Welcome back to Gaslit Nation’s continuing coverage of the political apocalypse! This week we break down the Senate impeachment trial, which is a matter not of law but of power. For the GOP, it is a test of whether they will openly declare fealty toward a criminal syndicate represented by a team of lawyers who have themselves been accused of crimes. For the Democrats, it is a struggle against the formalization of the dictatorship to which Trump has always aspired. For everyone, it is about accountability – and whether, in an era of unprecedented corruption and institutional failure, the American people will ever see any in action.
We discuss key figures in the impeachment process – including Adam Schiff, John Roberts, and John Bolton – and what they’re trying to accomplish and how. In the first social media impeachment, their words are parsed and received. We also discuss how the destruction of the judiciary over the course of the Trump administration impacts the proceedings, and we touch on the Supreme Court and their recent horrendous anti-immigrant ruling.
If that’s not enough fun for you, check out our special bonus episode on China and the Wuhan coronavirus! We discuss the outbreak, what it means for a deadly pathogen to emerge in an era of rising autocracy and digital disinformation, and situate it in a broader conversation about Chinese governance, climate change, and human rights. This bonus episode is available to our Patreon listeners in the Truth-Teller tier ($5/month) so please subscribe! Your support allows Gaslit Nation to stay independent and speak freely.
SHOW NOTES:
Opening Clip: Adam Schiff's Closing Statement in the Senate Trial of Donald Trump's Impeachment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZYV6qDU4Lk
Adam Schiff's "That's Not Okay" Speech in House Hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKd9fDLku8
Sylvia Garcia of Texas, a House Impeachment Manager, Tells the Senate Trial of Donald Trump's Impeachment that He's a Tool of Putin's Disinformation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_M97M5MK50
Jerry Nadler Calls Out Lindsey Graham in the Senate Trial of Donald Trump's Impeachment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvhPTw3QoA
Holocaust Survivor and Polish Journalist Marian Turski on the Threat of Indifference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaPF_g0jHxk&t=75s
Charges against Russians undermine Assange denials about hacked email origins https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-russia-email-hacking-charges-wikileaks-20180715-story.html
Rough Transcript Shows Trump Pressed Ukraine to ‘Look Into’ Joe Biden and Son https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-to-release-transcript-of-trumps-ukraine-call-as-impeachment-efforts-begin-11569403803
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Report Up to $135 Million in 2018 Income https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/14/business/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-net-worth.html
The Economist: "More than a third of the world’s population still live under authoritarian rule. Already signed up?Log in Choose us for news analysis" https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/01/22/global-democracy-has-another-bad-year?fsrc=scn/fb/te/bl/ed/dailychartglobaldemocracyhasanotherbadyeargraphicdetail