The New York Times reported Sunday night that former National Security Adviser John Bolton claims in the draft of his new book that President Trump told him in August that he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine unless Ukrainian officials helped with investigations into Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.  

Bolton went on to implicate Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney in the cover-up. 

Also in this bonus episode: Colin on why the way Secretary of State Mike Pompeo treated Mary Louise Kelly, host of NPR's All Things Considered, is a big problem.  

GUEST: 
Bill Curry - Former White House counselor to Bill Clinton and a two-time Democratic nominee for governor of Connecticut

Email us your questions at pardonme@ctpublic.org.

Pardon Me is a production of The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public Radio.

<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html">The New York Times reported Sunday night</a> that former National Security Adviser John Bolton claims in the draft of his new book that President Trump told him in August that he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine unless Ukrainian officials helped with investigations into Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Bolton went on to implicate Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney in the cover-up.&nbsp;
Also in this bonus episode: Colin on why <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/24/npr-reporter-mary-louise-kelly-mike-pompeo-cursed-her-out-for-asking-about-ukraine.html">the way Secretary of State Mike Pompeo treated Mary Louise Kelly</a>, host of NPR's All Things Considered, is a big problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;
GUEST:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Bill Curry - Former White House counselor to Bill Clinton and a two-time Democratic nominee for governor of Connecticut</li>
</ul>
Email us your questions at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pardonme@ctpublic.org">pardonme@ctpublic.org</a>.
<a href="https://wnpr.org/pardonme">Pardon Me</a>&nbsp;is a production of&nbsp;<a href="https://wnpr.org/colin">The Colin McEnroe Show</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio.

Does the Trump impeachment drama feel like drinking from a fire hose? If so, join host Colin McEnroe, public radio personality and columnist, for an energetic weekly round-up that brings you the latest developments and perspectives from guests like Dave Eggers, Adam Gopnik, Emily Bazelon and Dahlia Lithwick among other journalists, novelists, ethicists, essayists and podiatrists.*

"Pardon Me" also airs on Connecticut Public Radio Saturdays at noon.

Not to be confused with a podcast of a similar name, Colin may do occasional kettlebell workouts, but they won’t be a big part of the show. And make sure you are not actually drinking from a fire hose, because that’s very dangerous.

*Only if Gordon Sondland develops specific foot ailments.

Does the Trump impeachment drama feel like drinking from a fire hose? If so, join host Colin McEnroe, public radio personality and columnist, for an energetic weekly round-up that brings you the latest developments and perspectives from guests like Dave Eggers, Adam Gopnik, Emily Bazelon and Dahlia Lithwick among other journalists, novelists, ethicists, essayists and podiatrists.*
"Pardon Me" also airs on Connecticut Public Radio Saturdays at noon.
Not to be confused with a podcast of a similar name, Colin may do occasional kettlebell workouts, but they won&rsquo;t be a big part of the show. And make sure you are not actually drinking from a fire hose, because that&rsquo;s very dangerous.
*Only if Gordon Sondland develops specific foot ailments.

Pardon Me – Another Damn Impeachment Show

Pardon Me (Another Damn Impeachment Show?)

John Bolton's Head On  A Pike

We had trouble mustering enthusiasm to wrap up our final episode of this second season of Pardon Me. Last week's roller coaster of a trial culminated in 43 senators choosing to acquit on a weak and deceptive defense -- despite a factual and painstaking accounting of how bad the breach was, how bad it might have been, and how Donald Trump incited it.

We talk to a former CIA analyst about how bad it could have been and a TV critic on the power of the visual. We also bring you factoids with Chion Wolf and Colin's closing essay.

GUESTS:
James Poniewozik - Chief television critic for The New York Times and the author of Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America
David Priess - A former intelligence officer at the CIA; his most recent book is How To Get Rid of a President: History's Guide to Removing Unpopular, Unable, or Unfit Chief Executives
Chion Wolf - The host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public Radio

Cat Pastor contributed to this show.

