The Lead With Jake Tapper

Judge: McGhan must comply, no such thing as "absolute immunity"; Trump claims he'd "love" WH Officials to testify but he must protect future presidents; Hold put on Ukraine aid same day as July 25th call with Ukraine; Judiciary Dems invite Trump & WH Counsel to participate in hearing; Pompeo on testifying: "When the time is right all good things happen"; Dems consider adding Mueller findings to Articles of Impeachment; Trump to hold rally tonight in his new home state of Florida; Trump uses Turkey pardon event to joke about impeachment; CNN Poll: 50% want Trump impeached and removed from office, public hearings don't impact number; Swing state democrat clarifies position on impeaching Trump; CNN Poll: 61% women, 40% men want Trump impeached and removed from office; Dems eyeing multiple Articles of Impeachment against Trump; New campaign ads bombard airwaves as Iowa caucus nears; New national poll: Biden takes lead among Dems with 24%; Some Kurds tell CNN Trump betra

Wash Post: WH review shows Trump officials wanted justification to withhold Ukraine aid after the fact; Wash Post: WH review of docs on Ukraine could embarrass Trump; Dems reviewing evidence, weighing articles of impeachment; Pentagon chief fires Navy Secretary over SEAL controversy; navy Secretary ousted over handling of SEAL's case; Ousted Navy Secretary: I couldn't obey Trump's orders; Nunes dodges questions on Ukraine meeting for Biden dirt; Attorney for Giuliani associate: client wiling to testify Nunes met with ex-Ukrainian official for Biden dirt; Democrats wan investigation into GOP Nunes's reported meetings in Ukraine; Outgoing energy Secretary Perry: Trump the "chosen one"; First major ruling on impeachment witnesses coming soon; Judge will rule on if former WH counsel Don McGahn must testify; Bloomberg drops $37 million in ads as he enters 2020 race; 2020 Dems pile on Bloomberg entering the race; Surveillance video shows thieves break into historic castle, steal jewelr

Trump's own words back up damning impeachment testimony;President Trump: "I want a trial" in the Senate;Sources: House likely to impeach Trump by Christmas;Trump: I support Senate trial if House moves to impeach;House Dems move closer to Articles of Impeachment;Former NSA Bolton teases "more to come" in cryptic tweet;Trump repeats debunked claim about Ukraine & DNC server;Officials: Intel briefed senators on campaign by Moscow to blame Ukraine for 2016 meddling;Trump attacks fired ambassador after she publicly testifies;Trump makes nearly 20 false claims in 53 mins as he pushes back on impeachment inquiry;Trump falsely claims whistleblower complaint "bore no relationship" to his rough call transcript;Trump falsely claims he released rough call transcript "after" Schiff's dramatic reading;2020 Dems campaign for African-American votes;Buttigieg addresses struggle with African-American voters;One-on-one with Mayor Pete Buttigieg;Buttigieg: Trump has no clue h

Holmes: Trump asked Sondland, "so he's going to do the investigation?" Sondland told Trump Zelensky would "do anything you ask him to"; Fiona Hill: was "very apparent" Guiliani linked Burisma to Bidens; Republicans speak after impeachment hearing; Holmes: U.S. priorities in Ukraine overshadowed by political agenda promoted by Giuliani & officials with direct channel to WH; Fiona Hill: I told Sondland pursuit of his "domestic political errand" would "blow up"; Holmes: Sondland told me Trump cared more about Biden investigations than about Ukraine; Fiona Hill: "fictional narrative" that Russia did not conduct a campaign against our country; Holmes: Sondland told me Trump only cared about "big stuff" that benefits him, like the Biden investigation; Fiona Hilll: "Domestic politics" should not stoop U.S. from defending itself ; Holmes: Ambassador Taylor made clear that Biden probe was a pre-condition for an Oval Office meeting

Sondland: Giuliani pushed for "quid pro quo" with Ukraine, as "desired" by Trump; Trump legal team: Sondland testimony "a draw"; Next: breaking down key witness' testimony; Coming up: key Pentagon & State Dept officials testify; Sondland moments ago: "absolutely not" resigning via Knit

McConnell: Hopefully Senate works through "not too lengthy of a process" of impeachment trial; White House: "We have learned nothing new in today's illegitimate impeachment proceedings" via Knit

Eight witnesses expected to publicly testify this week; Amb. Sondland, who spoke to Trump about Ukraine, set to testify; House investigating whether Trump lied to Mueller; CNN goes to Kiev restaurant where Sondland called Trump; New CNN poll: Buttigieg leaps to first place in Iowa; New poll: 0% of SC Dem black voters support Buttigieg; White House stands by Stephen Miller after emails showed he pushed white nationalist conspiracies via Knit

