OnPolitics: The one where 2020 heats up
In case you've missed it with everything else going on in the world (impeachment, Australian wildfires, Putin's entire cabinet resigning ...), there is indeed a Democratic primary happening. It's been happening for a while actually. But this week, things got a little more ... intense.
Tuesday night's debate was the last time the Democratic candidates would make their pitches to a national audience ahead of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses Feb. 3. It seemed foreign policy was ready to have its moment in the spotlight, following more than a week of elevated tension with Iran.
But then Monday happened and everything changed.
CNN reported, citing four anonymous sources, that during a 2018 meeting between Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sanders reportedly told Warren he did not believe a woman could become president. Sanders vehemently denied the report, and has continued to do so. Warren's camp was mum until later Monday, when the senator issued a statement that said in part, "I thought a woman could win; he disagreed." The statement went on to say, "Bernie and I have far more in common than our differences," in an apparent attempt to de-escalate the situation.
That did not happen.
On Tuesday's debate stage, Warren and Sanders again stated their respective memories of their conversation — Sanders saying he never said a woman couldn't be president, Warren saying he did. But the flames again were stoked when CNN released audio of a post-debate interaction where Warren says to Sanders, "I think you called me a liar on national TV." Sanders responded in part, "You called me a liar ... let's not do it now," before walking away.
The whole situation has left the progressive wing of the Democratic party in a tense place ahead of the first votes being cast in the primary. Sanders and Warren were back on Capitol Hill Thursday to be sworn in for president's impeachment trial and were tight-lipped. It appears both sides would like to move on.
Speaking of impeachment
After weeks of standing at an impasse, the articles of impeachment have officially been sent to the Senate, and the trial of President Donald Trump can commence.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi named impeachment managers Tuesday, and sent the articles over to her Senate counterparts Wednesday.
On Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in to preside over the trial, and the senators were sworn in as jurors.
“Senators I attend the Senate in conformity with your notice for the purpose of joining with you for the trial of the president of the United States," Roberts said after arriving.
The trial is scheduled to kick off Tuesday, and there's still a lot of questions. But a big one left to answer: Are they going to call any witnesses? Maybe Lev Parnas? He's sure had a lot to say recently.
Want more 2020? Great.
Tom Perez is again in the hot seat over the lack of diversity on the debate stage.
Michael Bloomberg admitted he's told 'bawdy jokes' in the past.
Who were the winners and losers of Tuesday night's debate?
This bulldog is a very good boy and also a must-meet for presidential candidates.
Bernie Sanders is leading this well-respected poll in Iowa for the first time ever.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to catch up on the sleep I lost on debate night. — Annah Aschbrenner
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: OnPolitics: The one where 2020 heats up
