The Daily

The Moderates’ Impeachment Moment

Jan 22, 2020

Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Congressional editor for The New York Times, delves into the impeachment trial’s procedural intricacies. She explores why Senate rules differed from Mitch McConnell’s original plan and highlights the stark partisan divide during proceedings. Davis discusses senators' aspirations for fairness amidst intense political tensions and the challenges moderate Republicans face in balancing loyalty with credibility. The conversation also touches on public perceptions of the trial's legitimacy and unforeseen health concerns arising during this pivotal moment.

23:35

Creator website

Episode guests

Julie Hirschfeld Davis

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Impeachment Trial Dynamics

11min

Senators' Quest for Fairness in Impeachment Proceedings

2min

Navigating Impeachment Politics

8min

Senate Impeachment Rules and Emerging Health Concerns

4min

After nearly 12 hours of vicious debate, the Senate voted early Wednesday to adopt the rules that will govern the rest of the impeachment trial. But in a Republican-controlled chamber, why weren’t they the rules that Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, had originally wanted?

Guest: Julie Hirschfeld Davis, congressional editor for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

Voting along party lines, Senate Republicans blocked Democrats’ efforts to subpoena witnesses and documents related to President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.
As the trial began in earnest, Mr. Trump was 4,000 miles away, touting the United States’ economic growth at the World Economic Forum, an elite gathering of business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.

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