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| Pelosi on Trump impeachment: this is not about elections, it’s about the constitution – live | Pelosi on Trump impeachment: this is not about elections, it’s about the constitution – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Speaker of the House answered questions after articles of impeachment were announced this morning, disputing Republicans’ argument over motives | Speaker of the House answered questions after articles of impeachment were announced this morning, disputing Republicans’ argument over motives |
| Report: Trump plans to sign an executive order that effectively interprets Judaism as a nationality | |
| The president plans to sign an order that would withhold federal money from educational institutions that fail to combat anti-Semitism, the New York Times reports: | |
| The news has been met with skepticism and alarm from critics who worry the policy would interfere with free speech and cast any defense of Palestinian autonomy as anti-Semitic, among other things. | |
| In a news conference, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said that the Senate will vote on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) the impeachment trial concludes. | In a news conference, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said that the Senate will vote on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) the impeachment trial concludes. |
| House Democrats announced this morning that they had negotiated a deal with Trump to push the trade agreement forward. | House Democrats announced this morning that they had negotiated a deal with Trump to push the trade agreement forward. |
| “We will not be doing USMCA in the Senate between now and next week,” he said, adding that the pact is “not as good as I’d hoped”. His remarks are in stark contrast to messages from Donald Trump, his vice-president and his press secretary, who called the trade agreement “the biggest and best trade agreement in the history of the world”. | “We will not be doing USMCA in the Senate between now and next week,” he said, adding that the pact is “not as good as I’d hoped”. His remarks are in stark contrast to messages from Donald Trump, his vice-president and his press secretary, who called the trade agreement “the biggest and best trade agreement in the history of the world”. |
| Relenting to pressure from critics, Buttigieg revealed the clients he worked with during his time at the consulting firm McKinsey. | Relenting to pressure from critics, Buttigieg revealed the clients he worked with during his time at the consulting firm McKinsey. |
| They include: insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield, Canadian supermarket Loblaws, technology retailer Best Buy, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, Energy Foundation, the US Postal Service and the US Department of Defense. | They include: insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield, Canadian supermarket Loblaws, technology retailer Best Buy, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, Energy Foundation, the US Postal Service and the US Department of Defense. |
| What did he do? In an interview with The Atlantic, the South Bend, Indiana mayor said “ it was mostly on screens and paper. Math. Databases. PowerPoint presentations.” | What did he do? In an interview with The Atlantic, the South Bend, Indiana mayor said “ it was mostly on screens and paper. Math. Databases. PowerPoint presentations.” |
| Buttigieg’s work for Blue Cross Blue Shield has been especially scrutinized because the insurance company laid off hundreds of employees and increased premiums after bringing in McKinsey to identify cost-saving measures. The presidential candidate told The Atlantic that his work didn’t lead to anyone losing coverage. | Buttigieg’s work for Blue Cross Blue Shield has been especially scrutinized because the insurance company laid off hundreds of employees and increased premiums after bringing in McKinsey to identify cost-saving measures. The presidential candidate told The Atlantic that his work didn’t lead to anyone losing coverage. |
| A federal judge blocks Trump’s plan to spend military funds on the border wall | A federal judge blocks Trump’s plan to spend military funds on the border wall |
| A US judge in El Paso, Texas, blocked Donald Trump’s plan to spend $3.6bn in military funds on the border wall, ruling that the administration doesn’t have the authority to reallocate funds earmarked by Congress for a different purpose. | A US judge in El Paso, Texas, blocked Donald Trump’s plan to spend $3.6bn in military funds on the border wall, ruling that the administration doesn’t have the authority to reallocate funds earmarked by Congress for a different purpose. |
| The Trump administration was planning to use the funds to build 175 miles of barrier. | The Trump administration was planning to use the funds to build 175 miles of barrier. |
| From the Washington Post: | From the Washington Post: |
