In this final episode, Steve Kornacki sits down with NBC News journalists to reflect on what it was like to cover the impeachment of President Donald Trump. NBC News Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell, NBC News producer covering the Senate Frank Thorp, and senior White House reporter for NBC News Shannon Pettypiece open up their reporters’ notebooks to share their favorite moments from this historic event. 

Article II: Inside Impeachment

Behind the Scenes

Senators voted to acquit President Trump, finding him not guilty on two articles of impeachment. Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, surprised the public by voting to convict President Trump on the first article: abuse of power. He is the first Senator in history to vote against their party in favor of removing the president from office. Otherwise, the votes fell along party lines.Alex Moe, NBC News Capitol Hill Producer, recaps the final historic hours on the Senate floor and where Trump—and the American public—might go from here.Further Reading:Senate acquits Trump on both impeachment chargesFull text: Romney's speech on why he'll vote to convict Trump of abuse of power

Not Guilty

Impeachment and the race for 2020 are colliding. On Monday, House Managers and President Trump’s defense team made their final arguments for and against convicting the President. Meanwhile, the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses launched the 2020 election into the primary voting phase. The Democratic candidates – four of them US Senators – are vying for voters caught between impeachment and November's election. President Trump is trying to craft a re-election message as the impeachment trial concludes. Jon Allen, Senior Political Analyst for NBC News, joins from the road in Des Moines, Iowa. Get live updates on impeachment and election coverage at nbcnews.com. Further Reading Schiff's powerful closing speech: 'Is there one among you who will say, Enough!'? NBC/WSJ poll: Country remains divided over Trump's impeachment trial   

Iowa vs Impeachment

Following four hours of debate, the motion to consider more witnesses and documents was rejected in the Senate by a vote of 49 to 51. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah were the only two Republicans to join their Democratic colleagues in this vote. After the failed vote on witnesses, Senators met to game out the trial’s timeline. Frank Thorp, NBC News producer covering the Senate, explains the Senate’s plans for an end to the trial that will likely result in the President Trump’s acquittal next week.  

No Witnesses, New Timeline

The end of the Senate impeachment trial is drawing near with an unpredictable day ahead. First, the Senate will debate for four hours on whether to call new witnesses to trial. Then, they will take a vote on the witness question. After that, Senators could put forward new motions to extend debate on the Senate floor into the days ahead, or they could move quickly to a final vote on the two articles of impeachment today.  Frank Thorp, NBC News producer covering the Senate, lays out what to expect.

Can I Get A Witness?

On Wednesday, the Senate trial moved into a two-day question and answer period. Senators have 16 hours to ask questions of the impeachment managers and President Trump’s defense team.  Democrats used their time to convince their fellow Senators to call new witnesses in the trial, like former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Republicans used their time to argue that the President’s conduct is not impeachable and that evidence should not extend beyond what was gathered by the House of Representatives. NBC News Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell dissects the strategy from both sides. Ask host Steve Kornacki a question about the Senate trial: articletwopodcast@gmail.com. Follow along with the Senate trial proceedings on the NBC News Impeachment Live Blog. 

Q & A

President Trump’s legal team continued its defense in a second day of arguments, but new allegations are overshadowing the case. In the manuscript for his upcoming book, Former National Security Advisor John Bolton alleges that President Trump directed him to withhold aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into Joe Biden. The revelations are increasing pressure on Senate Republicans who are weighing whether to call witnesses. Shannon Pettypiece, senior White House reporter for NBC News Digital, explains how Bolton’s allegations could alter the structure and timeline of the impeachment trial.Have a question about impeachment? Email us at articletwopodcast@gmail.com.Further ReadingRomney, Collins say Bolton revelations strengthen case for witnesses, make them increasingly likelyTrump disputes Bolton bombshell book, tweets he 'NEVER' linked Biden investigation, Ukraine aid

The Bolton Factor

Lesson one: win Iowa. An astounding number of Democrats and Republicans won their party's nomination after winning first in the Iowa caucuses—but America's first battleground hasn't always been a priority for campaigns. Jimmy Carter was the first to realize that a win there could propel a candidate into the national spotlight.Chris Matthews examines Carter's approach to the 1972 campaign with Gerry Rafshoon, who handled political advertising for the candidate, and veteran journalist Judy Woodruff, who covered the campaign in her early years with NBC.

INTRODUCING: So You Wanna Be President? with Chris Matthews

On Friday, Democratic House managers concluded their opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial. Three of the seven House managers are women, and two are women of color, a first in US political history. Kasie Hunt, Capitol Hill Correspondent and Host of Kasie DC, discusses her exclusive TODAY interview with those representatives: Zoe Lofgren, Val Demings and Sylvia Garcia. Kasie also outlines the role they play in the Senate trial and how Senate politics have evolved since the last presidential impeachment. Watch Kasie’s exclusive interview here: https://www.today.com/video/meet-3-women-playing-key-roles-in-trump-impeachment-trial-77452357945 Have a question about impeachment? Email us at articletwopodcast@gmail.com. 

