Here’s What You Need to Start Your Day
Good Thursday Morning!
Today is the highly anticipated Senate Intelligence Committee hearing during which former FBI Director Jim Comey will speak in public for the first time. There’s great expectation surrounding his testimony, and we’re here to tell you what you need to know, how to watch, and what will – and will not – happen.
Here are five things you need to know for today:
- The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing will begin at 10 AM EDT. You can watch on all major cable news channels, plus CNBC and the Fox Business Network. ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS will also carry the hearing live, as will Univision, and, of course C-SPAN 3 on cable TV. Most online major new outlets will also live stream online. Twitter has partnered with Bloomberg News to carry the livestream as well. And the Senate Intelligence Committee’s website also has a livestream.
- All focus will be on Comey, but important too will be the Senators asking questions. Each has their own agenda, and you sure as heck can expect most of the Republicans to try to protect President Trump and attack Comey’s credibility and character. The Washington Post has an excellent backgrounder on each of the Senators asking questions today.
- It’s important to remember, if you’re discussing impeachment, that the actions of a president do not need to meet a legal standard of the crimes with which he theoretically might be charged. Impeachment is not a criminal trial per se. It is a political trial. So when star showboating attorneys like Alan Dershowitz go on TV to protect Trump, you know you can rely on dedicated patriotic Americans like Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), a former prosecutor, to correct them:
Also: - President Trump’s personal attorney issued a ludicrous statement after Jim Comey’s written testimony was released Wednesday afternoon, a day early. He claimed Trump feels totally vindicated. He shouldn’t. It shows Trump repeatedly asked Comey to drop the investigation. Trump, in a widely-watched press conference, if the Comey testimony is correct, lied:
- Vox’s Ezra Klein:
TIME’s Zeke Miller got a hold of the GOP’s talking points they’re giving to the few Republicans willing to stand up publicly to defend Trump – like Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Remember, they’re propaganda; not necessarily factual, likely cherry-picked and out of context. Take a look: - Bonus!
- Final thought: The media has over-hyped today’s hearing. It’s vital and important, but this is about protecting our democracy, the rule of law, and getting at the truth. It’s about integrity. Don’t expect bombshells. Do expect your Senators to act like statesmen, putting country before party and digging to get to the truth. Those who don’t, don’t have the integrity required for the job.
To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.