Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office of the White House on December 19, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Our Take
Well, it’s happened: The House of Representatives voted to impeach 45. On the night of December 18, Donald Trump was officially charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress; but, as we learned in 1998, impeachment doesn’t necessarily mean removal from office. Indeed, as the House vote took place, Trump threw himself a rally in Michigan, where he ranted about toilets; this morning, he was back in the White House tweeting with the confused outrage of a person who has never been held to account for anything at all, much less to the congressional checks and balances that preserve a democracy. In other words, everything has changed and yet nothing has changed at all.
Impeachment proceedings are rare and complicated. What do they actually mean? What happens after they’ve occurred? Will an official vote to impeach stop Trump from continuing to encourage foreign powers to meddle in American elections, curb the inaction of policies that harm the most marginalized among us, or slow his efforts to pack the courts? Many of these questions don’t have clear answers, but history tells us that impeachment—defined as a congressional power that allows presidents and other federal officials to be removed from office if there’s evidence that they have committed “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”—is a permanent blemish on a president’s record.
Though three previous presidents have faced impeachment, two of them—Bill Clinton (1998) and Andrew Johnson (1868)—were acquitted by the Senate; the other, Richard Nixon (1974), resigned after the House passed articles of impeachment but before a trial in the Senate. That leaves us with Trump, a man whose presidency has been defined by lies, amorality, and a complete disinterest in actual governance. Trump won’t be shamed into resigning. He won’t be shamed into apologizing. And he won’t be shamed into admitting that he’s guilty of the charges the House has impeached him for. So rather than speculating about what’s transpired and what comes next, we’ve compiled this roundup of media coverage, along with some action steps you can take to persuade Congress to do its job on behalf of the people it represents and hold this president accountable.
MEDIA ROUNDUP
- For those who have no idea how impeachments work, this step-by-step guide is a great primer. [New York Times]
- In September, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the House of Representatives would initiate a formal impeachment inquiry against Trump. [Washington Post]
- A little more than six weeks later, Pelosi kicked off the impeachment debate, which occurs before an official vote can take place: “He gave us no choice.” [Vox]
- Though Pelosi’s December 18 speech was succinct, her wardrobe—including a shining brooch—made a statement that was impossible to overlook. [New York Times]
- Ultimately, the House voted 230–197, mostly along party lines, to charge Trump with abuse of power, and 229–198 to charge him with obstruction of Congress. [CNN]
- Representative and 2020 presidential nominee Tulsi Gabbard was the only Democrat who voted “present” during the impeachment vote (a.k.a. did not vote for or against). Is anyone really surprised by this? [USA Today]
- Only two Democrats voted against impeaching Trump: Representative Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. [BuzzFeed News]
- By the way, Van Drew is leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican. Again, is anyone really surprised by this? [Politico]
- Here’s a breakdown of the House vote that explains what’s next in the impeachment process. [Time]
- Pelosi says she won’t send impeachment articles to the Senate just yet, opting to hold them until the Senate provides clear parameters for its trial. [CNN, Slate]
- Trump told supporters he’s “not worried” and raised a cool $5 million for his re-election campaign on impeachment day. Other candidates on both sides of the aisle are raking in cash, too. [Daily Beast, Yahoo!]
WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
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Don’t get burnt out. Actively work to figure out the best way for you to process this information, whether that means watching the coverage live, reading live updates, or turning to visual breakdowns. [YouTube, New York Times, CNN]
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There is a lot of confusion over what exactly the impeachment process entails; help educate those around you. If you find yourself spending time during the holidays (we’re saying “Merry Impeachmas” again!) with family or friends who are either struggling to parse clickbait Facebook headlines and memes or perpetuating these lies themselves, start that conversation. [CNN]
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Find your senator and then call them at (202) 224-3121. Ask how they plan to proceed with the impeachment trial. Demand their support for a fair trial, or voice your thanks, depending on their stance. [United States Senate]
- If you’re eligible to vote in the United States, check to see if you’re still registered; if you’re not—or you’ve been purged from your state’s voter rolls—register to vote. Vote in your upcoming primary elections, and vote in the presidential election in November 2020. [Vote; Washington Post]
- If you’re not able to vote, fill out the 2020 census in April 2020 so that your district is properly represented. Encourage everyone you know to vote and fill out the Census. [2020 Census]
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If, after all this you’re still raging, consider donating to Bitch Media today or joining The Rage, a community of folks reclaiming their anger and supporting independent feminist media. [Bitch Media]