| Having reached the required threshold in a Quinnipiac poll released today, Yang qualified for the sixth primary debate on 19 December. The businessman is the only non-white candidate who has qualified at this point. He’ll be joining Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren for the PBS NewsHour/Politico debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. | Having reached the required threshold in a Quinnipiac poll released today, Yang qualified for the sixth primary debate on 19 December. The businessman is the only non-white candidate who has qualified at this point. He’ll be joining Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren for the PBS NewsHour/Politico debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. |
| There are a total of 15 Democratic candidates running for president, but only seven, including Yang, have qualified for this month’s debate. Candidates have until Thursday at midnight to qualify for the debate. They have to show that they’ve hit 4% in at least four national polls, or 6% in two early-state polls, and that they have 200,000 unique donors, with 800 of those from 20 different states. | There are a total of 15 Democratic candidates running for president, but only seven, including Yang, have qualified for this month’s debate. Candidates have until Thursday at midnight to qualify for the debate. They have to show that they’ve hit 4% in at least four national polls, or 6% in two early-state polls, and that they have 200,000 unique donors, with 800 of those from 20 different states. |
| Trump says the articles of impeachment are ‘very weak’ | Trump says the articles of impeachment are ‘very weak’ |
| Before dashing off to Pennsylvania for a rally this evening, Trump spoke to reporters on the south lawn of the White House. He said the Democrats announced a deal on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in order to “muffle down” their articles of impeachment. | Before dashing off to Pennsylvania for a rally this evening, Trump spoke to reporters on the south lawn of the White House. He said the Democrats announced a deal on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in order to “muffle down” their articles of impeachment. |
| “They wanted to muffle down the impeachment because they were embarrassed by it and they couldn’t get the votes,” Trump said. “And I call that the silver lining to impeachment, because without the impeachment, they would have never approved it, in my opinion.” | “They wanted to muffle down the impeachment because they were embarrassed by it and they couldn’t get the votes,” Trump said. “And I call that the silver lining to impeachment, because without the impeachment, they would have never approved it, in my opinion.” |
| “Even the Democrats, they couldn’t find very much, because they put up two articles that frankly are very weak and they’re very weak,” he added. | “Even the Democrats, they couldn’t find very much, because they put up two articles that frankly are very weak and they’re very weak,” he added. |
| House Republicans accuse Democrats of ignoring their requests for a minority hearing on impeachment. | House Republicans accuse Democrats of ignoring their requests for a minority hearing on impeachment. |
| In a letter to the House Judiciary chair, Jerrold Nadler, members of the conservative Freedom Caucus wrote that their requests for a minority hearing have not been addressed. “When considering the unprecedented speed at which the majority is moving towards impeaching a duly elected president, a delay under these circumstances is tantamount to a denial of our right to a minority hearing,” according to the letter, signed by 72 Republican representatives. | In a letter to the House Judiciary chair, Jerrold Nadler, members of the conservative Freedom Caucus wrote that their requests for a minority hearing have not been addressed. “When considering the unprecedented speed at which the majority is moving towards impeaching a duly elected president, a delay under these circumstances is tantamount to a denial of our right to a minority hearing,” according to the letter, signed by 72 Republican representatives. |
| Here’s a summary of what’s happened this afternoon: | Here’s a summary of what’s happened this afternoon: |
| The timeline of impeachment proceedings has become a bit clearer. The House judiciary committee said they will debate and vote on the articles of impeachment tomorrow and Thursday. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said that the Senate will likely not touch impeachment before the holiday break, meaning that any trial in the Senate is likely to start in January. | The timeline of impeachment proceedings has become a bit clearer. The House judiciary committee said they will debate and vote on the articles of impeachment tomorrow and Thursday. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said that the Senate will likely not touch impeachment before the holiday break, meaning that any trial in the Senate is likely to start in January. |
| Lisa Page, a former FBI attorney, announced that she’s suing the DoJ and FBI for releasing texts between herself and former FBI agent Peter Strzok. | Lisa Page, a former FBI attorney, announced that she’s suing the DoJ and FBI for releasing texts between herself and former FBI agent Peter Strzok. |
| The secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had a press conference with Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister. Pompeo said he told Lavrov that the Trump administration “will always work to protect the integrity of our elections”. Lavrov said that any evidence of Russian interference in the US election is baseless. | The secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had a press conference with Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister. Pompeo said he told Lavrov that the Trump administration “will always work to protect the integrity of our elections”. Lavrov said that any evidence of Russian interference in the US election is baseless. |
