those properly involved in reviewing the manuscript.
” Democrats accuse Trump of abuse of power in withholding the military assistance to Ukraine to push that country to mount investigations into Democrats , including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter , who served on the board of a Ukraine gas company , Burisma , while his father was in office .
On Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening day of defense arguments that there was no evidence that Trump made the military aid contingent on the country announcing an investigation into Biden .
The Times also reported that Bolton says he told Attorney General William Barr that he was mentioned by Trump on his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy .
A Justice Department official on Sunday disputed Bolton ’ s account that he had told Barr about the president ’ s call with Zelenskiy but did say that Bolton had called Barr to raise concerns about Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday told reporters in Davos , Switzerland , that he did n't want Bolton to testify before the Senate .
“ The problem with John is it ’ s a national security problem , '' Trump said .
“ He knows some of my thoughts .
He knows what I think about leaders .
What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader and it ’ s not very positive and then I have to deal on behalf of the country ?
” He added : “ It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to make the job very hard.
” President Trump 's impeachment trial enters a pivotal week as his defense team resumes its case and senators face a critical vote on whether to hear witnesses - such as Bolton - or proceed directly to a vote that is widely expected to end in his acquittal .
The articles of impeachment charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The Capitol Hill maneuvering will be complemented by high-stakes efforts on both sides of the aisle to claim political advantage from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicks off in Iowa on Feb. 3 .
What to watch as the Senate impeachment trial resumes Monday at 1 p.m. EST : After a two-hour opening argument Saturday , Trump 's defense team will lay out its case in depth beginning Monday .
White House counsel Pat Cipollone said Trump 's lawyers do n't expect to take the full 24 hours allotted to them , but there will be arguments from some familiar faces .
Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz , former independent counsel Ken Starr and former Florida Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dershowitz said Sunday he would argue that the charges against Trump are too minor to warrant the president 's removal from office under the Constitution .
“ Even if true , they did not allege impeachable offenses , '' Dershowitz told `` Fox News Sunday . ''
The Trump team has also teased the notion that it would draw attention to Joe Biden and his son Hunter , who served on the board of a Ukraine gas company Burisma , while the elder Biden was vice president .
An extended focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential contenders , could mean blowback from even some of the GOP members of the Senate .
Once Trump 's team concludes , senators will have 16 hours to ask questions of both the House impeachment prosecutors and the president 's legal team .
Their questions must be in writing .
Chief Justice John Roberts will read the questions aloud .
He is expected to alternate between both sides of the aisle .
Many senators have been talking copious notes throughout the trial in preparation for the question-and-answer time .
Sen. John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Republicans expected to get together on Monday to start formulating a list of questions .
“ We will meet as a conference and decide what questions we want to pose , what the order may be of those of those questions , ” he said .
Will they or Wo n't They ?
Under the Senate rules passed last week , senators will get another chance to vote whether to consider new witnesses and evidence after the Q & A time is elapsed .
Four Republicans would have to break ranks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend the trial for an undetermined amount of time .
If that happens , expect a bitter fight over which witnesses might be called and which documents might be subpoenaed .
Democrats have called for testimony from Trump 's former national security adviser , John Bolton , and his acting chief of staff , Mick Mulvaney .
An attempt to call either probably would lead to a showdown with the White House , which claims both men have “ absolute immunity '' from being called to testify before the Senate , even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said he would appear if issued a subpoena by the Senate .
While Republicans have hoped for a speedy trial , Trump has called for the testimony of the Bidens and the intelligence community whistleblower whose summer complaint about Trump 's July telephone call with Ukraine 's leader instigated the impeachment inquiry .
But some Republicans , including Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , have expressed resistance to calling those witnesses .
If the vote fails , the Senate could move swiftly to its vote on whether to remove or acquit Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been looking for as soon as the end of the week .
Senate rules also call for four hours of deliberations before voting .
Since senators are required to sit silently during the trial , expect a closed session where they can deliberate in private .
Trump 's lawyers argued Saturday that no one knows what Trump 's motives were on holding up military assistance to Ukraine .
A recording obtained by The Associated Press hours later suggests the president well understood that assistance was a point of leverage over Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump Hotel in Washington that Trump had with donors .
including two now-indicted associates of his personal attorney , Rudy Giuliani .
The audio portion includes Trump inquiring about Ukraine , “ How long would they last in a fight with Russia ?
” He later calls for the firing of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine , Marie Yovanovitch .
The recording contradicts the president ’ s statements that he did n't know the Giuliani associations , Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman .
