{"articles":[{"id":40254,"title":"The DC: Protesters leave U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and... ❌ Should McConnell recuse himself from the Senate impeachment trial?","html_content":"

by Causes | 1.2.20

Welcome to Thursday, January 2nd, new and old years...

Protesters have left the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Supporters of an Iranian-backed militia withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, following two days of clashes with America security forces.

The groups were protesting U.S. airstrikes in Syria and Iraq against the Kataib Hezbollah militia that killed 25 fighters.

“Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief,” said Maj. Charlie Dietz, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Baghdad. “A situation that could have easily escalated out of control was handled with tactical restraint, and everyone was able to walk away.”

Earlier, the political spokesman of Kataib Hezbollah addressed protestors at the embassy, saying, \"We will take our fight to expel U.S. troops from our land to parliament and if we don’t succeed, we will return.\"

How do you feel about U.S. operations in Iraq?

On the Radar

Should McConnell Recuse Himself from the Senate Impeachment Trial?

Democratic lawmakers are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to recuse himself from the Senate impeachment trial.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) have said McConnell should recuse himself from overseeing the trial following comments by the GOP leader that he’s “not an impartial juror,” considers the upcoming trial a “political process,” and plans to coordinate with the White House.

\"No court in the country would allow a member of the jury to also serve as the accused’s defense attorney. The moment Senator McConnell takes the oath of impartiality required by the Constitution, he will be in violation of that oath,\" Demings said in a statement.

House Judiciary Committee member Mike Johnson (R-LA) said calls for McConnell’s recusal are “absurd.”

\"Everybody in the country now has seen the record. They've seen the facts and they've seen what supposedly is backing up these articles of impeachment—and there's nothing there,\" Johnson told host Brian Kilmeade on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Should McConnell recuse himself from the Senate impeachment trial?

Under the Radar

Looking Back at 2019 in Congress

The first session of the 116th Congress is in the books, and lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week when the second session begins in 2020.

We take a look back at the year that was here, which includes:

ACCOMPLISHED / IN PROGRESS

USMCA: The House approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to replace NAFTA on a bipartisan vote of 385-41. It will be up for approval in the Senate in the new year, with the timing dependent on the House’s decision to appoint managers for the impeachment trial.

BLOCKED / FAILED

House Dems’ Partisan Bills: Bills passed by House Democrats along party-lines to reform campaign finance, government ethics, and voter protection laws; restore net neutrality protections; ban low-premium “junk” health plans; reverse Trump’s administrative actions on Obamacare; make gender identity & sexual orientation “protected classes” under federal law; remain in the Paris Climate Agreement; and gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024 are unlikely to receive consideration in the GOP-controlled Senate.

How do you feel about Congress' 2019?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Replace NAFTA?

(Follow Martha's comment here.)

(Follow Cheryl's comment here.)

Also Worth a Click

Trump Says He’ll Sign 'Phase One' Trade Deal With China at White House on Jan. 15

And, in the End…

On this date in 1892, Ellis Island opened as America's first federal immigration center.

The first person to pass through: 15-year-old Annie Moore, who arrived from Ireland.

A soft shout-out for World Introvert Day,

—Josh Herman

Talk to us via email at contact [at] countable.us. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Countable.

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Won’t listen to slogans, chanted mantras or generally any kind of marketing spin or “rebranding” crap. I firmly believe that everyone else is entitled to their erroneous opinions. Citizen vigilance and due diligence is price we must pay to live in a thriving, functional democracy.\nI fear that our citizens are too easily swayed by politician’s pablum about “babies”, “jobs” and now, in particular, perceived “enemies”. I fear that a citizenry focused on the “here-and-now” is easily tricked by short term benefits that have negative long-term consequences. I fear that our legislators are more concerned about buffing their constituents than looking out for the long-term welfare of our country- and are way too eager to provide those short-term benefits to the “here-and-now” crowd.\nI fear that honor is generally being sacrificed/replaced by expediency. I hear politicians eloquently argue for one side of an issue and later, when it’s to their benefit, just as eloquently argue for the opposite side. OK, so they are good at arguing- but what is that they actually believe? What is it that they actually stand for? An honorable person has values that persist even when it is not convenient or expedient. An honorable person has a moral compass that stops them from doing something wrong even if it is not illegal. A foul is a foul- even if the referee doesn’t catch you.\nI fear that each of our federal governmental branches have devised or discovered shortcuts which tend to protect them from the checks and balances our founders intended.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"jimk","issue_count":4,"is_following":null,"influence_score":48180,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":1632,"following_count":88,"position_count":563,"id":"9odrQBnb","partner_id":null}],"article_comment":{"flagged":false,"id":1150712,"body":"Yes mosow mitch should leave the senate all together. He only serves himself and his wife’s family. He does not serve the American people. Get rid of moscow mitch","parent_type":"Article","parent_id":40254,"created_at":"2020-01-02T16:08:14.861Z","liked":false,"like_count":5,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/comments/1150712","likers":"https://www.causes.com/api/v1/likers?likeable_id=1150712&likeable_type=Comment"},"article_id":40254,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/comments/1150712.png","note":{},"note_text":false,"note_color":false,"user_id":"zm8Qj2X9","liker_ids":["e9XBdlXZ","w9DrJrRZ","emQLrxEZ","ZBexoxrX","9odrQBnb"]}}

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