| The House judiciary committee announced that they will debate and vote on the articles of impeachment tomorrow and Thursday. | The House judiciary committee announced that they will debate and vote on the articles of impeachment tomorrow and Thursday. |
| The Washington Post editorial board published an editorial in the wake of the release of the articles of impeachment that says there is enough evidence that the House should impeach Donald Trump, and he should get a full trial in the Senate. | The Washington Post editorial board published an editorial in the wake of the release of the articles of impeachment that says there is enough evidence that the House should impeach Donald Trump, and he should get a full trial in the Senate. |
| The Reckoning Crew, an influential, nearly all-female group of African American activists in South Carolina – a key state in the early primaries – has endorsed Joe Biden, a local South Carolina paper reported. The group had previously endorsed Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the race last week. | The Reckoning Crew, an influential, nearly all-female group of African American activists in South Carolina – a key state in the early primaries – has endorsed Joe Biden, a local South Carolina paper reported. The group had previously endorsed Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the race last week. |
| “Joe Biden’s support in South Carolina, particularly (among) African American voters is undeniable and unshakable,” Bernice Scott, the group’s leader and founder said in a statement. “Throughout this race, he has taken hits from every angle and come out stronger. He has proven to us that he has exactly what it takes to beat Donald Trump next year.” | “Joe Biden’s support in South Carolina, particularly (among) African American voters is undeniable and unshakable,” Bernice Scott, the group’s leader and founder said in a statement. “Throughout this race, he has taken hits from every angle and come out stronger. He has proven to us that he has exactly what it takes to beat Donald Trump next year.” |
| Donald Trump and Mike Pence will hold a rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania – yes, the same as the candy – tonight. Crowds have already started to gather for the event that starts at 7pm EST. | Donald Trump and Mike Pence will hold a rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania – yes, the same as the candy – tonight. Crowds have already started to gather for the event that starts at 7pm EST. |
| At this historic moment for America... | At this historic moment for America... |
| A message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: | A message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: |
| These are perilous times. 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. Anger and cruelty disfigure public discourse and lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. | These are perilous times. 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. Anger and cruelty disfigure public discourse and lying is commonplace. Truth is being chased away. |
| In the coming year, many vital aspects of American public life are in play – the supreme court, abortion rights, climate policy, wealth inequality, Big Tech and much more. The stakes could hardly be higher – and the need for a robust, independent press has never been greater. | In the coming year, many vital aspects of American public life are in play – the supreme court, abortion rights, climate policy, wealth inequality, Big Tech and much more. The stakes could hardly be higher – and the need for a robust, independent press has never been greater. |
| 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. |
| Bloomberg: ‘Trump is just getting stronger’ | Bloomberg: ‘Trump is just getting stronger’ |
| Billionaire and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg sat down with journalist Christiane Amanpour for an interview today and criticized his fellow Democratic candidates for not putting up a good fight against Trump. | Billionaire and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg sat down with journalist Christiane Amanpour for an interview today and criticized his fellow Democratic candidates for not putting up a good fight against Trump. |
| “I think Trump is getting stronger and I think he’d just eat alive the candidates,” he said when asked why he joined the race. “They don’t have plans that I think are practical, that can be implemented.” | “I think Trump is getting stronger and I think he’d just eat alive the candidates,” he said when asked why he joined the race. “They don’t have plans that I think are practical, that can be implemented.” |
| Amanpour also asked Bloomberg about the tensions he may have with minority voters, especially black voters, given the controversial policies he implemented when he was mayor of New York City like “stop and frisk”. | Amanpour also asked Bloomberg about the tensions he may have with minority voters, especially black voters, given the controversial policies he implemented when he was mayor of New York City like “stop and frisk”. |
