POLITICO Playbook: The real reason most Republicans opposed impeachment

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DRIVING THE DAY

Howdy from Nashville, y’all! I’m BEN SHAPIRO, and I host the conservative podcast and radio show “The Ben Shapiro Show”; I’m also editor emeritus of the Daily Wire, husband to a medical doctor, and father to three children who run me more ragged than the news cycle.

Or at least they used to, before all time was condensed into a political gravitational singularity, where one day is several years long.

So, let’s get to it.

The big news of the day, of course, is the House’s impeachment of President DONALD J. TRUMP for the second time in just over a year. It was a foregone conclusion that the Democratic House would do so — the only question was how many Republicans would vote along with Democrats to impeach Trump over his behavior leading up to and surrounding the Capitol riot.

In the end, 10 did — ranging from Rep. LIZ CHENEY (R-Wyo.), the third-ranking Republican in the House, who called openly and clearly for impeachment; to Rep. FRED UPTON (R-Mich.), who said he’d prefer censure but that he’d settle for impeachment.

The spotlight immediately moved to Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL, who now says that he hasn’t made up his mind on impeachment. It seems he’ll leave Republicans to their own devices on the Senate vote when it takes place.

Many in the media seem bewildered that House Republicans didn’t unanimously join Democrats in supporting impeachment (looking at you, Playbook readers in the media) — after all, Republicans were in the building when rioters broke through, seeking to do them grievous physical harm. My Republican sources tell me that opposition to impeachment doesn’t spring from generalized sanguinity over Trump’s behavior: I’ve been receiving calls and texts for more than a week from elected Republicans heartsick over what they saw in the Capitol.

Opposition to impeachment comes from a deep and abiding conservative belief that members of the opposing political tribe want their destruction, not simply to punish Trump for his behavior. Republicans believe that Democrats and the overwhelmingly liberal media see impeachment as an attempt to cudgel them collectively by lumping them in with the Capitol rioters thanks to their support for Trump.

The evidence for that position isn’t difficult to find.

Sen. RON WYDEN (D-Ore.) suggested this week at NBCNews.com that the only way to prevent a repeat of the Capitol riot was endorsement of a full slate of Democratic agenda items. Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-N.Y.) suggested that “Southern states are not red states, they are suppressed states, which means the only way that our country is going to heal is through the actual liberation of Southern states …” And PAUL KRUGMAN of The New York Times placed blame for the Capitol riots on the entire Republican Party infrastructure: “This Putsch Was Decades In The Making.”

Unity looks a lot like “sign onto our agenda, or be lumped in with the Capitol rioters.”

Conservatives see the game. It doesn’t matter whether you held your nose when voting for Trump; it doesn’t matter if you denounced his prevarications about a “stolen election” (for the record, I was met with great ire when I declared the night of the election that Trump’s declaration of victory was “deeply irresponsible”).

If you supported Trump in any way, you were at least partially culpable, the argument goes. It’s not just Trump who deserves vitriol — it’s all 74 million people who voted for him.

And that claim, many conservatives believe, will serve as the basis for repression everywhere from social media to employment. Evidence to support that suspicion wasn’t in short supply this week:

— Parler, the social media competitor to Twitter, was taken off the internet entirely by Amazon Web Services. AWS pointed to violent and threatening posts appearing on Parler as the rationale for the takedown. But as the single journalist most targeted by anti-Semitism on Twitter in 2016, as assessed by the ADL (I’ve got the medal on my shelf), I can fairly attest that Twitter is no wonderland. And according to The Washington Post, new evidence suggests that Facebook was used by Capitol rioters to coordinate, too. Will tech companies dump them, too?

To conservatives, the deplatforming of Parler looked far more like political retaliation than good housekeeping, especially after social media’s decision to downgrade the New York Post’s coverage of Hunter Biden in the month leading up to the election.

— GoDaddy kicked AR15.com, the biggest gun forum in the world, offline.

— Corporations ranging from AT&T to Marriott, from Dow to Airbnb, announced they would cut off all political giving to Republicans who had challenged electors. No such consequences ever attended Democrats who winked and nodded — and sometimes more — at civil unrest around the nation emerging from Black Lives Matter protests and antifa violence over the summer.

