President Trump seemingly testing the limits of those who could ultimately remove him from office.

The lead starts right now.

Walkbacks, blowback, fighting back, President Trump goes off with more witnesses expected in the impeachment

investigation this week. He tells Republicans to get tough to protect him.

Desperate protesters throwing rotten vegetables at departing US troops

pleading for them to stay to save their children's lives as President Trump

insists he knows more about the situation in Syria than his critics.

Plus, running like there may not be a tomorrow,

a 2020 underdog says she's riding a wave of momentum

and new cash, as Senator Elizabeth Warren finds herself continuing to be a target

for fellow Democrats.

Welcome to this special edition of the lead. White House in crisis we begin with the

politics lead today with cracks in the normally united GOP front starting to

emerge. President Trump this afternoon called on Republicans to get tougher against the fast-moving

impeachment inquiry that poses an existential threat to his presidency.

The President said his party needs to stick together better, the Democrats whom he called vicious.

Republicans ranging from Senator Mitt Romney of Utah to Congressman Francis Rooney of Florida

have publicly expressed shock and dismay at the president's actions and an open mind

towards what might come next.

Buruny telling me that he is skeptical of Chief of Staff McMullvaney's

attempt to walk back his clear confession of a quid-prosecutor. of I would say game set match on that and is that impeachable I mean I don't know that's the question

As CNN's Boris Sanchez reports President Trump in his newly weakened state is now making moves to attempt to placate Republicans.

...