Intro

The White House released a reconstructed transcript of President Trump’s phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, the leader of Ukraine. In it, Mr. Trump asks for an investigation into Joseph R. Biden Jr., a potential 2020 rival. We consider what that request means for the impeachment inquiry now underway. Guest: Michael S. Schmidt, who covers national security and federal investigations for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

• Different interpretations of the phone call are shaping a debate over whether the president committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
• Read the full declassified record of the call, with annotations.
• Here’s what we know so far about the whistle-blower complaint that set off this controversy.

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