They are key figures in the investigation who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If new evidence and witnesses are allowed , the recording could take center stage in the Senate proceedings .
The trial is resuming with one week to go until the Iowa caucuses , and is again keeping four Democratic contenders — Sens .
Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , Michael Bennet and Amy Klobuchar — in Washington instead of campaigning at a critical point in the race .
While they are trapped in Washington , Trump will venture outside the capital as he seeks both to exert political retribution on Democrats who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who backed him in the House .
Trump will hold a rally Tuesday in New Jersey to repay the favor to Rep. Jeff Van Drew , who became a Republican last month after voting against the articles of impeachment as a Democrat .
And Trump is set to appear in Iowa on Thursday , days before the caucuses .
Meanwhile , Trump is already looking ahead to his likely acquittal , whenever it may come , promising that Democrats will face consequences for trying to remove him from office .
“ Shifty Adam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably a very sick man , ” Trump tweeted Sunday .
“ He has not paid the price , yet , for what he has done to our Country !
” Schiff , D-Calif. , is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the lead impeachment manager .
Asked on NBC 's `` Meet the Press '' whether he viewed the tweet as a threat , Schiff replied , `` I think it 's intended to be . ''
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro , Eric Tucker , Laurie Kellman and Mary Clare @ @ @ @ @ @

Updated: 7 a.m. Monday
President Donald Trump told his national security adviser he wanted to maintain a freeze on military assistance to Ukraine until it launched political investigations into his Democratic rivals, according to a report in The New York Times on Sunday.
The newspaper said John Bolton's description of his exchange with Mr. Trump appears in drafts of his forthcoming book. The revelation challenges the defense offered up by Mr. Trump and his attorneys in his Senate impeachment trial and raises the stakes as the chamber decided this week whether to seek sworn testimony from Mr. Bolton and other witnesses.
Mr. Trump denied the claims in a series of tweets early Monday. “I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens," the president said in a tweet. "In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book.” Mr. Trump said people could look at transcripts of his call and statements by Ukraine President Vlodymyr Zelinskiy that there was no pressure for such investigations to get the aid.
Mr. Bolton, who acrimoniously left the White House a day before President Trump ultimately released the Ukraine aid on Sept. 11, has already told lawmakers that he is willing to testify, despite the president's order barring aides from cooperating in the probe.
Mr. Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who has played a prominent role in the Ukraine affair, replied to a request for comment with a text: “I used to like and respect [Mr. Bolton] and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was. I was wrong.”
Democrats need at least four Republicans to vote with them to seek witness testimony. Those prospects looked unlikely in recent days and it's unclear if the new revelations about Mr. Bolton's book will sway any GOP senators.
Democrats quickly sought to ramp up the pressure on their Republican counterparts.
“John Bolton has the evidence,” tweeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “It’s up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump’s actions testify in the Senate trial.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had no immediate comment, according to his office.
The New York Times story was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the manuscript on the condition of anonymity to discuss the book, “The Room Where It Happened; A White House Memoir," ahead of its release March 17.
A person familiar with the matter told the AP the book had been submitted to the White House for pre-publication review, which is standard for the work of former officials with security clearances. The person insisted on anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject.
The book's publisher, Simon & Schuster, declined to comment.
Sarah Tinsley, an adviser to Mr. Bolton, said: “The ambassador's manuscript was transmitted to the White House in hard copy several weeks ago for pre-publication review by the NSC. The ambassador has not passed the draft manuscript to anyone else. Period.”
Bolton attorney Charles J. Cooper said in a statement that the pre-publication review process had been “corrupted and that information has been disclosed by persons other than those properly involved in reviewing the manuscript.”
Democrats accuse President Trump of abuse of power in withholding the military assistance to Ukraine to push that country to mount investigations into Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukraine gas company, Burisma, while his father was in office.
On Saturday, the president's attorneys said during their opening day of defense arguments that there was no evidence that Mr. Trump made the military aid contingent on the country announcing an investigation into Mr. Biden.
The Times also reported that Mr. Bolton says he told Attorney General William Barr that he was mentioned by Mr. Trump on his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. A Justice Department official on Sunday disputed Mr. Bolton’s account that he had told Mr. Barr about the president’s call with Mr. Zelenskiy but did say that Mr. Bolton had called Mr. Barr to raise concerns about Mr. Giuliani’s shadow diplomacy efforts.
President Trump on Wednesday told reporters in Davos, Switzerland, that he didn't want Mr. Bolton to testify before the Senate.
“The problem with [Mr. Bolton] is it’s a national security problem," Mr. Trump said. “He knows some of my thoughts. He knows what I think about leaders. What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader and it’s not very positive and then I have to deal on behalf of the country?”
