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Impeachment, Explained

The four words that will decide impeachment

Impeachment, Explained

Vox Media Podcast Network

Politics, News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.81.3K Ratings

🗓️ 19 October 2019

⏱️ 54 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This was the week of confessions. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney admitted to a Trump administration quid quo pro with Ukraine, with cameras rolling. EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland confirmed that President Trump made Rudy Giuliani the hinge of America’s Ukraine policy. And then the administration announced that the location for the upcoming G7 summit: Trump’s own resort in Doral, Florida. We break down the three stories that mattered most in impeachment this week. And then we dig into the four words that will shape the entire impeachment fight: “High Crimes and Misdemeanors.” What did they mean when they were added to the Constitution? How have they been interpreted through American history? And do Trump’s acts qualify? Welcome to Impeachment, Explained. References: "Indispensable Remedy: The Broad Scope of the Constitution’s Impeachment Power" by Gene Healy "The case for normalizing impeachment" by Ezra Klein Credits: Producer and Editor - Jeff Geld Researcher - Roge Karma Engineers - Malachi Broadus & Jeremey Dalmas Theme music composed by Jon Natchez Special thanks to Liz Nelson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

The actions of the Trump presidency revealed dishonorable fact of the president's betrayal of his oath of office,

0:08.0

betrayal of our national security, and betrayal of the integrity of our elections.

0:13.7

I'm announcing the House of Representatives moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry.

0:18.7

The President must be held accountable.

0:20.9

No one is above the law.

0:23.0

I'm Ezra Klein and this is impeachment explained.

0:37.0

Welcome to impeachment explained. Every week we're going to do two things on this show.

0:45.4

One we're going to check in with what news actually mattered that week, what that

0:49.7

happened that week is actually going to show up potentially in the impeachment trial and

0:53.4

we're going to look at something deeper about the impeachment process, power,

0:57.0

the geopolitical context that is going to shape what we're going to see.

1:00.7

So this week we're going to start with three things that happen this week that I think we're going to remember for quite a while.

1:05.0

One is acting Chief Staff Mick Mulvaney's confession of a quid pro quo.

1:10.0

Then it's a very strange attempt to walk that back, but quite a remarkable moment.

1:14.8

Gordon Sunlin, the ambassador to the EU's statement and hearing, which again, I think I would

1:20.2

file under the rubric of confessions that are quite remarkable.

1:23.3

And then the Trump administration's decision to host a G7 at the Trump resort in Durrell, which I think

1:28.1

might have just added another article of impeachment to what the House is going to try to investigate.

1:34.4

And then we're going to talk about the four words that are going to shape impeachment,

1:37.5

high crimes and misdemeanors.

1:39.2

But joining me to talk about the news stories this week, my colleague and friend Madaglacius.

1:44.4

Madaglacius of the weeds, thank you for come and help break this down.

...

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