The NPR Politics Podcast Questions of Foreign Interference Continue as Trial Moves Closer to Vote on Witnesses
Jan 31, 2020
The podcast dives into the intense Senate impeachment trial, highlighting the gripping interactions between senators and the president's legal team. It tackles the controversial notion of presidential powers in seeking foreign aid to investigate rivals, raising significant legal questions. With tensions rising, notable moments include pointed inquiries from Senators Rand Paul and Elizabeth Warren. Additionally, the Chief Justice's impartial role in managing witness testimonies is scrutinized, setting the stage for an unpredictable legislative battle ahead.
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Limits of Presidential Power
- Senators questioned the limits of presidential power regarding reelection.
- They probed whether actions taken to help reelection, if not illegal, are acceptable.
Requesting Foreign Investigations
- Senators Collins, Crapo, Blunt, and Rubio asked if a president could request a foreign country to investigate a U.S. citizen.
- The White House and House managers offered differing opinions on the legitimacy of such a request.
Clarifying Presidential Power
- The White House legal team's defense of expansive presidential power was seen as radical by some senators.
- Philbin clarified that such power applies only when the president believes it's in the national interest.