| “We’ll see what happens in the election,” he said. “I probably said things that are embarrassing over the years.” | “We’ll see what happens in the election,” he said. “I probably said things that are embarrassing over the years.” |
| Bloomberg is trailing behind a few of his more liberal and fellow moderate counterparts, though he has spent over $100m on advertising since he joined the race 25 November. A poll from Monmouth University found 56% of registered voters from all parties view him as unfavorable versus 26% of voters who think he’s favorable. | Bloomberg is trailing behind a few of his more liberal and fellow moderate counterparts, though he has spent over $100m on advertising since he joined the race 25 November. A poll from Monmouth University found 56% of registered voters from all parties view him as unfavorable versus 26% of voters who think he’s favorable. |
| A bit of 2020 news: The latest Quinnipiac poll was just released. Joe Biden is leading the pack and is up five percentage points since November. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg follow him in that order. | A bit of 2020 news: The latest Quinnipiac poll was just released. Joe Biden is leading the pack and is up five percentage points since November. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg follow him in that order. |
| Andrew Yang got 4%, meaning he qualified for December’s debate. | Andrew Yang got 4%, meaning he qualified for December’s debate. |
| Biden still leads the pack for black voters, 51% of whom indicated their support for him in the poll. | Biden still leads the pack for black voters, 51% of whom indicated their support for him in the poll. |
| A federal judge in Georgia ruled today that Georgia governor Brian Kemp must answer questions about a comment he made on minority voter registration. | A federal judge in Georgia ruled today that Georgia governor Brian Kemp must answer questions about a comment he made on minority voter registration. |
| Here’s more from the Associated Press: | Here’s more from the Associated Press: |
| Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page sues DOJ and FBI | Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page sues DOJ and FBI |
| Lisa page, former FBI lawyer, is suing the Department of Justice and the FBI, alleging that the two agencies unlawfully shared private text messages between her and former FBI agent Peter Strzok with the media in December 2017. | Lisa page, former FBI lawyer, is suing the Department of Justice and the FBI, alleging that the two agencies unlawfully shared private text messages between her and former FBI agent Peter Strzok with the media in December 2017. |
| The lawsuit says that the justice department invited beat reporters to the DOJ to see the messages and would not allow anyone to reveal the department was their source. | The lawsuit says that the justice department invited beat reporters to the DOJ to see the messages and would not allow anyone to reveal the department was their source. |
| “What they did in leaking my messages to the press was not only wrong, it was illegal,” Page wrote on Twitter. | “What they did in leaking my messages to the press was not only wrong, it was illegal,” Page wrote on Twitter. |
| The texts expressed fear over a Trump win during the 2016 presidential election and have been used by Trump as evidence that there is a “deep state” plot against him in government agencies like the FBI. Trump has since mocked the relationship between Page and Strzok, even saying her name during a “fake orgasm” during a rally in October. | The texts expressed fear over a Trump win during the 2016 presidential election and have been used by Trump as evidence that there is a “deep state” plot against him in government agencies like the FBI. Trump has since mocked the relationship between Page and Strzok, even saying her name during a “fake orgasm” during a rally in October. |
| McConnell says Senate impeachment trial before holiday break ‘not possible’ | McConnell says Senate impeachment trial before holiday break ‘not possible’ |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell just told reporters at the Capitol that a Senate trial or vote on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) before Congress breaks for the holidays is not possible. This means that an impeachment trial would have to take place after the New Year. | Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell just told reporters at the Capitol that a Senate trial or vote on the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) before Congress breaks for the holidays is not possible. This means that an impeachment trial would have to take place after the New Year. |
| People are still reeling from the comments attorney general William Barr made in an interview with NBC where he said the FBI investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign was done in “bad faith”, contradicting the report of his department’s watchdog. | People are still reeling from the comments attorney general William Barr made in an interview with NBC where he said the FBI investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign was done in “bad faith”, contradicting the report of his department’s watchdog. |