POLITICO Playbook: The Democrats’ big impeachment question

HOUSE DEMOCRATS moved one step nearer to impeaching President Donald Trump on Thursday with a historic vote on the House flooring. Despite coalescing across the impeachment inquiry vote, Democrats have several key hurdles over the subsequent few days to hold their ranks collectively. In the intervening time, they're about to go into a recess week. And the committees at the moment are summoning a slate of witnesses who may never show up. THE BIG QUESTION: How do they hold the momentum going?

SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI was on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” … COLBERT: “When do public hearings start?” PELOSI: “They’ll be soon.” Video clip

KYLE CHENEY and ANDREW DESIDERIO: “‘We expect we’re prepared’: Democrats close to finish of closed-door impeachment testimony”: “Their listing of cooperative witnesses is dwindling. The ones who are displaying up are increasingly just corroborating what has already been revealed.

“And a rising number of Home impeachment investigators say the proof is overwhelming that President Donald Trump used the facility of his office to strain Ukraine's government to open spurious investigations into his political opponents, together with former Vice President Joe Biden.

“At this point, the investigators say they’re seeing diminishing returns on the parade of closed-door depositions — they usually’re eager to move to the public part of the process. Meaning it’s determination time for Democrats.” POLITICO

-- WSJ’S VIVIAN SALAMA: “Vindman’s Identical Twin May Be Called to Testify in Impeachment Inquiry”

HOW THEY VIEW IT ON THE TRAIL … BOSTON GLOBE: “Buttigieg says there can be ‘loads of benefit’ if Trump have been defeated in 2020 as an alternative of faraway from office,” by James Pindell in Derry, N.H.: “On the same day when congressional Democrats took their first formal vote on the impeachment inquiry, Pete Buttigieg, South Bend, Ind., mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, stated in an interview with the Globe that there can be ‘a variety of profit’ for the country if President Trump had a ‘thumping defeat’ within the 2020 elections as an alternative of being removed from office.

“‘The impeachment process is predicated on a constitutional normal and must run its course accordingly,’ Buttigieg stated after wrapping up two days of marketing campaign occasions in New Hampshire. ‘I'll say that there can be plenty of profit to Trump and Trumpism getting a powerful, thumping defeat at the ballot box because I feel that's what shall be required for congressional Republicans to be reunited with their conscience.’” Boston Globe

A HISTORY LESSON from NYT’S CARL HULSE: “Home Impeachment Inquiry Vote Underscores Intense Polarization”: “When the Republican-led House voted in 1998 to start an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton, 31 Democrats sided with Republicans, and the White House breathed a sigh of aid that the quantity was not considerably larger. In at present’s hyper-polarized Washington, defections of that magnitude on the query of impeachment can be thought-about a tsunami.

“Not a single Home Republican on Thursday joined Democrats in supporting a resolution outlining the parameters for the subsequent stage of impeachment proceedings, regardless of having demanded such a vote for weeks. Simply two Democrats broke from their social gathering to oppose the investigation.” NYT

AP’S ALAN FRAM and MATT DALY: “[T]he roll call additionally accentuated how Democrats have rallied behind the impeachment inquiry after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent months urging warning till evidence and public help had grown.

“She and different Democratic leaders had feared a premature vote would wound the reelection prospects of dozens of their members, including freshmen and lawmakers from Trump-won districts or seats held beforehand by Republicans. But current polls have shown voters’ rising receptivity to the investigation and, to a lesser degree, ousting Trump.” AP

-- KELLYANNE CONWAY on Thursday morning (!): “You both have the votes or you do not. Guess what? A unclean little secret: They don’t have the votes.” (by way of Newsmax)

NYT: “White House Aide Confirms He Saw Signs of a Quid Professional Quo on Ukraine,” by Nicholas Fandos: “A senior National Safety Council aide on Thursday confirmed a key episode on the middle of the impeachment inquiry, testifying that a prime diplomat working with President Trump informed him that a package deal of army assistance for Ukraine would not be launched till the country committed to investigations the president sought.

