WATCH: Trump says Ukraine ambassador should be removed

A video released on Jan. 25 captures President Donald Trump appearing to say he wants to “get rid” of the then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. ....
https://youtu.be/9h0HIm53Jus

Report: John Bolton’s Book Draft Says Trump Conditioned Ukraine Aid on Biden Investigations – Mother Jones

President Donald Trump told his former national security adviser John Bolton that he would maintain a freeze on military aid to Ukraine until the country took steps to open investigations into the Bidens, according to an unpublished manuscript by the former senior trump official. The new details, drawn from draft materials prepared by Bolton for his planned book, were recounted in a bombshell report by the New York Times late on Sunday.....
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/01/john_bolton_book/

Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Inquiries He Sought, Bolton Book Says - The New York Times

Drafts of the book outline the potential testimony of the former national security adviser if he were called as a witness in the president’s impeachment trial.....
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html

House impeachment managers: Bolton 'directly contradicts the heart' of Trump's defense

The team of House managers presenting the case for impeachment in the Senate trial of Donald Trump have released their first statement responding to the news that John Bolton asserts Trump personally told him he was freezing congressionally-approved military aid to Ukraine until Ukraine agreed to assist in investigations of Democrats and his potential challenger Joe Biden: ....
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/1/26/1914304/-House-impeachment-managers-Bolton-directly-contradicts-the-heart-of-Trump-s-defense

These are the 10 most innovative countries, Bloomberg says - Business Insider

Germany has broken South Korea's six-year reign as the "the most innovative nation in the world," according to the latest Bloomberg Innovation Index. The US ranked ninth, while China came in 15th. https://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-10-most-innovative-countries-bloomberg-says-2020-1

WATCH: Full video of Trump saying Ukraine ambassador should be removed

A video released on Jan. 25 captures President Donald Trump appearing to say he wants to “get rid” of the then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.....
https://youtu.be/P28atO6i--8

Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro Confronts Giuliani to Reveal 'Evidence' of Biden's Alleged 'Corruption'

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro repeatedly pressed President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, questioning why he has not yet revealed "evidence" he has claimed to have showing alleged "corruption" by former Vice President Joe Biden.....
https://www.newsweek.com/fox-news-host-jeanine-pirro-confronts-giuliani-reveal-evidence-bidens-alleged-corruption-1484066

Lindsey Graham's 'testimony' from 1999 should convict Donald Trump

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, the chief apologist for President Donald Trump, walked out of the Senate chambers before his remarks about impeachment from 1999 were broadcast. He had to.....
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2020/01/23/lindsey-graham-testimony-against-clinton-should-convict-donald-trump/4557337002/

Alan Dershowitz Argues for Trump Cold Open - SNL

https://youtu.be/3c5neBXQwf8

A GOP senator traffics in flimsy allegations to impugn Alexander Vindman — again - The Washington Post

The senator has called Vindman's motivations into question before. On Thursday, she went even further.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/23/gop-senator-flimsily-impugns-key-impeachment-witness-again/

Mike Bloomberg has bold plan to end racial bias and reduce wealth gap

The disparities in opportunity for African Americans are alarming. Bloomberg isn't afraid to fail. He'll try new things and he'll expand what works. ....
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/01/24/michael-bloomberg-bold-plan-reduce-racial-wealth-gap-column/4526405002/

Trump’s Treasury secretary just admitted the tariff rationale is hogwash - The Washington Post

Maybe it was the altitude at Davos.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mnuchin-admits-that-audis-and-toyotas-arent-a-national-security-threat-after-all/2020/01/23/d3a9a5be-3e26-11ea-baca-eb7ace0a3455_story.html

Who’s the Next Justin Amash? Your Guide to Impeachment, Part XVIII (Feat. Lev Parnas) (Opening Arguments podcast OA351)

Today’s episode is one big Andrew Was Right! As we predicted, the House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate this week, and we unpack all of this week’s news in connection with impeachment, including the new GAO report on the Impoundment Control Act, the testimony from Lev Parnas, and much, much more. By the end of this super-sized episode, we’ll also give your our predictions as to who might be a surprise profile in courage. The answer WILL surprise you!