Pardon Me is a production of The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public Radio.

We had trouble mustering enthusiasm to wrap up our final episode of this second season of&nbsp;Pardon Me. Last week's roller coaster of a trial culminated in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/74725/in-their-own-words-the-43-republicans-explanations-of-their-votes-not-to-convict-trump-in-impeachment-trial/">43 senators</a>&nbsp;choosing to acquit on a weak and deceptive defense -- despite a factual and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/arts/television/impeachment-trial-capitol-riot-video.html">painstaking accounting</a>&nbsp;of how bad the breach was, how bad it might have been, and how Donald Trump incited it.
We talk to a former CIA analyst about how bad it could have been and a TV critic on the power of the visual. We also bring you factoids with Chion Wolf and Colin's closing essay.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>James Poniewozik&nbsp;- Chief television critic for&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;and the author of&nbsp;Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America</li>
<li>David Priess&nbsp;- A former intelligence officer at the CIA; his most recent book is&nbsp;How To Get Rid of a President: History's Guide to Removing Unpopular, Unable, or Unfit Chief Executives</li>
<li>Chion Wolf&nbsp;- The host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/audacious-chion-wolf">Audacious with Chion Wolf</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio</li>
</ul>
Cat Pastor contributed to this show.
<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/colin-mcenroe-pardon-me-podcast">Pardon Me</a>&nbsp;is a production of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/colin-mcenroe-show">The Colin McEnroe Show</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio.

Acquitted! Or: Dorothy, We're Not In Phillydelphia Anymore

Donald Trump's legal team delivered their defense of the former president Friday. They followed a tightly argued and visceral presentation delivered by House managers that, some say, has made it easy for Republican senators to convict Trump. They likely won't.

We wondered if our show, recorded in part on Thursday, would omit important events that occurred thereafter. Given that many Republican senators have already decided to acquit, why would the defense feel the need to address the 144 constitutional lawyers who debunked their First Amendment argument, the 150 constitutional lawyers who say the impeachment of Trump is constitutional, or the people of this country?

We knew the ending before it even began.

GUESTS:
Dahlia Lithwick - Writes about the courts and the law for Slate and hosts the podcast Amicus
Sascha Paruk - Lead oddsmaker and editor at Sports Betting Dime
Robyn Walsh - Assistant professor of the New Testament and early Christianity at the University of Miami and the author of The Origins of Early Christian Literature: Contextualizing the New Testament within Greco-Roman Literary Culture
Chion Wolf - The host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public Radio
Bill Yousman - Professor of media studies at Sacred Heart University

Cat Pastor contributed to this show.

Pardon Me is a production of The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public Radio.

Donald Trump's legal team delivered their defense of the former president Friday. They followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/balztake-impeachment-gop-trump/2021/02/11/7b910ee8-6cc0-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html">tightly argued</a>&nbsp;and visceral presentation delivered by House managers that,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/opinion/trump-impeachment-trial-republicans.html">some say</a>, has made it easy for Republican senators to convict Trump. They&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/politics/trump-impeachment-trial.html">likely won't</a>.
We wondered if our show, recorded in part on Thursday, would omit important events that occurred thereafter. Given that many Republican senators have already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/politics/trump-impeachment-trial.html">decided to acquit</a>, why would the defense feel the need to address the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/us/politics/trump-impeachment-defense.html">144 constitutional lawyers</a>&nbsp;who debunked their First Amendment argument, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000177-2646-de27-a5f7-3fe714ac0000">150 constitutional lawyers</a>&nbsp;who say the impeachment of Trump is constitutional, or the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-impeachment-removal-polls/">people of this country</a>?
We&nbsp;<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/02/impeachment-stakes-not-conviction-senate.html">knew the ending</a>&nbsp;before it even began.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Dahlia Lithwick&nbsp;- Writes about the courts and the law for&nbsp;Slate&nbsp;and hosts the podcast&nbsp;Amicus</li>
<li>Sascha Paruk&nbsp;- Lead oddsmaker and editor at&nbsp;Sports Betting Dime</li>
<li>Robyn Walsh&nbsp;- Assistant professor of the New Testament and early Christianity at the University of Miami and the author of&nbsp;The Origins of Early Christian Literature: Contextualizing the New Testament within Greco-Roman Literary Culture</li>
<li>Chion Wolf&nbsp;- The host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/audacious-chion-wolf">Audacious with Chion Wolf</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio</li>
<li>Bill Yousman&nbsp;- Professor of media studies at Sacred Heart University</li>
</ul>
Cat Pastor contributed to this show.
<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/colin-mcenroe-pardon-me-podcast">Pardon Me</a>&nbsp;is a production of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/colin-mcenroe-show">The Colin McEnroe Show</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio.