He added: “It's going to be very hard. It's going to make the job very hard.”
A Pivotal Week
President Trump's impeachment trial enters a pivotal week as his defense team resumes its case and senators face a critical vote on whether to hear witnesses – such as Mr. Bolton – or proceed directly to a vote that is widely expected to end in his acquittal. The articles of impeachment charge Mr. Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The Capitol Hill maneuvering will be complemented by high-stakes efforts on both sides of the aisle to claim political advantage from the proceedings as the presidential nominating season kicks off in Iowa on Feb. 3.
What to watch as the Senate impeachment trial resumes Monday at 1 p.m. EST:
A Star Turn in Defense
After a two-hour opening argument Saturday, Mr. Trump's defense team will lay out its case in depth beginning Monday. White House counsel Pat Cipollone said Mr. Trump's lawyers don't expect to take the full 24 hours allotted to them, but there will be arguments from some familiar faces.
Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, former independent counsel Ken Starr, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will speak on specific topics.
Mr. Dershowitz said Sunday he would argue that the charges against Mr. Trump are too minor to warrant the president's removal from office under the Constitution. “Even if true, they did not allege impeachable offenses," Mr. Dershowitz told "Fox News Sunday."
The Trump team has also teased the notion that it would draw attention to Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukraine gas company Burisma, while the elder Biden was vice president. An extended focus on Joe Biden, one of the leading Democratic presidential contenders, could mean blowback from even some of the GOP members of the Senate.
The Question Time
Once Mr. Trump's team concludes, senators will have 16 hours to ask questions of both the House impeachment prosecutors and the president's legal team. Their questions must be in writing.
Chief Justice John Roberts will read the questions aloud. He is expected to alternate between both sides of the aisle. Many senators have been taking copious notes throughout the trial in preparation for the question-and-answer time.
Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming told reporters Saturday that Republicans are expected to get together on Monday to start formulating a list of questions. “We will meet as a conference and decide what questions we want to pose, what the order may be of those of those questions,” he said.
Will they or Won't They?
Under the Senate rules passed last week, senators will get another chance to vote whether to consider new witnesses and evidence after the Q&A time is elapsed. Four Republicans would have to break ranks to join Democrats in the GOP-controlled Senate to extend the trial for an undetermined amount of time.
If that happens, expect a bitter fight over which witnesses might be called and which documents might be subpoenaed. Democrats have called for testimony from Mr. Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney. An attempt to call either probably would lead to a showdown with the White House, which claims both men have “absolute immunity" from being called to testify before the Senate, even in an impeachment trial. Still, Mr. Bolton has said he would appear if issued a subpoena by the Senate.
While Republicans have hoped for a speedy trial, President Trump has called for the testimony of the Bidens and the intelligence community whistleblower whose summer complaint about Mr. Trump's July telephone call with Ukraine's leader instigated the impeachment inquiry.
But some Republicans, including Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham from South Carolina have expressed resistance to calling those witnesses.
If the vote fails, the Senate could move swiftly to its vote on whether to remove or acquit Trump, giving the president the result he's been looking for as soon as the end of the week.
Senate rules also call for four hours of deliberations before voting. Since senators are required to sit silently during the trial, expect a closed session where they can deliberate in private.
A New Tape
Mr. Trump's lawyers argued Saturday that no one knows what Mr. Trump's motives were on holding up military assistance to Ukraine. A recording obtained by The Associated Press hours later suggests the president well understood that assistance was a point of leverage over Ukraine.
The recording is of a 2018 meeting at the Trump Hotel in Washington that Mr. Trump had with donors. including two now-indicted associates of his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The audio portion includes Mr. Trump inquiring about Ukraine, “How long would they last in a fight with Russia?” He later calls for the firing of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
The recording contradicts the president’s statements that he didn't know the Giuliani associations, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman. They are key figures in the investigation who were indicted last year on campaign finance charges.
If new evidence and witnesses are allowed, the recording could take center stage in the Senate proceedings.
The 2020 Presidential Campaign
The trial is resuming with one week to go until the Iowa caucuses, and is again keeping four Democratic contenders – Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bennet, and Amy Klobuchar – in Washington instead of campaigning at a critical point in the race.
While they are trapped in Washington, Mr. Trump will venture outside the capital as he seeks both to exert political retribution on Democrats who impeached him and reward a party-switching lawmaker who backed him in the House.
