OnPolitics: It's time for a nationwide nap

Annah Aschbrenner, USA TODAY

After three long days of testimony in the impeachment inquiry, and a Democratic primary debate in the middle for good measure, we are mercifully public hearing-free today.

So how did we get here?

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams, a National Security Council aide to Vice President Mike Pence, kicked off the week at the testimony table. Vindman testified he believed President Donald Trump's request that Ukraine investigate Joe and Hunter Biden was actually a "demand" and "improper." Vindman is an expert in Ukraine and described how the "power disparity" between the U.S. and Ukraine made it clear that this ask was a command.

Then Wednesday happened. Dear, sweet, exhausting Wednesday. Where to start.

The big newsmaker of the day was Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, whose testimony was highly anticipated. And it lived up to it. Sondland came right out and said: "Mr. Giuliani's requests were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit" for the Ukrainian president. What requests is he referring to? That would be Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney, reportedly pushing Ukraine to investigate interference in the 2016 election and Burisma, where Hunter Biden once sat on the board. Sondland said "everyone was in the loop" — as in, everyone understood the president's desire for a quid pro quo. Including Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, testifies before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Nov. 20, 2019 in a public hearing in the impeachment inquiry into allegations President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, testifies before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Nov. 20, 2019 in a public hearing in the impeachment inquiry into allegations President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.

"Simply put, we played the hand we were dealt," Sondland testified. "We all understood that if we refused to work with Mr. Giuliani, we would lose an important opportunity to cement relations between the United States and Ukraine. So we followed the President’s orders."

Testimony continued into the evening, and then — because why not — we all pivoted our attention to the Democratic debate. (More on that later.)

Thursday's testimony included former National Security Council official Fiona Hill, who blasted the idea that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election as a "fictional narrative," and recounted "a bit of a blow up" with Sondland during her final week in the White House.

What comes next? Well, we're not totally sure. Stay tuned.

Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. and tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang arrive onstage for the fifthDemocratic presidential primary debate in Atlanta.

This week in 2020

And if all that wasn't enough for you, we turned our collective eyes to the 2020 presidential race for two hours Wednesday. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg came in with a target on his back after jumping to the lead in some early state polls, and tangled a bit with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard and Sen. Kamala Harris also clashed, sparring over the ideals of the Democratic Party. Marianne Williamson wondered if we missed her on stage. And Sen. Cory Booker quipped "I thought you might have been high" when challenging former Vice President Joe Biden about his stance on legalizing marijuana. Who won and lost? We've got you covered.

Thanks, as always, for reading. The weekend is right around the corner. You did it. — Annah Aschbrenner

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: OnPolitics: It's time for a nationwide nap