SUMMARY: Despite the White House's efforts to block the impeachment inquiry process, depositions from long-time diplomats have shed new light on the Trump administration's approach to Ukraine, and how officials were concerned about the actions of President Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to take stock of the latest developments.
SUMMARY: Former Trump adviser Roger Stone has been indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller on seven counts, including obstructing an investigation, making false statements and tampering with a witness. The indictment focuses on the relationship with WikiLeaks head Julian Assange and damaging emails released by WikiLeaks. Nick Schifrin reports and discusses with former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti.
SUMMARY: In a reversal from its previous demands, the White House is signaling openness to a funding bill that would avoid a government shutdown, even if it doesn't include $5 billion for a border wall. Days before a partial shutdown would take effect, Judy Woodruff talks to Yamiche Alcindor and Politico’s Jake Sherman about the ongoing negotiations and why congressional Democrats are feeling “heartened.”
SUMMARY: The GOP's short-term spending deal to fund the government until February was expected to be solidified Thursday. Instead, Congress erupted into chaos as President Trump declared he wouldn't sign bill, resuming his insistence that $5 billion be allocated for a border wall. As the deadline to avoid a government shutdown looms, Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins discuss with Judy Woodruff.
SUMMARY: On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are now expecting a partial government shutdown to take effect at midnight, after it became clear that Senate Republicans didn't have the votes to pass a funding bill the House approved. Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss ongoing negotiations, the President's motives, why Democratic confidence is rising and what a shutdown would mean.
SUMMARY: The federal government started a partial shutdown through Christmas, escalating a showdown over $5 billion for a border wall between President Trump and Congressional Democrats. Hundreds of thousands of government employees were unable to work and the impacts will only get worse. Washington Post reporter Damian Paletta joins Megan Thompson from D.C. for the latest.
SUMMARY: As the New York Attorney General investigates allegations of criminal misconduct by the Trump Foundation, the President announced he is shutting it down. The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold has been reporting on scrutiny of the organization since before the 2016 election, and he joins William Brangham to discuss how the President may have leveraged his charity for personal and political gain.
SUMMARY: Former CIA Director John Brennan says he has become an outspoken critic of President Trump because, he charges, Trump “is deceiving the American public, and it’s going to have...negative consequences for our national security.” Brennan joins Nick Schifrin to discuss why he feels a responsibility to condemn the President, plus whether Trump’s North Korea’s strategy is working.
SUMMARY: Payments tolling more than $4 million were made to a shell company set up by Michael Cohen, President Trump's personal attorney, and included about $500,000 from a U.S. company with ties to a Russian oligarch who is close to Vladimir Putin. That shell company was also used to pay hush money to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford. John Yang talks to Rosalind Helderman of the Washington Post.