Mr. Trump will hold a rally Tuesday in New Jersey to repay the favor to Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who became a Republican last month after voting against the articles of impeachment as a Democrat. Mr. Trump is set to appear in Iowa on Thursday, days before the caucuses.
Meanwhile, President Trump is already looking ahead to his likely acquittal, whenever it may come, promising that Democrats will face consequences for trying to remove him from office. “Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man,” Mr. Trump tweeted Sunday. “He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country!”
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Mr. Schiff is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the lead impeachment manager. Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press'' whether he viewed the tweet as a threat, Mr. Schiff replied, "I think it's intended to be.''
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker, Laurie Kellman, and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-01-27--As impeachment unfolds, Trump offers counterprogramming

“ He ’ s trying to counterprogram , ” says a source close to the White House who participates in multiple calls a day with Trump aides focused on public messaging during impeachment .
Some items on the president ’ s busy schedule were long in the works , but they still feed into the president ’ s larger purpose at a time of maximum stress .
He pays close attention to TV ratings , which have been low for the Senate trial .
Like a TV producer , he aims to create a competing narrative designed to attract public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even now – after the leaking of a book manuscript by a former top aide that adds fuel to the charges at the heart of the impeachment trial – President Trump appears unfazed .
From the start of the impeachment trial , President Donald Trump has worked hard to stay in the public eye : grabbing global attention while in Europe ; hopscotching around the country for televised campaign rallies ; tweeting up a storm , including a personal record for tweets in one day ( 142 ) ; hosting prominent foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all indications , President Donald Trump is drawn to drama .
The former reality TV star loves to perform , loves being the center of attention , loves to shift the media discourse with a well-timed tweet .
Even now – after the leaking of a book manuscript by a former top aide that adds fuel to the charges at the heart of the impeachment trial – President Trump appears unfazed .
And unlike former President Bill Clinton , who “ compartmentalized ” his way through impeachment , Mr. Trump seems to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ Trump show ” and using his time in the split screen to capture attention and keep his supporters firmly on board .
In fact , by staying away from the Capitol – despite saying he ’ d love to attend , after a senator offered him a ticket – he may be garnering more attention than if he had to sit there in silence .
From the start of the trial , Mr. Trump has worked hard to stay in the public eye : grabbing global attention while in Europe ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallies ; tweeting up a storm , including a personal record for tweets in one day ( 142 ) ; hosting prominent foreign leaders at the White House .
Some items on the president ’ s busy schedule were long in the works , but they still feed into Mr. Trump ’ s larger purpose at a time of maximum stress .
He pays close attention to TV ratings , which have been low for the impeachment trial , and he complained when his defense lawyers had to start their argument on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Death Valley . ''
Like a TV producer , he aims to create a competing narrative designed to attract public attention , both allies and detractors of Mr. Trump say .
“ He ’ s trying to counterprogram , ” says a source close to the White House who participates in multiple calls a day with Trump aides focused on public messaging during the impeachment trial .
For President Clinton , only the second U.S. president in history to be impeached , the coping mechanism was to keep any scandals he was dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Clinton was always a compartmentalizer , ” says veteran Democratic strategist Peter Fenn .
“ He had an amazing talent for putting personal things into one box and public things and governing into another box.
” Mr. Trump , in contrast , “ takes everything personally , ” says Mr. Fenn .
“ He can ’ t operate outside the realm of , ‘ It ’ s all about me.
’ ” For Trump aides , as with all presidential staff , pleasing the boss is paramount .
And so staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressing impeachment have to compartmentalize to some degree , even as the boss is consumed by what he sees as a “ witch hunt ” – a term that many a Democrat applied to President Clinton ’ s 1998 impeachment .
In a 2006 interview with scholars at the University of Virginia ’ s Miller Center , former Clinton personal secretary Betty Currie agreed that during their impeachment whirlwind , most of the staff kept their noses to the grindstone and focused on work that had nothing to do with investigations and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run the country , ” Ms. Currie said .
Mr. Clinton also had an impeachment “ war room , ” led by lawyer Lanny Davis , who pursued a “ very defined ” strategy .
One rule forbade the president from speaking publicly about the impeachment proceedings .
That , of course , is anathema to Mr. Trump ’ s style .
For starters , no one tells him what to do .
Or if someone does , there ’ s no guarantee he ’ ll listen .
By having a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing , Mr. Trump is effectively serving as his own spokesman .
Thus , he lives or dies politically by his own guile and gut .
The approach may be working : His average job approval rating registered Monday at its highest point – 45.5 % – since the earliest days of his presidency .