Furthermore, many conservatives doubt that Democrats are applying any sort of neutral standard toward Trump in pursuing impeachment.

— Is the standard refusal to accept election results? STACEY ABRAMS never accepted her election loss (she still claims she was the victim of voter suppression); Rep. JAMIE RASKIN (D-Md.) has been appointed one of the Democrats’ impeachment managers by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but challenged Florida’s electors in 2016.

— Is the standard “incitement”? Few serious lawyers believe that Trump’s activities would amount to prosecutable incitement; the real impeachment charge against Trump is extraordinarily reckless and inflammatory rhetoric and behavior. But that sort of rhetoric is, unfortunately, commonplace in today’s day and age, and sometimes even ends with violence (see, e.g., a Bernie Sanders supporter shooting up a congressional softball game).

Those on the political left see such questions as “whataboutism.” And yes, none of these politicians are the sitting president of the United States and head of the executive branch looking to pressure the legislature to violate the law and overturn a lawful election.

But it’s just as plausible to see such questions as demands for neutral political standards to hold everyone accountable. Without such standards, conservatives fear, any political flashpoint will be used as a cudgel to cram down social, cultural or even governmental repression.

Republicans may divide over impeachment — there are good prudential arguments against, and good principled arguments in favor. But one thing is certain: If anyone expects Americans to come together once the Trump era is over, that’s a pipe dream.

Our social fabric is torn. It was torn before Trump. And, as it turns out, the incentive structure of modern politics and media cuts directly against stitching it together again.

BEN'S PLAYBOOK READS

It’s not over yet: The FBI is warning that further violence may be on the way this weekend, and leading up to Biden’s inauguration, CNN reports.

J. Michael Luttig writes in WaPo on whether impeachment can be brought after Trump leaves office.

Bari Weiss on what she calls “The Great Unraveling.”

David Siders and Carla Marinucci on the travails of the state I just left, California.

The NYT on the Republican nightmare of Bernie Sanders chairing the Budget Committee.

Back to the Playbook crew…

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE 10 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED YES, via Ally Mutnick and David Siders.

MCCONNELL PUMPS THE BRAKES — “McConnell rebuffs Democrats’ call for speedy impeachment trial, but is undecided on convicting Trump,” CNN: “The majority leader also sent a note to Republican senators telling them the chamber won’t return until January 19, according to a person who has seen it, meaning an impeachment trial won’t begin until the early days of Joe Biden’s presidency. …

“In the note to his Republican colleagues Wednesday afternoon on impeachment, he wrote that ‘while the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate.’ But McConnell is furious, sources say, over Trump’s incitement of the violent riots that turned deadly at the US Capitol last week, and he also blames Trump for the party’s failure to hold the two Georgia Senate seats.”

HOW TRUMP SPENT HIS WEDNESDAY, via Bloomberg’s @JenniferJJacobs: “Amid impeachment effort, Trump is giving medals to @tobykeith and @RickySkaggs — national medal of the arts, several sources tell me.”

— “Trump is isolated and angry at aides for failing to defend him as he is impeached again,” WaPo: “Trump has instructed aides not to pay Giuliani’s legal fees, two officials said, and has demanded that he personally approve any reimbursements for the expenses Giuliani incurred while traveling on the president’s behalf to challenge election results in key states. They said Trump has privately expressed concern with some of Giuliani’s moves and did not appreciate a demand from Giuliani for $20,000 a day in fees for his work attempting to overturn the election.

“As he watched impeachment quickly gain steam, Trump was upset generally that virtually nobody is defending him — including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, economic adviser Larry Kudlow, national security adviser Robert C. O’Brien and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows … The White House released a video Wednesday evening featuring Trump seated behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office pleading with supporters not to engage in further violence. ‘Violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country and no place in our movement,’ he said.”