Making History

It’s day one of opening arguments in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Over the course of many hours, House Managers argued their case for the removal of the President and the need for witnesses and documents. They are making these arguments to the American public, but also to the 100 Senators who are acting as jurors in this trial. Steve Kornacki is joined by Frank Thorp, NBC News producer covering the Senate, to talk about the Republican Senators who may be persuaded to side with the Democrats when it comes to the question of witnesses. Have a question about the Senate trial or something else impeachment-related? Email our host Steve Kornacki at articletwopodcast@gmail.com. Further Reading  Trump's Senate impeachment trial: What happened on Day 2 Read the full text: McConnell's revised rules for Trump's Senate impeachment trial 

Making the Case

On Tuesday, the Senate impeachment trial began in earnest, with hours of debate over how it should be run. Steve Kornacki explains the last-minute changes made by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who amended his own set of rules in response to pressure from moderate Republican Senators. Have a question about the Senate trial or something else impeachment-related? Email our host Steve Kornacki at articletwopodcast@gmail.com. Further ReadingMcConnell makes last-minute, handwritten changes to Trump impeachment trial rules Trump's defense: Read the full text of the legal brief ahead of Senate impeachment trial 

Bonus: Rewriting the Rules

The Senate trial is officially underway, with the Chief Justice and members of the Senate sworn in this week.But in a last-minute addition to the evidence, an associate of Rudy Giuliani gave the House of Representatives documents that shed new light on the Ukrainian pressure campaign. Parnas, who is out on bond on federal campaign finance charges, also spoke publicly this week for the first time about his involvement in the scheme.Josh Lederman, national political reporter for NBC News, explains what we learned from Parnas, the credibility of his allegations, and how this new information could influence the Senate trial.Have a question about the Senate trial or something else impeachment-related? Email our host Steve Kornacki at articletwopodcast@gmail.com.Further ReadingKey things we learned from Lev Parnas' revealing MSNBC interviewGiuliani associate Parnas says Trump 'knew exactly what was going onIndicted Giuliani associate Parnas says Trump ordered Ukraine ambassador's firing several times before recall

Lev Parnas Speaks

It’s official. Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named the seven house managers and transmitted two articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of justice, to the Senate. It is still unclear whether the trial, which is set to begin next week, will include witness testimony. Steve Kornacki talks to Alex Moe, NBC News Capitol Hill Producer, about the historic week day in Washington and the Senate’s next move.  Have a question about this stage of impeachment? Ask our host Steve Kornacki: articletwopodcast@gmail.com. For a transcript, please visit https://www.nbcnews.com/articletwo.Further Reading Who are the House's 7 impeachment managers? House votes to send impeachment articles to Senate, Pelosi names trial managers McConnell says he expects Trump impeachment trial to start next Tuesday 

Special Delivery

After a weeks-long standoff, the House of Representatives appears ready to move forward on impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly preparing to appoint impeachment managers and send the articles to the Senate as early as this week.  MSNBC Washington Correspondent Garrett Haake lays out what to expect from a Senate trial and weighs whether the delay tactic used by House Democrats helped their case.Have a question about this stage of impeachment? Ask our host Steve Kornacki: articletwopodcast@gmail.com.For a transcript, please visit https://www.nbcnews.com/articletwo.Further ReadingWhen will Trump's Senate trial start and how long will it last? The picture begins to take shapeNo impeachment witnesses against Trump? Some argue Democrats might be better off

End of an Impasse

After a weeks-long standoff with Republicans, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her Democratic colleagues she plans on holding a vote on the house managers next week before sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts will govern the proceedings.  NBC Justice Correspondent Pete Williams joins Steve Kornacki to talk about the Chief Justice’s role and recalls his time covering former Chief Justice William Rehnquist during the Clinton Senate trial. Have a question about this stage of impeachment? Ask our host Steve Kornacki: articletwopodcast@gmail.com. For a transcript, please visit https://www.nbcnews.com/articletwo.Further Reading:  Pomp, circumstance and silence: How a Senate presidential impeachment trial works

The Chief Justice Shall Preside

The latest developments on the impeachment of President Donald Trump. What's happening in Washington and why it matters for the nation. Powered by NBC News journalists. Hosted by Steve Kornacki, National Political Correspondent. New episodes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with bonus episodes for breaking news.

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Article II: Inside Impeachment

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