On Monday , as Mr. Trump ’ s impeachment trial resumed , the president ’ s expected story line – easy acquittal at week ’ s end , followed by a victory lap – may already have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted Sunday evening about former national security adviser John Bolton ’ s forthcoming book has increased the chances that the Senate will vote to subpoena witnesses .
If a majority of senators make that call , the trial will extend beyond this week .
In his manuscript , Mr. Bolton – long at the top of Democrats ’ wishlist for impeachment trial testimony – wrote that Mr. Trump had ordered a freeze on security aid to Ukraine until the country had agreed to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden , a 2020 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Times story .
This represents the first time a firsthand witness has made such an assertion .
But at the White House Monday , the programming centered on a completely different topic : Middle East peace .
Mr. Trump welcomed ally Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and , separately , Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz , for meetings on the Trump administration ’ s plan for the region .
The meetings seemed to serve the domestic political goals of all concerned , but not much more .
The Palestinians , who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sight unseen .
On Tuesday , Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold a joint press conference .
This week ’ s focus on Israel recalls comments by Elaine Kamarck , a former aide to then-Vice President Al Gore , in her Miller Center interview from 2008 .
She spoke of how both Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush turned to Middle East peace as they struggled with domestic political challenges .
“ All these presidents think , ‘ Oh , well , I [ expletive ] -ed up my presidency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace in the Middle East , ’ ” Ms. Kamarck said .
“ As if this is going to save these guys .
”

Unlike former President Bill Clinton, who chose not to say much about impeachment, Mr. Trump seems to be embracing a split-screen approach, trying to capture attention on his own terms.
“He’s trying to counterprogram,” says a source close to the White House who participates in multiple calls a day with Trump aides focused on public messaging during impeachment.
Some items on the president’s busy schedule were long in the works, but they still feed into the president’s larger purpose at a time of maximum stress. He pays close attention to TV ratings, which have been low for the Senate trial. Like a TV producer, he aims to create a competing narrative designed to attract public attention, both allies and detractors say. Even now – after the leaking of a book manuscript by a former top aide that adds fuel to the charges at the heart of the impeachment trial – President Trump appears unfazed.
From the start of the impeachment trial, President Donald Trump has worked hard to stay in the public eye: grabbing global attention while in Europe; hopscotching around the country for televised campaign rallies; tweeting up a storm, including a personal record for tweets in one day (142); hosting prominent foreign leaders at the White House.
By all indications, President Donald Trump is drawn to drama.
The former reality TV star loves to perform, loves being the center of attention, loves to shift the media discourse with a well-timed tweet. Even now – after the leaking of a book manuscript by a former top aide that adds fuel to the charges at the heart of the impeachment trial – President Trump appears unfazed.
And unlike former President Bill Clinton, who “compartmentalized” his way through impeachment, Mr. Trump seems to be fully embracing the trial as part of the “Trump show” and using his time in the split screen to capture attention and keep his supporters firmly on board. In fact, by staying away from the Capitol – despite saying he’d love to attend, after a senator offered him a ticket – he may be garnering more attention than if he had to sit there in silence.
Why We Wrote This Unlike former President Bill Clinton, who chose not to say much about impeachment, Mr. Trump seems to be embracing a split-screen approach, trying to capture attention on his own terms.
From the start of the trial, Mr. Trump has worked hard to stay in the public eye: grabbing global attention while in Europe; hopscotching around the country for televised campaign rallies; tweeting up a storm, including a personal record for tweets in one day (142); hosting prominent foreign leaders at the White House.
Some items on the president’s busy schedule were long in the works, but they still feed into Mr. Trump’s larger purpose at a time of maximum stress. He pays close attention to TV ratings, which have been low for the impeachment trial, and he complained when his defense lawyers had to start their argument on Saturday morning, calling that time slot “Death Valley." Like a TV producer, he aims to create a competing narrative designed to attract public attention, both allies and detractors of Mr. Trump say.
“He’s trying to counterprogram,” says a source close to the White House who participates in multiple calls a day with Trump aides focused on public messaging during the impeachment trial.
For President Clinton, only the second U.S. president in history to be impeached, the coping mechanism was to keep any scandals he was dealing with in a separate place, mentally.
“Clinton was always a compartmentalizer,” says veteran Democratic strategist Peter Fenn. “He had an amazing talent for putting personal things into one box and public things and governing into another box.”
Mr. Trump, in contrast, “takes everything personally,” says Mr. Fenn. “He can’t operate outside the realm of, ‘It’s all about me.’”