“In a closed-door deposition, the aide, Timothy Morrison, additionally stated he had been informed of a September name between Mr. Trump and the diplomat, Gordon D. Sondland. In that dialog, the president stated he was not on the lookout for a quid professional quo with Ukraine, however then went on to ‘insist’ that the country’s president publicly announce investigations into Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son and different Democrats.” NYT

-- “Is Trump’s base breaking over impeachment? The tale of a congressman’s defiance suggests not,” by WaPo’s Griff Witte in Fort Myers, Fla.

COURT WATCH -- “John Bolton’s former deputy asks decide to resolve conflicting calls for for House impeachment testimony,” by WaPo’s Spencer Hsu and Ann Marimow: “At [Don] McGahn’s hearing, U.S. District Decide Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed incredulity on the Trump administration’s claim that the previous White Home counsel and prime presidential aides can't be compelled to testify by Congress, calling it a ‘peculiar’ argument that threatens to upset the Structure’s system of checks and balances.” WaPo

Good Friday morning.

TRUMP IS NO LONGER A NEW YORKER … @realDonaldTrump: “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, is the place I've come to love and can stay for, hopefully, another 5 years as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, but my family and I will probably be making Palm Seashore, Florida, our Permanent Residence. I cherish New York, and the individuals of.....

“....New York, and all the time will, however unfortunately, even if I pay tens of millions of dollars in city, state and native taxes annually, I have been handled very badly by the political leaders of both the town and state. Few have been treated worse. I hated having to make....

“....this determination, but in the long run it is going to be greatest for all concerned. As President, I will all the time be there to help New York and the good individuals of New York. It'll all the time have a particular place in my heart!” The paperwork, via the NYT … Maggie Haberman’s NYT scoop

-- MIAMI HERALD HEADLINE: “It’s official: President Trump is now a full-time Florida man”: “In shifting to the Sunshine State from New York, Trump is leaving a state with an revenue tax that can strategy 9 % to a state with no revenue tax and no inheritance tax. And, as he complains about his remedy in New York, he is additionally leaving a liberal state for one with two Republican U.S. senators, a Republican Legislature and a governor, Ron DeSantis, with whom he has an in depth relationship. His campaign supervisor, Brad Parscale, additionally lives in Fort Lauderdale after purchasing a house in Might.” Miami Herald

WSJ: “White House Backing Off Proposed Gasoline-Efficiency Freeze,” by Ben Foldy and Timothy Puko: “The Trump administration is backing away from a plan to freeze tailpipe-emissions targets for brand spanking new automobiles by way of 2025, say individuals conversant in the method.

“The administration is now considering requiring a 1.5% annual improve in fleetwide gasoline effectivity, using an business measure that takes both fuel mileage and emissions reductions into account, the individuals stated. The goal strikes the number closer to the Obama-era rules calling for 5% features however nonetheless offers auto makers with vital aid and would permit automobiles to emit extra air pollution.” WSJ

THE BUSH ORAL HISTORY PROJECT on the Miller Middle at U.Va. will go reside in the present day at 2:30 p.m. The site

WAPO: “Maya Rockeymoore Cummings is ‘considering rigorously’ about operating for her late husband’s congressional seat,” by Ovetta Wiggins: “‘I really like Baltimore Metropolis, the counties of the 7th Congressional District, and the state of Maryland,’ Rockeymoore Cummings stated in a text. ‘I’m deeply dedicated to public service and I’m honored by the widespread encouragement I’ve acquired to continue Elijah’s superb legacy. As I mourn the lack of my husband, I’m considering rigorously concerning the future and will make an announcement very soon.’” WaPo

TRUMP PHONES A FRIEND -- “Trump gives Brexit advice throughout British radio-show interview,” by WaPo’s Adam Taylor: “President Trump phoned right into a radio present in London on Thursday to offer his ideas on the upcoming British election, hinting at recommendation he had for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the still-ongoing negotiations to go away the European Union. ...

“Trump was chatting with Nigel Farage, a outstanding anti-E.U. campaigner who hosts a radio present on London-based LBC. Farage, the chief of the upstart Brexit Get together, has been an ally of Trump’s for years.” WaPo … The audio

-- A layup for Labour’s @JeremyCorbyn: “Donald Trump is making an attempt to intrude in Britain’s election to get his good friend Boris Johnson elected.”