We begin with the GAO report that’s being quoted everywhere. Are media sources getting it right? And what’s in the report that’s not being talked about? Listen and find out! Did Trump’s OMB violate the Impoundment Control Act? (Hint: yes.)

Then, we take a look at the transmission of articles, the House managers named, the rules involved, the President’s amazing legal team, and much, much more.

After all of that, we get to the ultimate question: will this moo the noodle? And if so, who are the Republicans that can be moo’ed? We name names! We also evaluate the Lev Parnas testimony and try and steelman Trump’s arguments.

Then, of course, it’s time for an all-new #T3BE on cocaine smuggling, featuring a special guest player (and next week’s guest) Phil Ferguson.
Interview:
https://openargs.com/oa351-whos-the-next-justin-amash-your-guide-to-impachment-part-xviii-feat-lev-parnas/

Trump administration cracks down on birth tourism - POLITICO

The State Department released a rule today that will make it harder for pregnant foreigners to travel to the U.S. in what the Trump administration says is an effort to crack down on “birth tourism.” The final rule, which will go into effect on Friday, clarifies that if consular officers have "reason to believe" a traveler seeking a nonimmigrant tourist or business visa will give birth during her stay in the United States, the officers will presume she is doing so "for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for the child."
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/23/trump-administration-cracks-down-on-birth-tourism-102713

White supremacist Christopher Cantwell arrested - CNN

White supremacist Christopher Cantwell has been arrested and charged with sending an extortionate and threatening interstate message, according to the FBI office in Boston. Cantwell was one of the organizers of the hate-filled marches through Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. ....
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/23/us/white-supremacist-christopher-cantwell-arrested-soh/index.html

Bank Calls Cops on Black Man Attempting to Deposit Racial Discrimination Settlement Check From Employer

An African-American man is suing a bank after staff called the police on him when he tried to deposit a check he received after settling a lawsuit with his former employer for racial discrimination.....

https://www.newsweek.com/bank-calls-cops-black-man-depositing-racial-discrimination-settlement-check-1483681

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: 'Forever chemicals' found in drinking water at 34 additional locations: survey - The Hill

__THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WATER:__ So-called forever chemicals have been discovered in drinking water at 34 previously unknown locations, according to a report released Wednesday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).....
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/overnights/479459-overnight-energy-forever-chemicals-found-in-drinking

Recording of Trump calling for Yovanovitch’s ouster appears to corroborate Parnas’s account - The Washington Post

The audio file reviewed by ABC News matches a description by Lev Parnas, a former associate of Rudolph W. Giuliani.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/recording-of-trump-calling-for-yovanovitchs-ouster-appears-to-corroborate-parnass-account/2020/01/24/77326098-3ed3-11ea-baca-eb7ace0a3455_story.html

Atheist Experience 24.03 with Matt Dillahunty & Jenna Belk

The Atheist Experience episode 24.03 for January 19, 2020, with Matt Dillahunty and Jenna Belk. Viewer calls. Matt and Jenna take callers.

00:06:57 Christian - Denmark - Further discussion about antinatalism.
00:34:39 Kayla - CT - Caller update: Has deconverted and hiring a humanist celebrant for her wedding.
00:51:23 Alan - CA - Afraid of not having a “guide” that would intervene at the last moment
01:00:28 Cory - NY - Would like to talk about biblical slavery, oh he gets mad.
01:03:55 David - KY - Clarity on the position of what is life and if it is precious
01:20:38 Michael - AZ - Is both a believer and a non-believer, but how though?
01:21:50 Mike - Toronto - Is struggling with helping as many animals as possible and there is still suffering.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/p6vNCZLwhnc

Giuliani goes full conspiracy theory in insane 'Fox & Friends’ appearance - The Washington Post

The president's lawyer may have furnished more video footage for impeachment proceedings.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/01/24/giuliani-goes-full-conspiracy-theory-insane-fox-friends-appearance/