For Trump aides, as with all presidential staff, pleasing the boss is paramount. And so staff who aren’t directly tasked with addressing impeachment have to compartmentalize to some degree, even as the boss is consumed by what he sees as a “witch hunt” – a term that many a Democrat applied to President Clinton’s 1998 impeachment.
In a 2006 interview with scholars at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, former Clinton personal secretary Betty Currie agreed that during their impeachment whirlwind, most of the staff kept their noses to the grindstone and focused on work that had nothing to do with investigations and, eventually, impeachment.
“We had to run the country,” Ms. Currie said.
Mr. Clinton also had an impeachment “war room,” led by lawyer Lanny Davis, who pursued a “very defined” strategy. One rule forbade the president from speaking publicly about the impeachment proceedings.
That, of course, is anathema to Mr. Trump’s style. For starters, no one tells him what to do. Or if someone does, there’s no guarantee he’ll listen.
By having a press secretary who has never conducted a press briefing, Mr. Trump is effectively serving as his own spokesman. Thus, he lives or dies politically by his own guile and gut. The approach may be working: His average job approval rating registered Monday at its highest point – 45.5% – since the earliest days of his presidency.
On Monday, as Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial resumed, the president’s expected story line – easy acquittal at week’s end, followed by a victory lap – may already have been dashed. The New York Times scoop posted Sunday evening about former national security adviser John Bolton’s forthcoming book has increased the chances that the Senate will vote to subpoena witnesses. If a majority of senators make that call, the trial will extend beyond this week.
In his manuscript, Mr. Bolton – long at the top of Democrats’ wishlist for impeachment trial testimony – wrote that Mr. Trump had ordered a freeze on security aid to Ukraine until the country had agreed to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a 2020 presidential rival, and others, according to the Times story. This represents the first time a firsthand witness has made such an assertion.
But at the White House Monday, the programming centered on a completely different topic: Middle East peace. Mr. Trump welcomed ally Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, separately, Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz, for meetings on the Trump administration’s plan for the region.
The meetings seemed to serve the domestic political goals of all concerned, but not much more. The Palestinians, who were not invited, rejected the U.S. plan sight unseen. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold a joint press conference.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This week’s focus on Israel recalls comments by Elaine Kamarck, a former aide to then-Vice President Al Gore, in her Miller Center interview from 2008. She spoke of how both Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush turned to Middle East peace as they struggled with domestic political challenges.
“All these presidents think, ‘Oh, well, I [expletive]-ed up my presidency, so I’ll try to make peace in the Middle East,’” Ms. Kamarck said. “As if this is going to save these guys.”


csmonitor--2020-01-27--Is Elizabeth Warren losing momentum ahead of Iowa caucuses?

Elizabeth Warren is fighting to regain momentum in the turbulent fight for the Democratic presidential nomination amid lingering questions about her authenticity and electability .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren was considered a leader in the crowded race through the fall , yet just seven days before Iowa 's first-in-the-nation caucuses , allies , adversaries , and new polling suggest that progressive rival Bernie Sanders has a slight advantage – at least in the battle for the party 's left wing .
That is just as establishment-minded Democrats begin to rally behind former Vice President Joe Biden , who has tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ability to defeat President Donald Trump this fall .
Ms. Warren 's uncertain status raises questions about whether any female candidate will emerge from Iowa 's Feb. 3 caucuses with the political strength to go deep into the primary season , a challenge that will almost certainly require early victories to generate the energy and campaign cash needed to continue .
As would-be supporters acknowledged concern over the weekend , Ms. Warren ignored the shifting political currents and vowed to continue fighting for the kind of transformational change she has championed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case in Iowa before being forced back to Washington for President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial .
`` Since I first got in this race a year ago , I have not focused on polls .
And that 's exactly how I 'm going to continue to run this race , '' she told reporters when pressed about whether she needs to change her strategy .
She added : `` I 'm running a campaign from the heart .
That 's what it 's all about to me .
This is who I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on politics on Ms. Warren 's team insist they 're not worried , and with one week before voting begins , there are no plans to shake up her strategy .
The campaign noted that she has already attracted more than 3 million individual donations and assembled a paid campaign operation in 31 states .
The Massachusetts senator got a much-needed boost over the weekend by winning the endorsement of Iowa 's largest newspaper .
And while she has won a series of coveted newspaper endorsements , Ms. Warren has yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress from Iowa or New Hampshire , the states that host the first two voting contests .
The shutout particularly stings given Ms. Warren 's proximity to New Hampshire , whose two female senators have so far declined to support their neighbor , who has increasingly evoked her gender as a strength on the campaign trail .
