Good Tuesday morning, I'm Jake Sherman and welcome to your political playbook audio briefing

presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. If we know anything about Senator Mitch McConnell,

it's that he uses the power afforded to him quite liberally in a way that makes his opponents red with anger

and most of his allies gleeful. We've seen it during Supreme Court confirmations and now we're seeing it

with impeachment. McConnell has orchestrated the Senate trial of Donald Trump thusly. The president's attorneys and House impeachment

managers have 24 hours each to use over the course of two calendar days to present their case,

condensing the meat of the trial into what could be as short as four days in total. These rules

will likely have the Senate in session all night and into the wee hours in the morning as it tries Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Another highlight, evidence gathered in the House investigation must be admitted by vote.

Nothing is automatic.

McConnell announced that he had the support for all Republican senators for his rules package weeks ago, essentially ensuring its passage.

Think of it this way.

This could all be over by sometime next week

ahead of the State of the Union February 4th. Chuck Schumer called the resolution a national disgrace

and said it's designed to acquit the president quickly. Here's what you need to know today as the trial

gets started. In the early afternoon, Democrats and Republicans will have their party lunches in the Capitol.

Around 1 p.m. McConnell will offer his

resolution, which will detail the rules for the Senate's trial, and each side has an hour for debate. Around 3 p.m., Schumer will move to amend the package to allow for witnesses and documents at the front end of the trial. This is also subject to debate for an hour on each side. What we don't know is how Schumer's going to try to amend the package, he could force one vote or multiple votes

seeking to amend the package in different ways. Democrats' priority is to

force votes on guaranteeing witnesses and document production as part of the trial. But those

efforts are certain to fail. Once Democrats finish trying to amend the rules, there will be a vote

on the package and the trial will begin. John Brezenhan and

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