2 former Senate staffers on precedents set by Trump impeachment trial

In President Trump's impeachment trial, senators had their second and final opportunity to ask questions Thursday. The Brookings Institution's Margaret Taylor, former chief counsel and deputy staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Hart of Mars Hill Strategies, who worked for Republican Rep. Tom Coburn when President Clinton was impeached, join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

2 legal experts on the latest developments in Trump’s impeachment trial

Senators have now begun asking questions in President Trump's impeachment trial. Georgetown Law School's Victoria Nourse, who previously served as special counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Jamil Jaffer, former chief counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and associate White House counsel, join Judy Woodruff to discuss questions of calling witnesses and Trump's motives.

Question of witnesses remains unsettled in Trump impeachment trial

President Trump's legal team wrapped up its case for his acquittal Tuesday, arguing that convicting Trump would set a dangerous precedent for future impeachments driven by policy disagreement. But some senators from each party have signaled interest in hearing from potential witnesses, such as John Bolton. Amna Nawaz reports and Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Elizabeth Warren on Trump’s trial and why ‘women win’ elections

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has been present for the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump and heard Trump's legal team offer its defense of the charges against him. She is also a 2020 Democratic candidate for president. Warren joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why she views Trump's actions as akin to bribery and what it means to miss the last few campaign days before the Iowa caucuses.

Is Trump’s legal defense resonating with Republican senators?

President Trump's legal team has begun its defense in his Senate impeachment trial. The central argument: Trump did nothing wrong, and the summary of his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shows no evidence of conditioning military aid on investigations. But John Bolton reportedly says that did occur. Amna Nawaz reports and Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on impeachment trial witnesses, Iowa polls

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including whether enough Senate Republicans will vote to hear witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Trump and how 2020 presidential candidates are polling and campaigning in Iowa as its Democratic caucuses approach.

CNN Admits Trump Legal Team Success, But Argues a Lack of Diversity

By PoliZette Staff | January 26, 2020

Following a swift and decisive round of opening arguments by the Trump legal team in the Senate impeachment trial, members of the GOP and staunch followers of the President were left encouraged. But they were not the only ones.  Even oft-antagonistic CNN agreed with the sentiment of a strong performance by Trump’s team.

CNN legal analyst and liberal commentator Jeffrey Toobin shocked viewers when he admitted that the Republicans were “winning” the impeachment trial.  Here is what he said.

“Again, I just think the Republicans are winning here. The president is winning here. And as long as they don’t completely fall on their faces, which they’re all competent lawyers, they’re not going to do that, I think that’s fine for them.”

RELATED:  GOP Scores Big on First Day of Impeachment Trial Presentation

However, despite his comments acknowledging the GOP’s success, he was quick to point out the lack of diversity on Trump’s legal team. He further stated that “President Trump has too many white men as lawyers,” needing something negative to spin for CNN viewers.

He went on to describe the lack of women and pondered whether or not the Trump team would allow them to speak, in a clear zing meant to further the mainstream media’s narrative that the Trump White House is misogynistic and plump full of bigots.

Of course, as a counterpoint Toobin was certain to highlight diversity within the Democrat party, citing their strong commitment to the cause and equal representation among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics.

RELATED: CNN’s Cuomo Rips ‘Trumpers’ for Attacking ‘Kid’ Greta Thunberg, Critics Remind Him of Sandmann Settlement

This is all too typical of the Democrat narrative, manipulating the optics and overall message while hiding behind the indefensible claims of racism, bigotry, xenophobia, or whatever the cause du jour may be.

While diversity is certainly welcomed and should be championed on all sides, placing the most qualified people into positions of power, regardless of race or gender, should remain the priority this country.

This piece originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

Read more at LifeZette:
Crucial Moderate Senators Are ‘Offended’ and ‘Stunned’ After Nadler Accuses Senators of ‘Cover-Up’
Congressional Democrats Add Insult to Injury by Alienating Second Possible Impeachment Trial Swing Vote
VIDEO: Father Who Paid For Daughter’s College Roasts Elizabeth Warren

The post CNN Admits Trump Legal Team Success, But Argues a Lack of Diversity appeared first on The Political Insider.

Trump’s legal team begins defense in Senate impeachment trial

As the Senate impeachment trial continued on Saturday, President Trump's legal team laid out their case against removing him from office, contending the Democratic House managers left out crucial facts during this week's arguments. Jami Floyd, host and legal editor at WNYC New York Public Radio, and Ryan Goodman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss.

In final opening arguments, House managers turn to obstruction of Congress charge

The House impeachment managers tasked with prosecuting the case for removal of President Trump are completing their opening arguments Friday. Meanwhile, an audio recording was released in which Trump allegedly urges the removal of former Amb. Marie Yovanovitch. Nick Schifrin reports and Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest news and the Friday session.

David Brooks and Karen Tumulty on Senate impeachment trial and Jim Lehrer

New York Times columnist David Brooks and The Washington Post's Karen Tumulty join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's political news, including how effective House impeachment managers are at making the case for President Trump's removal, the latest 2020 campaign dynamics in Iowa and the loss and legacy of NewsHour co-founder Jim Lehrer.