— “Movers seen at White House week ahead of Biden arrival,” N.Y. Post

PELOSI CRACKS DOWN — @kyledcheney: “Pelosi unveils plan to fine members who evade metal detectors outside House chamber. $5,000 for a first offense. $10,000 for a second.” With Pelosi’s statement

THE COMING THREAT — “National Guardsmen briefed on IED threat to Capitol,” by Natasha Bertrand and Lara Seligman: “National Guard units are being told to prepare for the possibility that improvised explosive devices will be used by individuals plotting to attack the Capitol in the days surrounding the Inauguration, according to two Guardsmen briefed this week.

“The briefings indicate that Washington, D.C.-area law enforcement believe the IEDs planted last week at the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters were not an isolated incident. The individual who planted those bombs has yet to be apprehended, and FBI agents have been going door to door in D.C. this week asking residents for any photos or video they might have that could help identify the suspect.”

— “Biden no longer taking Amtrak to inauguration amid security concerns,” CNN: “A decision was made this week for Biden not to take the 90-minute ride from his namesake station in Wilmington, Delaware, officials said, with at least some of the concerns hinging on his arrival at Union Station in Washington.”

LITERAL FAILURE — “FBI Washington field office got an F for fighting domestic terrorism from bureau officials,” NBC: “FBI inspectors who evaluated the domestic terrorism program in the bureau’s Washington field office two years ago gave it a ‘failing grade,’ meaning it was considered both ineffective and inefficient.”

KNOWING THE INSURRECTIONISTS — “QAnon believer who plotted to kill Nancy Pelosi came to D.C. ready for war,” by Nolan McCaskill: “The day after a Colorado man driving a truck loaded with weapons made it to Washington, D.C., last week, he texted a frightening forecast of what could come with President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

“‘I predict that within the next 12 days, many in our country will die,’ wrote Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr., who had threatened to kill Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), according to federal court records.”

— “Two Cops, Including a Trained Sniper, Arrested for Taking Part in Capitol Insurrection,” The Daily Beast … “Houston police officer ‘penetrated’ Capitol, HPD Chief Art Acevedo says,” KPRC

— “A Reservation for Insurrection: Paul thought his Airbnb guests were tourists, until he heard: ‘We stormed the Capitol,’” New York magazine

THE BIG TECH CRACKDOWN — “Snapchat permanently bans Trump,” by Matthew Choi

WHAT FACEBOOK SAYS — “Facebook’s Sandberg deflects blame for Capitol riot even as new evidence shows it played a pivotal role,” WaPo

… AND WHAT IT DOES: “Facebook Has Been Showing Military Gear Ads Next To Insurrection Posts,” BuzzFeed: “In the aftermath of an attempted insurrection by President Donald Trump’s supporters last week at the US Capitol building, Facebook has served up ads for defense products to accounts that follow extremist content, according to the Tech Transparency Project, a nonprofit watchdog group.

“Those ads — which include New Year’s specials for specialized body armor plates, rifle enhancements, and shooting targets — were all delivered to a TTP Facebook account used to monitor right-wing content that could incite violence. … These ads for tactical gear, which were flagged internally by employees as potentially problematic, show Facebook has been profiting from content that amplifies political and cultural discord in the US.”

BIG FOR THE GOP — “Koch network pledges to ‘weigh heavy’ lawmakers’ actions in riots,” by Maggie Severns: “In a statement to POLITICO, the Koch network said it will take last week’s events seriously when deciding where to put its millions of dollars in spending next election cycle.”

FOUL BALL — “MLB suspends political donations after D.C. riot,” AP

JOHN HARRIS COLUMN: “Donald Trump Is The Perfect Leader of the Worst Generation”: “Here is the uncomfortable truth, highlighted by yet another impeachment: These are good things, if the goal is to ensure that supporters and enemies alike are obsessing about you in the final hours of a defeated presidency, and even after that presidency ends, while a successor is wanly trying to command attention for a new one.

“And they are good things if the goal is to be the emblematic figure of a generation guided by the ethos that the point of politics is not to illuminate and resolve big arguments — it is instead to continue the arguments endlessly, no matter the circumstances.”

WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO … Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) on Twitter: “On January 21, 2021, I’ll be filing Articles of Impeachment against Joe Biden for abuse of power.”