There Is No January Exception.

We took a chance that House Democrats were going to send the Article of Impeachment to the Senate this week. We were wrong. Instead, the House will transmit its Article of Impeachment charging former President Trump with "incitement of insurrection" to the Senate on Monday.

Why should the House wait any longer when more than a dozen Republican senators are trying to dismiss the impeachment trial before it begins, based on the disputed claim that it's unconstitutional to try an ex-president. And House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is already walking back his prior claim that Trump incited the riot at the Capitol.

We talk about proving "incitement" and the fashion legacy of Trump. We also bring you factoids with Chion Wolf and our first second-season AccuFrankie dispatch from reporter Frankie Graziano.

GUESTS:
Vanessa Friedman - Fashion director for The New York Times
Frankie Graziano - A reporter for Connecticut Public Radio
Catherine J. Ross - Professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and the author of a forthcoming book, Presidential Lies, The First Amendment, and Democracy
Chion Wolf - The host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public Radio

Cat Pastor contributed to this show.

Pardon Me is a production of The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public Radio.

We took a chance that House Democrats were going to send the Article of Impeachment to the Senate this week. We were wrong. Instead, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/22/us/joe-biden#the-house-will-transmit-its-impeachment-article-on-monday-triggering-trumps-trial">House will transmit</a>&nbsp;its Article of Impeachment charging former President Trump with "incitement of insurrection" to the Senate on Monday.
Why should the House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/21/pelosi-impeachment-articles-461085">wait any longer</a>&nbsp;when more than a dozen Republican senators are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/21/senate-republicans-uniting-impeachment-defense-461217">trying to dismiss</a>&nbsp;the impeachment trial before it begins, based on the disputed claim that it's unconstitutional to try an ex-president. And House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/01/21/kevin-mccarthy-donald-trump-capitol-riot-role-sot-vpx-nr.cnn">walking back</a>&nbsp;his prior claim that Trump incited the riot at the Capitol.
We talk about proving "incitement" and the fashion legacy of Trump. We also bring you factoids with Chion Wolf and our first second-season AccuFrankie dispatch from reporter Frankie Graziano.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Vanessa Friedman&nbsp;- Fashion director for&nbsp;The New York Times</li>
<li>Frankie Graziano&nbsp;- A reporter for Connecticut Public Radio</li>
<li>Catherine J. Ross&nbsp;- Professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and the author of a forthcoming book,&nbsp;Presidential Lies, The First Amendment, and Democracy</li>
<li>Chion Wolf&nbsp;- The host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/audacious-chion-wolf">Audacious with Chion Wolf</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio</li>
</ul>
Cat Pastor contributed to this show.
<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/colin-mcenroe-pardon-me-podcast">Pardon Me</a>&nbsp;is a production of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/programs/colin-mcenroe-show">The Colin McEnroe Show</a>&nbsp;on Connecticut Public Radio.

John Bolton's Head On A Pike

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Pardon Me (Another Damn Impeachment Show?)

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