This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/dec/19/donald-trump-impeachment-news-house-of-representatives-senate-live
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Democrat opposed to Trump impeachment officially switches parties – live | Democrat opposed to Trump impeachment officially switches parties – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey broke with his party to vote against Trump’s impeachment and is now becoming a Republican | Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey broke with his party to vote against Trump’s impeachment and is now becoming a Republican |
| Amid speculation that he’ll leave his post to run for Senate, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gets a new deputy. | |
| The Senate voted 90-3 to confirm Stephen Biegun to be deputy secretary, according to the Associated Press. | |
| The position was previously filled by John Sullivan, who was confirmed to be the new ambassador to Russia. | |
| Should Pompeo step down to run for Senate in his home state of Kansas next year, Biegun, a former Ford Motor Company executive who currently serves as the US special representative for North Korea, “is widely expected to fill the secretary of state job at least on an interim basis,” the Associated Press reports. | |
| Hi all, Vivian Ho on the west coast taking over the blog very briefly before some adults get on national television to yell about things. Let’s keep it calm, OK? | |
| The question remains unanswered, as Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet sent articles of impeachment, the formal charges against Trump, to the Senate. | |
| Once in the Senate, lawmakers will begin a trial. A major question surrounding that trial is who the impeachment “managers” will be. | |
| We know they will be House Democrats, but Pelosi declined to say who she would select on Thursday. | |
| She also said she is holding on to articles of impeachment until she knows whether there will be a fair trial in the Senate. | |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is certain to be adversarial, and delivered a full throated attack on Democrats’ impeachment investigation this morning. | |
| Notably, he did not defend President Trump on the facts of the case. | |
| Incredibly, it’s also the sixth Democratic presidential debate tonight. | |
| The new Democratic presidential field, winnowed by party requirements to qualify for televised debates, will be whiter than in months past. | |
| A new Iowa poll shows more voters are beginning to dislike b billionaires Tom Steyer and Mike Bloomberg. Steyer will be on stage tonight. | |
| And one last thing... | |
| The Democrat-led House also approved the renegotiated US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, a win for the Trump administration. The Senate will likely take up the measure in the New Year. | |
| More from AP: | More from AP: |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s speech this morning, which repeatedly invoked the importance of “precedent,” has prompted a discussion about former US Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland on Twitter. | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s speech this morning, which repeatedly invoked the importance of “precedent,” has prompted a discussion about former US Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland on Twitter. |
| Garland was President Obama’s nominee for Supreme Court, but McConnell refused to hold confirmation hearings, breaking with... ahem, tradition. | Garland was President Obama’s nominee for Supreme Court, but McConnell refused to hold confirmation hearings, breaking with... ahem, tradition. |
| Anti-impeachment Democrat, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, has officially switched parties to become a Republican. Here’s more from the Associated Press: | Anti-impeachment Democrat, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, has officially switched parties to become a Republican. Here’s more from the Associated Press: |
| At this historic moment ... | At this historic moment ... |
| … a message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: | … a message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: |
| The president of the United States has been impeached. Let’s remind ourselves what’s at stake. To quote from the articles of impeachment: “President Trump has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.” | The president of the United States has been impeached. Let’s remind ourselves what’s at stake. To quote from the articles of impeachment: “President Trump has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.” |
| When a country’s constitutional foundation is under threat it needs robust, independent institutions to help protect it. If ever there was a need for media oversight and public scrutiny it is now. | When a country’s constitutional foundation is under threat it needs robust, independent institutions to help protect it. If ever there was a need for media oversight and public scrutiny it is now. |
| Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. This US administration is establishing new norms of behaviour. Lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. But with your help we can continue to keep it center stage. | Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. This US administration is establishing new norms of behaviour. Lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. But with your help we can continue to keep it center stage. |
| As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. | As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. |
| We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do. | We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do. |
| Make a contribution. | Make a contribution. |
| A conservative radio station canceled a show that made a joke about school shootings. Here is more from the Associated Press: | A conservative radio station canceled a show that made a joke about school shootings. Here is more from the Associated Press: |
| Here’s more on what to expect from today’s Democratic presidential candidate debate tonight, from Guardian reporter Sam Levin: | Here’s more on what to expect from today’s Democratic presidential candidate debate tonight, from Guardian reporter Sam Levin: |