New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan is unlikely to support Ms. Warren and is instead considering whether to endorse longtime political ally Mr. Biden , if anyone , according to Democrats familiar with her thinking who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New Hampshire 's other senator , Jeanne Shaheen , is facing re-election this fall and is not expected to endorse anyone .
Meanwhile , Mr. Biden was campaigning alongside his newest high-profile female supporter , Iowa Rep. Cindy Axne , as he worked his way across Iowa over the weekend .
Mr. Biden has won the public backing of both of Iowa 's Democratic congresswomen .
Ms. Warren 's allies believe she will benefit from her sprawling organization of paid staff and volunteers on the ground in Iowa and other early voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising campaign .
She is also expected to earn a wave of new endorsements from local progressive leaders on Monday as her allies work to spark a final-week surge .
The Warren-aligned Progressive Change Campaign Committee , the Working Families Party , and Black Womxn are set to announce more than 3,000 new endorsements for Ms. Warren including elected officials , economists , organization leaders , small business owners , and activists , according to said PCCC co-founder Adam Green .
That is in addition to the endorsement of more than 40 Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on Sunday .
But sensing weakness , Ms. Warren 's rivals are actively working to peel off her supporters .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar , one of the two other women in the race , sees Ms. Warren as one of her best targets as she fights to bump off one of the top four candidates .
As Ms. Warren allies cheered her Des Moines Register endorsement , Ms. Klobuchar 's team touted her endorsement from another one of the state 's largest newspapers , the Quad City Times .
Iowa Democrat Deidre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' state chair before the California senator left the race , acknowledged Ms. Warren 's uncertain status .
`` I think there has been some stagnation , '' Ms. DeJear said of Ms. Warren 's support .
`` I do n't think that she 's struggling by any stretch of the imagination , but I believe as it relates to people 's temperature , poll numbers , folks have either made another decision or we 're not necessarily seeing her support represented in the polls . ''
The rivalry between the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mr. Sanders , looms largest as voters finalize their decisions .
And in the fight for the left , a series of state and national polls over the weekend suggest Mr. Sanders is better-positioned than Ms. Warren on the eve of the first voting contest .
A New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday showed Mr. Sanders with a slight – but not commanding – edge in Iowa , though polls also show that all four top candidates remain in the hunt there .
In New Hampshire , several recent polls put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren and the other top candidates lagging behind .
And two polls released Sunday suggest that Ms. Warren is running well behind Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders nationally .
Undecided Iowa voter Tyler Niska says he has narrowed his choices to Mr. Sanders or Ms. Warren , yet he fears that Ms. Warren would face the same political headwinds that plagued the party 's last female nominee , Hillary Clinton , four years ago .
`` Warren would probably do a better job , but Bernie has a much better chance of actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Des Moines resident , said as he waited in line outside a weekend Mr. Sanders rally in Ames .
`` I 'll probably go with Bernie , '' he said .
Mrs. Warren volunteer Amber Beitzel , of Bettendorf , said she is aware of recent polls showing Mr. Sanders with an advantage , and said it is something to watch .
But she has seen Ms. Warren 's operation up close and feels it is well positioned .
`` There 's a concern , obviously , '' said Ms. Beitzel , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I feel like working in her grassroots campaign , I see her organizers , I see the volunteers come .
...
They 're coming back with lots and lots of people who are interested in what she 's saying .
And it 's very exciting . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP polling director Emily Swanson in Washington and AP writer Hunter Woodall in Manchester , New Hampshire contributed .

Steve Peoples, Sara Burnett, and Will Weissert

Elizabeth Warren is fighting to regain momentum in the turbulent fight for the Democratic presidential nomination amid lingering questions about her authenticity and electability.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren was considered a leader in the crowded race through the fall, yet just seven days before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, allies, adversaries, and new polling suggest that progressive rival Bernie Sanders has a slight advantage – at least in the battle for the party's left wing. That is just as establishment-minded Democrats begin to rally behind former Vice President Joe Biden, who has tried to stoke fears about his more liberal rivals' ability to defeat President Donald Trump this fall.
Ms. Warren's uncertain status raises questions about whether any female candidate will emerge from Iowa's Feb. 3 caucuses with the political strength to go deep into the primary season, a challenge that will almost certainly require early victories to generate the energy and campaign cash needed to continue.
As would-be supporters acknowledged concern over the weekend, Ms. Warren ignored the shifting political currents and vowed to continue fighting for the kind of transformational change she has championed for months, even while pressing her final case in Iowa before being forced back to Washington for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.
