MOMocrats

Donald Trump's impeachment trial opened with a marathon 13-hour session on Tuesday, as Senate Democrats put forth about a dozen amendments to Mitch McConnell's draconian trial rules regarding witnesses and evidence. Senate Republicans voted all of them down. MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills find it amusing that GOP Senators are now whining that they “haven’t heard anything new" as House managers present the case against the president. The MOMocrats discuss the trial so far, as well as some of the week's other political news that has fallen through the impeachment cracks. 

MOMocrats MOMochat is part of the DemCast family of podcasts.

In 2016, the election of Donald Trump triggered the women of the United States. On the eve of the fourth annual Women's March, and in the wake of the opening of an impeachment trial of Donald Trump, MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills talk about where we've come from there - and where we are going. They also chat about the wave of women who were inspired to run for office, and the challenges they face in raising funds for their campaigns. (Note that since Karoli and Donna are attending the March on Saturday, this episode was pre-recorded and does not reflect the bombshells dropped in the Rachel Maddow interview with Lev Parnas.) 

MOMocrats MOMochat is a member of the #DemCast family of podcasts.

The MOMocrats' weekly podcast looking at the day's political news from the progressive point of view. This week, their guest is Dr. Cindy Banyai, candidate for Congress in Florida's CD19, currently represented by Republican Francis Rooney. Rooney is retiring after his term, and it has NOTHING to do with his suggestion that impeaching Trump might be warranted. Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills will also talk about impeachment... and Iran. MOMocrats MOMochat is part of the DemCast family of podcasts.

All the MOMocrats wanted for Christmas was to see Donald Trump impeached... and the Democrats in Congress delivered on Wednesday. What happens next is anyone's guess: With Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham signalling loudly that the Senate trial would be fixed in favor of the president, Nancy Pelosi has shrewdly decided to hold off on delivering the articles of impeachment until the rules for the Senate hearing have been hammered out. This appears to be driving the president crazy... and we're OK with that. For one thing, this is our last podcast of 2019, and MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills are fervently hoping for some quiet time on the political front so we can all enjoy our family holidays without all hell breaking loose in Washington. (We'll see how that works out.) MOMocrats MOMochat is a member of the #DemCast family of podcasts.

The Judiciary Committee continued the impeachment process this week, which concluded with a marathon and contentious debate that ran into the night, followed by this morning's vote to approve the articles of impeachment. The full House votes on the articles next week. Mitch McConnell has already made it clear that the Senate will have the president's back - but whatever happens, it looks likely that Donald Trump will always be remembered as the third president in US history to be impeached.

MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss this and other political developments this week: a hearing on the DOJ IG Report that had good and bad for Democrats and Republicans, a House bill on drug prices as well as a bipartisan agreement on the NAFTA replacement (proving that Nancy Pelosi is able to keep legislation going during the impeachment process)... and over in the UK, an election that may have portents for our own in 2020. MOMocrats MOMochat is a member of the #DemCast family of podcasts.

If all you want for Christmas are articles of impeachment, Santa's listening. Only in this case, Santa is Nancy Pelosi, who announced yesterday that she is instructing the Judiciary Committee to go ahead and put a ribbon on it. MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills talk about the latest turns in the House inquiry... and what to expect on Monday, when the next Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled to commence. 

The MOMocrats will also talk about Trump's latest international foray at NATO, and the humiliation of that viral video that shows what the other western leaders say about him when they think the mic is off. And as Iowa and New Hampshire loom before us, where we are in the race for the Democratic nomination - especially with the entrance of billionaires and exit of good candidates like Kamala Harris. MOMocrats MOMochat is part of the Demcast family of podcasts.

The pundits who complained that last week's hearings had no "pizzazz" got their wildest dreams answered this week, as witness after witness carpetbombed the hearings with explosive revelations. 

MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss what we learned from marathon questioning of:

Jennifer Williams

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman

Kurt Volker

Tim Morrison

Gordon Sondland

Laura Cooper

David Hale

Fiona Hill

David Holmes

And if there's still time after that, there will be a discussion of last night's Democratic debate, which was historic for having more women than men on the stage (including the four moderators). 

MOMocrats MOMochat is part of the #DemCast family of podcasts.

"BORING," tweeted Donald Trump during the first House impeachment hearing on Wednesday. The DC press seemed to concur, complaining that while illuminating (and offering its share of bombshells), that it didn't have any "pizzazz."

So the President took matters into his own hands while Ambassador Marie Yovanovich was testifying, with a threatening tweet disparaging her service - an action Chairman Adam Schiff described as "witness tampering," indicating it could be added to eventual articles of impeachment.

MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills recap today's hearing plus the conviction of Roger Stone on his own charge of witness tampering, obstructing an official proceeding, and five counts of making false statements. 

MOMocrats MOMochat is a member of the #DemCast family of podcasts.

The MOMocrats were riveted throughout yesterday's 5-hour+ long public hearing on Donald Trump's attempts to extort an ally in exchange for manufactured dirt on an election opponent. Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills discuss the first impeachment hearing, testimony of diplomats William Taylor and George Kent, the takeaways from the hearing, and why #WalterCronkite was trending yesterday.

Also on today's podcast: The courts are in the news, as the government rests its case in Roger Stone's long-awaited hearing on his association with Wikileaks in 2016, DACA is argued at the Supreme Court -- and SCOTUS will likely have to rule on whether Congress can get Donald Trump's tax returns. Also: MOMocrats' hearts skip a beat on the news that Ruth Bader Ginsburg missed yesterday's session due to illness. And the field for the 2020 race is not narrowing, as the money people get nervous about the popularity of Sanders and Warren.

Politics from a progressive point of view, part of the #DemCast platform of podcasts.

Tuesday's off-off year elections brought good news to Democrats: Democrat Andy Beshear won the governorship of deep-red Kentucky, and Virginia Democrats won control of all levers of state government (for the first time in a generation). Republicans claim they're not worried, but they aren't known these days for being truthful.

These election results could be a preview of 2020, but the lesson MOMocrats Karoli, Aliza Worthington, and Donna Schwartz Mills learned after the last presidential election was not to plan a victory party before the last vote is counted. There are a lot more dirty tricks up the GOP's sleeves, and Democrats can be their own worst enemies. They talk about those and more of this week's political news from a progressive point of view. 

MOMocrats MOMochat is a member of the #DemCast family of podcasts.