Ousted U.S. Ambassador testifies about smear campaign against her & fear of comments made by Pres. Trump; Aide who overheard Sondland's phone call with Trump now in closed-door deposition; Trump defends Yovanovitch tweet, says "I have freedom of speech"; Schiff: We saw witness intimidation in real time by Pres. Trump; Yovanovitch: No explanation given for why I was removed; Trump attacks ousted Ukraine Ambassador as she claims she felt threatened by attacks; WH releases transcript of first call with Ukraine Pres which has no mention of fighting corruption; Ousted U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine: I do not understand Giuliani's motives for attacking me; Republicans dodge questions on Giuliani and smear campaign against ousted U.S. Ambassador; Yovanovitch: U.S. Policy on Ukraine "thrown into disarray"; More public testimony set for next week in impeachment inquiry; via Knit

More impeachment witnesses to testify in just Hours; Dems question Sondland's truthfulness as new info emerges; Former Republican Rep. Amash: Why won't Trump let officials with first-hand knowledge testify?; Trump showed GOP Senators transcript of First Ukraine call; Official: WH Staff caught off guard by testimony Trump overheard talking Ukraine probes on phone; Bill Clinton's message to Trump on impeachment & guns; Deval Patrick Jumps Into Crowded Dem 2020 Field; Newest 2020 Dem Talks Big Corporations, guns and impeachment; Sheriff: Two teenagers killed, three Injured in California school shooting; Gunman in custody; Victims describe hearing gunshots, escaping school shooting; Sheriff: gunman killed classmates on his 16th birthday; CNN: Trump DC Hotel sales pitch highlights foreign govt. business; RNC to host annual meeting at Trump Doral Resort; Putin-controlled media relishes impeachment chaos; via Knit

Taylor: Sondland said Trump cared more about investigations of Biden than about Ukraine via Knit

House GOP lays out defense strategy ahead of public hearings; Televised impeachment hearings begin in less than 24 hours; Schiff warns GOP about outing whistleblower in hearings; NYT: Trump has considered firing intelligence Inspector General; Testimony at Roger Stone trial contradicts what Trump told Mueller about Wikileaks; Top Russian Official on 2020 elections: We'll resolve the problem, don't worry; Transcripts show Trump repeatedly tried not to anger Russia; Transcript: Mulvaney held up Ukraine missiles over concerns about Russia's reaction; Biden renews attacks on Warren and an "elitist" attitude; New Iowa poll: Buttigieg up 14 points since August; Supreme Court justices struggling with DACA after hearing arguments today; Supreme Court allows Sandy Hook families to sue gun maker; via Knit

GOP tries to shape strategy ahead of public hearings; Trump says he'll release transcript of second Ukraine call; Trump warns GOP: Don't say call wasn't perfect, but not impeachable... "nothing was done wrong"; Haley claims John Kelly & Rex Tillerson tried to recruit her to "save the country" from Trump; Haley: Tillerson & Kelly's push to undermine Trump was "offensive"; Haley: Tillerson & Kelly should've quit instead of trying to undermine Trump; Official: Mulvaney working with WH counsel on lawsuit; Biden: Trump's attacks "helping me in every way"; Biden talks Trump, Warren on campaign trail; New testimony transcript of impeachment witness released; Klobuchar says women candidates with Buttigieg's experience would not reach debate stage; Warren on winning over male voters: "How about we give them a tough, smart woman to vote for"; Beekeeping program used as therapy for veterans with PTSD; via Knit

Witness: "No Doubt" what Trump was demanding on Ukraine call; Trump says there should be no public impeachment hearings; Mulvaney ignores subpoena, skips deposition on Capitol Hill; Bolton's lawyer says he has "relevant" info on Ukraine probe not yet disclosed; Sources: Trump and Giuliani remain in touch; Wash Post: "Anonymous" author said Trump officials considered resigning "en masse"; White House blasts anonymous book as "a work of fiction", calls author "coward"; Former NYC Mayor & billionaire expected to enter Dem 2020 race; Bannon: I viewed Stone as access point to Wikileaks; Witness: Top Trump Amb. implicated Mulvaney in withholding aid; Trump says he's not concerned about testimony so far; Bolton's lawyer says he has information on Ukraine meetings but he won't testify until court resolves subpoena question; Biden on Bloomberg: "He should jump in the race"; Trump on if he will endorse Sessions: "We'