| Republicans in Ohio are exploring whether to repeal the death penalty, and Republican State House speaker Larry Householder has provided a description of his deliberations to the Associated Press: | Republicans in Ohio are exploring whether to repeal the death penalty, and Republican State House speaker Larry Householder has provided a description of his deliberations to the Associated Press: |
| State House Republicans are discussing abolition because the drug cocktail used to execute inmates has been difficult to obtain. | State House Republicans are discussing abolition because the drug cocktail used to execute inmates has been difficult to obtain. |
| This is the same state caucus that introduced a bill to make “aggravated abortion murder” a capital offense, and would have required doctors to “re-implant” ectopic pregnancies, which is not possible. | This is the same state caucus that introduced a bill to make “aggravated abortion murder” a capital offense, and would have required doctors to “re-implant” ectopic pregnancies, which is not possible. |
| Former New York City Mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg released a plan to fix American healthcare “once and for all”. | Former New York City Mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg released a plan to fix American healthcare “once and for all”. |
| Just one of the tenets of his plan is to charge retirees $300 per year to receive vision, dental and hearing coverage. Currently, Medicare covers health the majority of health expenses for seniors and the disabled, but exempts those categories. | Just one of the tenets of his plan is to charge retirees $300 per year to receive vision, dental and hearing coverage. Currently, Medicare covers health the majority of health expenses for seniors and the disabled, but exempts those categories. |
| People qualify for Medicare at age 65. Here is more from a 2016 NPR story: | People qualify for Medicare at age 65. Here is more from a 2016 NPR story: |
| More than one-third of low-income seniors, or people with incomes of $23,000 or less, have tooth decay NPR reported. At the time the story was published, more than half of all people on Medicare lived with incomes below $26,200. An analysis by Kaiser Family Foundation found 21.4 million seniors live in poverty. | More than one-third of low-income seniors, or people with incomes of $23,000 or less, have tooth decay NPR reported. At the time the story was published, more than half of all people on Medicare lived with incomes below $26,200. An analysis by Kaiser Family Foundation found 21.4 million seniors live in poverty. |
| The Republican-controlled Senate removed an explicit mention of “white nationalists” from screening provision in military spending bill. | The Republican-controlled Senate removed an explicit mention of “white nationalists” from screening provision in military spending bill. |
| A new poll suggests Iowans are growing weary of billionaires. The Iowa State University shows a familiar pattern of two tiers of candidates, with billionaires at the bottom. | A new poll suggests Iowans are growing weary of billionaires. The Iowa State University shows a familiar pattern of two tiers of candidates, with billionaires at the bottom. |
| “Iowa Democrats have been unwelcoming to [Mike] Bloomberg ever since he announced his candidacy, but the negative opinions of [Tom] Steyer have increased,” said Dave Peterson, a professor and Whitaker Lindgren faculty fellow in political science who organizes the poll. “Many of the respondents seem to think of them as a pair, indicating opposition to the billionaires in the race.” Of the pair, only Steyer will appear on stage tonight. | “Iowa Democrats have been unwelcoming to [Mike] Bloomberg ever since he announced his candidacy, but the negative opinions of [Tom] Steyer have increased,” said Dave Peterson, a professor and Whitaker Lindgren faculty fellow in political science who organizes the poll. “Many of the respondents seem to think of them as a pair, indicating opposition to the billionaires in the race.” Of the pair, only Steyer will appear on stage tonight. |
| The poll surveyed the attitudes of more than 600 likely Iowa caucus-goers online. | The poll surveyed the attitudes of more than 600 likely Iowa caucus-goers online. |
| At this historic moment ... | At this historic moment ... |
| … a message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: | … a message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: |
| The president of the United States has been impeached. Let’s remind ourselves what’s at stake. To quote from the articles of impeachment: “President Trump has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.” | The president of the United States has been impeached. Let’s remind ourselves what’s at stake. To quote from the articles of impeachment: “President Trump has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.” |
| When a country’s constitutional foundation is under threat it needs robust, independent institutions to help protect it. If ever there was a need for media oversight and public scrutiny it is now. | When a country’s constitutional foundation is under threat it needs robust, independent institutions to help protect it. If ever there was a need for media oversight and public scrutiny it is now. |
| Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. This US administration is establishing new norms of behaviour. Lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. But with your help we can continue to keep it center stage. | Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. This US administration is establishing new norms of behaviour. Lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. But with your help we can continue to keep it center stage. |
| As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. | As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. |
| We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do. | We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do. |
| Make a contribution. | Make a contribution. |
| A Democrat in a conservative New Jersey district is expected to announce, after days of reporting, he is officially changing parties. | A Democrat in a conservative New Jersey district is expected to announce, after days of reporting, he is officially changing parties. |
| Following on our earlier post about Georgia canceling a small portion of its voter purge, New Jersey restored the voting rights of 80,000 people yesterday. | Following on our earlier post about Georgia canceling a small portion of its voter purge, New Jersey restored the voting rights of 80,000 people yesterday. |