| | | | A(nother) Ukraine coincidence! |  | | I've long maintained there is no such thing as a coincidence in politics. You don't just "happen" to be in Iowa if you are considering a run for president down the line. It's not just happenstance that a congresswoman stays quiet in private impeachment hearings but has more to say when the bright lights go on in the public hearings.
Which brings me to this: A WHOLE lot happened on July 25 regarding the nearly $400 million in military aid that the United States withheld from Ukraine over several months this summer and early fall.
Consider what we already knew about that day:
1) At around 9 a.m. Eastern, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky talked on the phone. It was on that call that Trump made clear a) the US does lots for Ukraine b) Ukraine doesn't reciprocate c) Trump wanted Zelensky to look into the debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine was in possession of the hacked Democratic National Committee server from the 2016 election and d) Trump alleged that the Bidens -- Joe and his son Hunter -- were corrupt, and could Zelensky look into that?
2) That afternoon, according to sworn testimony from Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, her office had three interactions that made clear the Ukrainians were aware of the hold on the aid (which the Pentagon and State Department were notified on July 18 had been frozen at the direction of the President).
Then there's this -- another MAJOR event that occurred on July 25, and which we learned about Tuesday: The White House budget office took their first official action to withhold $250 million in aid for Ukraine.
Man! Crazy coincidence, right?!
Here's the thing: Even if all of these events happening on a single day was an actual coincidence, it would still badly disrupt the White House's official timeline of events surrounding the alleged quid pro quo.
Trump and his allies have long maintained that it was simply not possible for there to be a quid pro quo because Zelensky (and the Ukrainians) weren't aware of the military aid hold-up. So Zelensky couldn't have known that unless he announced investigations into Trump's priorities that he was risking much-needed aid in Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia.
In order top believe that now, you have to think that no one in the Ukrainian government told Zelensky of the military aid hold-up either before or after the July 25 call. Or that the man who was smart enough to get elected president of a country wouldn't have been able to connect the dots between Trump's much-stated demands for investigations and the military aid.
The Point: Trump's timeline has been on very shaky ground ever since Cooper's testimony. But the confluence of events on July 25 seems to now smash it to pieces.
-- Chris | | "It seems the Democrats are accusing me of being too soft on Turkey. But Bread and Butter, I should note that unlike previous witnesses, you and I have actually met."
-- President Donald Trump used Tuesday's pardon of turkey Butter (and its alternate Bread) to poke fun at the impeachment inquiry. | | | WHAT'S NEXT ON IMPEACHMENT | | Get ready for a very busy December.
Coming "soon after" Thanksgiving recess: House Democrats will spend their holiday break working on the report that will ultimately inform possible articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
That report will be sent to the Judiciary Committee "soon after Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess," House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff announced Monday. It will detail the evidence that was gathered over the course of the committee's eight-week investigation and is expected to make recommendations about the path forward. This process, and its timing, sets up a likely impeachment vote before the end of the year.
Coming December 4: The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the "constitutional grounds for presidential impeachment," the committee announced Tuesday.
That hearing will have a panel of expert witnesses who will testify "on the application of the constitutional framework of high crimes and misdemeanors to the very serious allegations regarding the conduct of the President," according to a Democratic aide.
The Judiciary Committee has also invited President Donald Trump or his counsel to participate in the hearing. | | Ryan Lizza on the Obama waiting game
Drastic action needed
Here comes Jerry Nadler
Welcome to the Vengeance Election
Democrats are finally realizing "Medicare for All" might be a problem
Groceries, and, uh, yoga?
The key rules of Thanksgiving touch football | | | Andrew Bird -- a world-class whistler and an amazing musician -- has new music with Erika Wennerstrom. This one is called "Manifest." | |  | Elise Stefanik is President Trump's newest "star" | | Chris walks you through everything you need to know about the latest star in the Trump wing of the GOP.
Keep up with The Point on YouTube. Subscribe! | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST | | Cory Booker: Is in an all-out sprint to meet the polling requirements to make the December debate stage. He still needs four polls to qualify.
Joe Biden: Is already floating VP options -- including Stacey Abrams and Sally Yates.
Michael Bloomberg: Has filed to appear on the Arizona primary ballot. | | | 20%
The difference between men's overall support of Trump (52%) and women's support (32%). This is the fifth time the divide has been that large in CNN's polling during Trump's presidency.
Trump's overall approval rating has held solid at 42%. | | | | | | |
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