TRUMP’S FRIDAY -- The president will depart the White Home en route to Tupelo, Miss., at four:30 p.m. He'll deliver remarks at a marketing campaign rally at 7 p.m. Central time. Afterward, Trump will return to Washington.

SUNDAY SO FAR …

RYAN LIZZA: “Elizabeth Warren did not have a plan for this”

DAILY RUDY … CNN: “In current days, Giuliani has been in advanced discussions to hire Daniel L. Stein, a white-collar legal defense lawyer who is a veteran of the Manhattan US Lawyer’s office, to characterize him within the investigation, sources say.”

SCOOP -- REUTERS: “U.S. withholding $105 million in security help for Lebanon”: “The State Department informed Congress on Thursday that the White Home finances workplace and National Security Council had decided to withhold the overseas army assistance, the 2 officials stated, talking on condition of anonymity. The officials did not say why the aid was blocked. One of the sources stated the State Division didn't give Congress a cause for the choice. …

“The administration had sought approval for the assistance starting in Might, arguing that it was essential for Lebanon, an necessary U.S. associate within the risky Middle East, to have the ability to shield its borders. The help included night time imaginative and prescient goggles and weapons utilized in border safety.

“However Washington has additionally repeatedly expressed concern over the rising position within the Beirut authorities of Hezbollah, the armed Shi’ite group backed by Iran and listed as a terrorist group by america.” Reuters

NEW POMPEO DEPUTY -- “Trump Nominates North Korea Envoy to No. 2 State Division Publish,” by WSJ’s Jessica Donati: “President Trump on Thursday nominated Stephen Biegun, at present the highest envoy for North Korea, for the submit of deputy secretary of state, the White Home stated.

“If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Biegun will undertake the duties in addition to his current position as lead U.S. negotiator with Pyongyang, a senior State Department official stated.

“The nomination comes as the Trump administration seeks to revive long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea after they collapsed following a single, working-level round of conferences in Sweden on Oct. 5.” WSJ

THE CORRECTIONS BEAT -- An NYT op-ed by filmmaker Aaron Sorkin blasting Fb’s Mark Zuckerberg and his ad policies contained the following lengthy correction: “An earlier version of this text misstated the yr through which ‘The Social Community’ was launched and Mark Zuckerberg's age on the time. It was 2010, not 2011, and Mr. Zuckerberg was 26, not 27. It also misstated the character of the main lawsuit that bankrupted Gawker. It was an invasion of privateness lawsuit, not a defamation go well with. In addition, the essay incorrectly described what People say about their use of Fb as a information source. In 2018, over 40 % of People reported that they received news from Fb; it isn't the case that half of all People say that Fb is their major source of stories.”

-- ZUCKERBERG RESPONDED to Sorkin’s op-ed with a Facebook post quoting Sorkin’s own words from “The American President,” a monologue in reward of free speech.

MEDIAWATCH -- CNN’S KERRY FLYNN: “No less than 13 Deadspin staffers have now resigned over the previous two days after interim EIC Barry Petchesky was fired for not following the ‘stick with sports activities’ mandate from management.” CNN

-- MICHAEL CALDERONE: “After Katie Hill, media grapples with possible onslaught of nude photos”

-- Joshua Geltzer, a former counterterrorism official and present professor at Georgetown Regulation Faculty, is the new government editor at Simply Safety. Announcement

Send tips to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at politicoplaybook@politico.com.

WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE: “Paula White, Trump’s Personal Pastor, Joins the White House,” by NYT’s Jeremy Peters and Maggie Haberman: “Ms. White will work within the Office of Public Liaison, the official stated, which is the division of the White Home overseeing outreach to teams and coalitions organizing key elements of the president’s base. Her position might be to advise the administration’s Faith and Alternative Initiative, which Mr. Trump established final yr by government order and which goals to give spiritual teams extra of a voice in government packages dedicated to issues like defending spiritual liberty and preventing poverty.”

