Through two weeks of impeachment hearings, we learned a lot about the hoops President Trump and his associates jumped through before he hopped on the phone with his Ukrainian counterpart and said, “I would like you to do us a favor, though.” What they left fairly murky is why Trump viewed Ukraine as such a ripe target for corruption in the first place. On this week’s episode, Brian Beutler and The Atlantic’s Frank Foer discuss the true origins of the Ukraine scandal, and how they fit into a much larger story of global corruption.

The impeachment inquiry will soon move into its closing phase. Republicans have given no indication that they will take any steps to protect the country from President Trump’s corruption. And we remain in the dark about a great deal. As the public hearings draw to a close, Quinta Jurecic, managing editor with the Lawfare blog, joins host Brian Beutler to discuss the dots left unconnected  thus far, and what we risk by not connecting them.

This impeachment is a test for Republicans: When it’s all said and done, when they’re all out of excuses, will they admit that what Trump did was wrong? Or will they vote, with the whole world watching, to say they’re fine with it.

As the inquiry enters a new open phase, the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent joins host Brian Beutler to discuss how close we are to that point, and whether Republicans will pass or fail the test when we get there.

Republicans are out of excuses, their defenses of Donald Trump have all been debunked by the facts. Slate legal writer Dahlia Lithwick joins Brian Beutler to examine the tactics the GOP have now turned to in order to defend their president, and what it will mean for the country if they get away with it.

“Rubicon: The Impeachment of Donald Trump” is hosted by Crooked Media's Brian Beutler and launches on November 1st. New episode out every Friday.

The impeachment of Donald Trump is about more than just one president. It’s about preserving bedrock tenets of democracy. With that in mind, Brian Beutler and former Justice Department official Matt Miller recount how we got to this point and look ahead to what it would mean if Trump is removed from office — and what it'd mean if he isn’t.