"Since I first got in this race a year ago, I have not focused on polls. And that's exactly how I'm going to continue to run this race," she told reporters when pressed about whether she needs to change her strategy.
She added: "I'm running a campaign from the heart. That's what it's all about to me. This is who I am."
The people paid to focus on politics on Ms. Warren's team insist they're not worried, and with one week before voting begins, there are no plans to shake up her strategy. The campaign noted that she has already attracted more than 3 million individual donations and assembled a paid campaign operation in 31 states.
The Massachusetts senator got a much-needed boost over the weekend by winning the endorsement of Iowa's largest newspaper. And while she has won a series of coveted newspaper endorsements, Ms. Warren has yet to earn the backing of a single member of Congress from Iowa or New Hampshire, the states that host the first two voting contests.
The shutout particularly stings given Ms. Warren's proximity to New Hampshire, whose two female senators have so far declined to support their neighbor, who has increasingly evoked her gender as a strength on the campaign trail.
New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan is unlikely to support Ms. Warren and is instead considering whether to endorse longtime political ally Mr. Biden, if anyone, according to Democrats familiar with her thinking who were not authorized to share internal discussions. New Hampshire's other senator, Jeanne Shaheen, is facing re-election this fall and is not expected to endorse anyone.
Meanwhile, Mr. Biden was campaigning alongside his newest high-profile female supporter, Iowa Rep. Cindy Axne, as he worked his way across Iowa over the weekend. Mr. Biden has won the public backing of both of Iowa's Democratic congresswomen.
Ms. Warren's allies believe she will benefit from her sprawling organization of paid staff and volunteers on the ground in Iowa and other early voting states in addition to an aggressive paid advertising campaign. She is also expected to earn a wave of new endorsements from local progressive leaders on Monday as her allies work to spark a final-week surge.
The Warren-aligned Progressive Change Campaign Committee, the Working Families Party, and Black Womxn are set to announce more than 3,000 new endorsements for Ms. Warren including elected officials, economists, organization leaders, small business owners, and activists, according to said PCCC co-founder Adam Green. That is in addition to the endorsement of more than 40 Iowa Democratic officials and activists, the campaign announced on Sunday.
But sensing weakness, Ms. Warren's rivals are actively working to peel off her supporters.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, one of the two other women in the race, sees Ms. Warren as one of her best targets as she fights to bump off one of the top four candidates. As Ms. Warren allies cheered her Des Moines Register endorsement, Ms. Klobuchar's team touted her endorsement from another one of the state's largest newspapers, the Quad City Times.
Iowa Democrat Deidre DeJear, who served as Kamala Harris' state chair before the California senator left the race, acknowledged Ms. Warren's uncertain status.
"I think there has been some stagnation," Ms. DeJear said of Ms. Warren's support. "I don't think that she's struggling by any stretch of the imagination, but I believe as it relates to people's temperature, poll numbers, folks have either made another decision or we're not necessarily seeing her support represented in the polls."
The rivalry between the Democratic Party's most liberal contenders, Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders, looms largest as voters finalize their decisions. And in the fight for the left, a series of state and national polls over the weekend suggest Mr. Sanders is better-positioned than Ms. Warren on the eve of the first voting contest.
A New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday showed Mr. Sanders with a slight – but not commanding – edge in Iowa, though polls also show that all four top candidates remain in the hunt there. In New Hampshire, several recent polls put Mr. Sanders out front, with Ms. Warren and the other top candidates lagging behind. And two polls released Sunday suggest that Ms. Warren is running well behind Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders nationally.
Undecided Iowa voter Tyler Niska says he has narrowed his choices to Mr. Sanders or Ms. Warren, yet he fears that Ms. Warren would face the same political headwinds that plagued the party's last female nominee, Hillary Clinton, four years ago.
"Warren would probably do a better job, but Bernie has a much better chance of actually winning," Mr. Niska, a Des Moines resident, said as he waited in line outside a weekend Mr. Sanders rally in Ames.
"I'll probably go with Bernie," he said.
Mrs. Warren volunteer Amber Beitzel, of Bettendorf, said she is aware of recent polls showing Mr. Sanders with an advantage, and said it is something to watch. But she has seen Ms. Warren's operation up close and feels it is well positioned.
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"There's a concern, obviously," said Ms. Beitzel, who works in nuclear medicine technology. "But I feel like working in her grassroots campaign, I see her organizers, I see the volunteers come. ... They're coming back with lots and lots of people who are interested in what she's saying. And it's very exciting."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP polling director Emily Swanson in Washington and AP writer Hunter Woodall in Manchester, New Hampshire contributed.