Kent: Giuliani wanted to discredit U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine; State Official Kent says Volker reached out to Giuliani because he "had influence" over Trump's thinking on Ukraine; Pence aide who was concerned about Trump-Ukraine call testifies; Source: Pence aide said Trump's July 25th call with Ukraine was political, not a normal diplomatic call; Trump denies AG Barr declined his request to hold news conference on Ukraine; Trump allies offer scattered defense of Trump's Ukraine call; NYT: Trump warned Jeff Sessions he'd attack him if Sessions ran for Senate in Alabama; VP Pence refuses to say if he'd campaign for Sessions in 2020; Macron: Trump doesn't share the same view of NATO alliance; Warren and Biden's escalating fight gets personal; Pence files for Trump-Pence 2020 ticket for NH Primary; Trump 2020 team organizing small gatherings in key states; Prosecution makes line chart showing Stone's close ties to Trump & Campaign associates; Steve Bannon &am

Top diplomat says he was told Trump wanted investigations announced in exchange for aid; Schiff: first public impeachment hearings next week; Taylor: "it was my clear understanding" Ukraine wouldn't get aid without announcing Biden probe; Sen. Hirono backs resolution to protect whistleblower; First public hearings on impeachment set for next week; Giuliani mentioned 400+ times in transcripts as a key player in Ukraine dealings; Steve Bannon to testify against Roger Stone; Democrat claims victory over Trump-backed Republican in Kentucky governor's race; Defense Secy Esper says he advised Trump on service members facing war crimes allegations; Sources: Defense Secy to urge Trump not to intervene in war crime cases via Knit

Sondland amended testimony to say he told Ukrainian official aid likely conditioned on public announcement of investigation; Volker: Trump's call with Ukraine was "extremely unfortunate"; Sources: Senior Pence adviser likely to testify Thursday; Sen. Paul at Trump rally: Media should identify whistleblower; Sen. Paul defends calls for whistleblower identity to be disclosed; Longtime Trump confidant & adviser Roger Stone's trial begins; Roger Stone leaves court early due to "food poisoning"; Roger Stone trial begins in shadow of impeachment inquiry; Key Election Day races in KY, MS, VA; Close gov. races in red states could show Trump's power in 2020; Nine women and children shot, 'burned alive' in ambush, possibly mistaken for rival drug cartel; Heartbroken bride recalls life of relatives killed days before wedding via Knit

Ex-ambassador to Ukraine said she felt threatened by Trump; Testimony: former ambassador to Ukraine was told to show support for Trump; Testimony: ex-ambassador said Ukrainians told her to watch her back; Trump: "the whistle blower should be revealed"; Lawyer: whistleblower willing to answer written GOP questions; Trump: written answers from whistleblower not acceptable; Dems gear up for public phase as WH defies subpoenas; WAPO: GOP senators consider acknowledging Trump's quid pro quo; Muller docs: trump repeatedly pushed for stolen Clinton emails during 2016 election; Swing state democrats in Wisconsin aren't talking impeachment; Wisconsin GOP thinks impeachment will help Trump; Democrats try to flip Wisconsin again after Trump's 2016 win; Warren faces escalating attacks from fellow 2020 democrats over new "Medicare for All" plan; Warren pushes back against criticism of her "Medicare for All" plan; Trump loses appeal to keep taxes secret, judge dismisses immunity

White House: Trump "Is the war room" on impeachment; Poll: Americans split on impeachment & removal of Trump; Life-long New Yorker Trump making Florida primary residence; Biden camp: Warren's health care plan is "mathematical gymnastics"; Warren releases new $20.5 Trillion plan to fund "Medicare for all", hopes to silence Dem rivals; U.S. troops guardian Syrian oil could confront Russian forces; Russia fills gaps as U.S. steps back, widening power globally; Russia expanding military & economic influence across the globe via Knit

No Republicans vote for impeachment process resolution; Two Dems vote No on impeachment process resolution; Trump faces new reality after first full House vote on impeachment; White House strategy in question with no team in place to counter impeachment inquiry; Sources: Majority Leader McConnell advised Trump to stop attacking Senate Republicans; CNN obtains part of top WH Russia Adviser's opening statement; Judge to decide whether Bolton aide must testify; Trump Campaign previews 2020 strategy with new ad; Homes engulfed in flames as new fires spread in California; via Knit

Two State Dept. officials testifying today on Capitol Hill; House impeachment investigators want Bolton to testify; Source: key witness Bill Taylor willing to testify publicly; Vindman testifies about missing words, despite Trump saying it was an "exact word-for-word" transcript of Ukraine call; Testimony: Bolton abruptly ended meeting with Ukraine officials after Soundland brought up investigations; July 10th WH meeting with Ukraine is first report of possible quid pro quo; Hurricane force winds stoke CA fires, 26 million under red flag warnings via Knit