SPOTTED on the National Assessment Institute’s sixth annual William F. Buckley Jr. Prize Dinner at The Breakers Lodge in Palm Seashore, Fla., on Wednesday night time: honorees Homosexual Hart Gaines and Rush Limbaugh, Schooling Secretary Betsy DeVos and Dick DeVos, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Robert Agostinelli, Neal Freeman, Lisa Nelson, Lindsay Craig, Rabbi Rob Thomas, Richard Brookhiser, Rich Lowry, Peter Travers, Elizabeth Ailes, Tom and Diane Smith, Thomas Peterffy, Jordan and Thomas Saunders III, Charlie Kirk, Eugene Meyer, Ramesh Ponnuru, Kathryn Jean Lopez, Kevin Williamson, Andrew McCarthy, Jay Nordlinger, John McCormack, John O'Sullivan and John Fund.

TRANSITIONS -- Andres Vinelli might be VP of financial policy on the Middle for American Progress. He beforehand was chief economist at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. … Katie Thompson is now affiliate director for digital media and public coverage at S&P International. She previously was communications director for Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas). … Naimul Huq is now knowledge and analytics director at Precision Methods. He beforehand was SVP and head of analytics and planning at Lippe Taylor.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- John Noonan, senior counsel for national safety for Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Rachael Marie Noonan, formerly of Bessemer Belief’s D.C. workplaces, just lately welcomed Annabel Grace Noonan, who came in at 7 lbs, 7 oz. Pic

-- Steve Freiss, a contract journalist and POLITICO alum, and Miles Smith, who's getting his master’s in schooling at the University of Michigan, welcomed Nevada Ebbess Friess on Oct. 18. His adoption was finalized this week. The couple met 15 years ago as journalists in Las Vegas and now stay in Ann Arbor, Mich. Pic … Another pic

BIRTHWEEK (was Thursday): Lee Fang

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Katie Walsh Shields, RNC senior adviser for knowledge. A guide she’s been studying recently: “‘The Secrets We Kept’ by Lara Prescott. It’s the story of two female CIA brokers in the course of the Chilly Struggle and the essential position they played in a top-secret CIA operation. It’s one of some books I’ve learn lately (including ‘Code Girls’ by Liza Mundy) that spotlight the usually untold position that ladies have performed at important points in our historical past.” Playbook Q&A

BIRTHDAYS: Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner is 59 … Charles Koch is 84 … David Bossie, president of Citizens United and a Fox News contributor, is 54 … former Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who’s operating for Congress again, is 66 … former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is 58 … ITA’s Vanessa Morrone Ambrosini (hat tip: husband Mike Ambrosini) … WaPo e-book critic Carlos Lozada … Noel Eisenberg … POLITICO’s Angela Hart, Jason Shervinski, Cristina Brownell and Anthony Hatch … Glover Park Group’s Alex Byers … Brian Mahoney … John Oxtoby of Ariel Investments … Craig Kunkle … Michael Byerly is Three-Zero … Jess Andrews … Eric Liu is 51 … Megan Wilson of Bloomberg Authorities … Liz Dougherty, basic counsel and company secretary at Business Roundtable … National Journal gubernatorial politics reporter Madelaine Pisani …

… Francesco Guerrera, head of international for Dow Jones Media Group and publisher of Financial News … Les Novitsky … Grace Bellone, legislative director at Alpine Group (h/t boyfriend Will Might) … Jeremy Hunt is 53 … Caitlin Dowling … Larry Flynt is 77 ... Liz Bowman … Clare Steinberg ... Tyler Hernandez … Fergus Bordewich ... Chloe (Mullins) Taylor of Hawk Companions … Eric Allen ... Ali Ahmad ... Edelman’s Pearson Cummings ... Peter City … Jordan Mason … Mitch Kapor is 69 … Greg Werkheiser ... Bill Deere ... Peter Newell … Leslie Pollner … Doug Stevens ... John Stipicevic … former Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) is 66 … former Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) is 77 … Anthony DeAngelo is 36 … Anthony Fragale … Bo Harmon ... John Seeley ... CNN’s Marshall Cohen … Senate Chaplain Barry Black is 71

Article originally revealed on POLITICO Magazine

Src: POLITICO Playbook: The Democrats’ big impeachment question
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