The United States Senate has made history Tuesday prosecuting a past president for the first time. Defendant Donald Trump is also making history, as the first president to be tried twice. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins and White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss the first day of trial proceedings.
The Senate on Tuesday voted 56-44 that putting Donald Trump on trial is constitutional, a move refuted by the former president's legal team. Robert Ray was a member of Trump's defense team from his first Senate impeachment trial and an independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation into President Clinton. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he thinks the latest trial is unconstitutional.
Democrats and Republicans Tuesday made their arguments over the constitutionality of President Trump impeachment trial and his role in the attacks on the Capitol in January. Michael McConnell, of the Stanford Law School, is a constitutional scholar and former judge who was nominated to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.
NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including how former President Trump's second impeachment trial will be different from the first, how partisanship plays in to the trial, Trump's continued influence on the Republican Party and President Biden's relief plan.
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including tensions in the Republican Party, Democrats and bipartisanship, President Biden's economic relief plan and former President Trump's impeachment trial.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, is one of 10 Republicans to meet this week with President Biden about the administration's COVID relief bill, and one of only a handful of medical doctors serving in Congress. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss Biden's plan, former President Trump's impeachment trial and the future of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
John Danforth, a former Republican senator, garnered attention last month when he denounced Sen. Josh Hawley's role in the Capitol attacks and expressed regret over his previous support for the Missouri lawmaker. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss his views on the modern-day Republican Party, former President Trump's impeachment, and the impact of questioning the legitimacy of the election.
The Republican Party is out of power on Capitol Hill and deeply divided on issues from the attack on the Capitol to the impeachment of former President Trump. Denver Riggleman, a former Republican congressman and chief strategist at the Network Contagion Research Institute, and Whit Ayres, the president of North Star Opinion Research, join Judy Woodruff to discuss.
The 50-50 split in the new U.S. Senate is leading to delays in confirmations and committee assignments. It comes as the Biden administration looks for an early effort on COVID-relief, and as the Senate prepares for former President Trump's impeachment trial. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss.
NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including President Biden's first days in office, the prospects for bipartisanship in Congress, and former President Trump's impeachment trial.