How to Win Impeachment

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

New York Times Opinion

New York Times, Journalism, News, Society & Culture, Ross Douthat

4.0 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 October 2019

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Impeachment seems destined to end with President Trump’s acquittal in the Republican-controlled Senate. But is there anything Democrats can do to change that outcome? The columnists debate the Democrats’ impeachment strategy so far. Then, they discuss the increasing rise of deaths from drug overdoses, alcohol and suicide. What’s driving these so-called “deaths of despair,” and what — if anything — can be done about them? For background reading on this episode, visit nytimes.com/theargument.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I'm Michelle Goldberg.
0:02.4	I'm Ross Douthon.
0:03.8	I'm David Leonhart, and this is the argument.
0:09.8	This week, what would it take for Democrats to win the impeachment fight?
0:14.7	To at least have Trump's legitimacy stripped away.
0:19.9	I mean, to me, that sends a signal of national popular rebuke.
0:25.5	Then, we talk about deaths of despair.
0:28.6	The growing toll from drugs, alcohol, and suicide.
0:32.2	There is this clear and pressing drug crisis that needs more policy creativity.
0:38.8	And as always, a recommendation to take your mind off of the news.
0:43.0	It's just a great feat of epic storytelling.
0:55.6	It's been one month since Democrats opened an impeachment inquiry into President Trump,
1:00.4	and it's already possible to predict how it's all going to play out.
1:04.2	House Democrats will impeach Trump, and Senate Republicans will acquit him.
1:09.1	Trump will then claim victory and do what he does best.
1:12.0	Make hay of all the media attention just as he's running for re-election.
1:17.1	But what would it take for Democrats to change this scenario?
1:20.6	Can they somehow persuade Senate Republicans to remove Trump?
1:24.1	Or can they at least use impeachment to damage his re-election campaign?
1:29.1	Michelle and I have both written columns this week arguing that public protest can weaken
1:33.3	Trump.
1:34.6	To me, the best comparison is the fight over Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from New York Times Opinion, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of New York Times Opinion and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.