ABC News political analyst Matt Dowd joins Senior Executive Producer Chris Vlasto to discuss Muellers upcoming congressional appearance: "It will get people focused." Dowd, former chief strategist for President Bush, also gives insight into Vice President Biden's chances in the democratic primary: "When you get a hundred percent name I.D. and you're getting 30 percent of the vote, that's concerning." Later, the conversation turns to partisanship in the 2020 race: "Democracies don't work when people are so tribal." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Democracies Don't Work When People Are So Tribal"

It's one of the rarest political events in American history, one that only three presidents have ever experienced before today. Just months after the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report, the White House finds itself under fire from a new front: an impeachment inquiry.  Who was on that July 25th call between President Trump and President Zelensky? What was promised and who was pressured? And how has that one phone call raised the question, once again, of possible foreign intervention in U.S. elections and "quid pro quo" demands to other foreign leaders?  We'll bring you all of our exclusive reporting -- from the halls of Capitol Hill to Maiden Square in Kyiv.  Along the way, you'll get insight from legal analysts and historians, politicians and principals -- those who are driving the developments in this rapidly-unfolding story -- all as we count down the days until an impeachment vote and a possible senate trial.

News

Politics

In the wake of President Trump's acquittal, "The Investigation" co-hosts Chris Vlasto, John Santucci and Katherine Faulders recap the critical moments that lead to this historic impeachment trial. Then, for this 50th and final episode, "The Investigation" takes a look back at the headlining guests that joined the podcast over the past year.   Follow Chris on Twitter @vlasto Follow John on Twitter @santucci  Support this podcast with a review on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2UJIsJs Recommended listening... -- Start Here: The daily 20-minute news podcast from ABC News. http://bit.ly/2SA62eg -- Powerhouse Politics: Headliner interviews and in-depth looks at the people and events shaping U.S. politics. http://bit.ly/2SsGwr7 -- FiveThirtyEight Politics: Nate Silver and the FiveThirtyEight team cover the latest in politics, tracking the issues and "game-changers" every week. https://53eig.ht/2RF3eb1 ==================== The Investigation is produced by ABC Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The End?

As the Senate Impeachment Trial enters its second week, Congressman Mark Meadows, joins "The Investigation." Meadows, who is a member of President Trump's impeachment team, weighs in on the aftershocks following the New York Times report on former National Security advisor John Boltons manuscript: "this is all about a political narrative" and says that calling Hunter Biden to testify "would be a good move." Meadows also addresses his upcoming departure from Congress since announcing he won't seek reelection and possible next steps for him. "The Investigation" co-hosts John Santucci and Katherine Faulders also discuss the exclusive ABC reporting on the audiotape from a 2018 small dinner with Trump released by former Giuliani associate Lev Parnas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jury Is Still Out

Over 20 years ago, he was part of an investigation into a sitting president and senior counsel to Ken Starr. Now, Paul Rosenzweig joins "The Investigation" co-hosts Chris Vlasto and Katherine Faulders, and calling the impeachment trial of President Trump a "watershed moment in American history" and summarizing the Senate leaderships strategy as "very simpleto move as fast as they can...avoid as much evidence as possible." But Rosenzweig, who currently serves as resident senior fellow of the National Security and Cyber Security Program at the R Street Institute, cautions against comparing this era to the time of Clinton: "The comparison...is kind of apples to clouds...[in] which every assertion of executive privilege was eventually overcome." Later, ABC News chief White House correspondent and co-host of the "Powerhouse Politics" podcast Jonathan Karl shares his latest reporting on the White House response and his own prediction that the Senate trial will last "two weeks or less," largely due to "impeachment fatigue in the country." Follow Chris on Twitter @vlasto Follow John on Twitter @santucci  Support this podcast with a review on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2UJIsJs Recommended listening... -- Start Here: The daily 20-minute news podcast from ABC News. http://bit.ly/2SA62eg -- Powerhouse Politics: Headliner interviews and in-depth looks at the people and events shaping U.S. politics. http://bit.ly/2SsGwr7 -- FiveThirtyEight Politics: Nate Silver and the FiveThirtyEight team cover the latest in politics, tracking the issues and "game-changers" every week. https://53eig.ht/2RF3eb1 ==================== The Investigation is produced by ABC Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Apples to Clouds"

As the nation prepares for its third impeachment trial in history, "The Investigation" co-hosts Chris Vlasto and Katherine Faulders bring all the latest updates from Capitol Hill with senior Congressional correspondent Mary Bruce. Then, senior national correspondent Terry Moran joins to set the historical context and significance of this impeachment proceeding, explaining that "this is the biggest thing that Congress can do: overturn an election, remove a president from office." Follow Chris on Twitter @vlasto Follow Katherine on Twitter @KFaulders  Support this podcast with a review on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2UJIsJs Recommended listening... -- Start Here: The daily 20-minute news podcast from ABC News. http://bit.ly/2SA62eg -- Powerhouse Politics: Headliner interviews and in-depth looks at the people and events shaping U.S. politics. http://bit.ly/2SsGwr7 -- FiveThirtyEight Politics: Nate Silver and the FiveThirtyEight team cover the latest in politics, tracking the issues and "game-changers" every week. https://53eig.ht/2RF3eb1 ==================== The Investigation is produced by ABC Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"This Isn't Another Partisan War"

We're going on a short break for the holidays - in the meantime, listen to ABC's daily podcast, "start Here" and be sure to subscribe if you like what you hear. Follow Chris on Twitter: @vlasto Follow John on Twitter: @santucci Support this podcast with a review on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2UJIsJs Recommended listening... -- Start Here: The daily 20-minute news podcast from ABC News. http://bit.ly/2SA62eg -- Powerhouse Politics: Headliner interviews and in-depth looks at the people and events shaping U.S. politics. http://bit.ly/2SsGwr7 -- FiveThirtyEight Politics: Nate Silver and the FiveThirtyEight team cover the latest in politics, tracking the issues and "game-changers" every week. https://53eig.ht/2RF3eb1 ==================== The Investigation is produced by ABC Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Democracies Don't Work When People Are So Tribal"

Download our free app to listen on your phone