Good Wednesday morning. I'm Jake Sherman and welcome to your political playbook audio briefing. Stay tuned after the show for a message from the American Association of Railroads. And I'm Anna Palmer. We're kicking off the morning with a siren on Republican concern rising with Trump's reaction to impeachment. A very seasoned and well-known GOP operative sent us a stunning note, underscoring GOP alarm with how the Trump

administration is handling impeachment. The operative wrote that lawmakers are concerned by the lack of

urgency from the Trump administration to form a unified response, calling it either a failure

to appreciate the gravity of the situation or inability to protect the president.

Noting that there is deep skepticism that the late night Fox lineup will have the credibility with rank and file Republicans that is necessary to prosecute the argument against Democrats.

Their point, the case needs to be made that this was planned since election day.

Here's an example of the types of stuff that alarms Republicans.

The president's tweet at 7.40 p.m. where he wrote, as I learn more and more each day,

I'm coming to the conclusion that what is taking place is not an impeachment.

It's a coup intended to take away the power of the people, their vote, their freedoms,

their Second Amendment, religion, military, border wall, and their

God-given rights as citizen of the United States of America.

And the Atlantic's Elena Plot tweeted that Rudy Giuliani texted her he was going to sue the

swamp in federal court.

Okay, then, Devin Shepard has the latest in the new Politico Morning Consult poll.

Support for impeaching President Trump is at a new

high with 46% of voters saying Congress should begin impeachment proceedings, while 43% said they

should not. That's a three-point bump from last week when voters were split evenly.

Happening this morning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi will hold a press conference at 1045 a.m.

And on Thursday, Kurt Volker will testify in front of Intel, foreign affairs,

and oversight. ABC News is reporting that the State Department Inspector General has requested

an urgent Ukraine briefing on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, the Washington Post got a sit down with

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