BOOBY TRAPS FOR BIDEN — “Trump’s EPA team overrules career scientists on toxic chemical,” by Annie Snider: “Political officials at EPA have overruled the agency’s career scientists to weaken a major health assessment for a toxic chemical contaminating the drinking water of an estimated 860,000 Americans, according to four sources with knowledge of the changes.

“The changes to the safety assessment for the chemical PFBS, part of a class of ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS, is the latest example of the Trump administration’s tailoring of science to align with its political agenda, and another in a series of eleventh-hour steps the administration has taken to hamstring President-elect Joe Biden’s ability to support aggressive environmental regulations.”

— “Forgiving Student Debt by Executive Action Is Illegal, Trump Lawyers Say,” WSJ

DETAILS OF BIDEN STIMULUS PLAN — “Biden expected to include new child benefit in major new stimulus proposal,” WaPo: “President-elect Joe Biden is expected to include a significant new benefit for children in poor and middle class households in the coronavirus relief package he will release this week, according to three people granted anonymity to share details of internal deliberations.

“Biden officials are likely to include the expansion of an existing tax credit for children as part of a relief package that will also include $2,000 stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, and other assistance for the ailing economy — as well as money to fight the pandemic and increase vaccine distribution. Biden is expected to formally unveil his proposal on Thursday.”

CORONAVIRUS RAGING … The U.S. reported 4,022 deaths from Covid-19 and 219,000 new cases of the coronavirus Wednesday.

— “Biden’s Covid board in the dark on final vaccine plan,” by Tyler Pager and Adam Cancryn in Wilmington: “[M]ost of the Covid advisory board, which Biden formed within days of the election as part of an effort to demonstrate that ending the pandemic would be his top priority, will not be briefed on the plan until [this] afternoon. … The decision to keep the plan’s final details closely held came as a surprise to much of the advisory board.’

MEDIAWATCH — “MAGA-land’s Favorite Newspaper: How The Epoch Times became a pro-Trump propaganda machine in an age of plague and insurrection,” The Atlantic

— The WSJ announced its White House team: Alex Leary, Gordon Lubold, Catherine Lucey, Tarini Parti, Andrew Restuccia, Sabrina Siddiqui and Ken Thomas.

TRUMP’S THURSDAY — Trump has nothing on his public schedule. Pence will participate in a briefing on inauguration security at 4 p.m. at FEMA headquarters.

— Biden and Harris will meet with transition advisers. Harris will take part in a virtual finance event for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Biden will deliver remarks to address the pandemic, the economic crisis and his plans for vaccination and economic stimulus at 7:15 p.m. in Wilmington, where he’ll introduce key economics and jobs nominees. Harris will also attend.

PLAYBOOKERS

Send tips to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at [email protected].

IN MEMORIAM — “Bryan Monroe, longtime journalist and former CNNPolitics.com editor, dies at 55,” CNN: “Bryan Monroe, a journalism professor and former CNNPolitics.com editor who once headed the National Association of Black Journalists and helped guide the Biloxi Sun Herald to a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of Hurricane Katrina, has died. He was 55. Monroe died Wednesday morning of a heart attack at his home in Bethesda, Maryland …

“In a long journalism career that included stints as vice president and editorial director at Ebony and Jet magazine and assistant vice president of news at Knight Ridder Newspapers, Monroe conducted the first post-election interview with former President Barack Obama. … Monroe had the last major interview with pop legend Michael Jackson two years before the latter’s death in 2009.”

— “Ray Brady, Longtime Business Correspondent for CBS News, Dies at 94,” Variety: “Brady spent 28 years with CBS News, starting in 1972 when he joined CBS Radio. He retired in 2000 after 23 years as a correspondent for ‘CBS Evening News.’”

SPOTTED: Reince Priebus leaving the Treasury Department on Wednesday.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — America Rising PAC is announcing its new leadership team: Cassie Smedile as executive director, Chris Martin as deputy executive director, Joe Gierut as comms director and Whitney Robertson as deputy press secretary. Smedile is joining from the RNC, and Robertson from the Trump campaign.

TRANSITION — Justin Myers will be executive director of Blue Leadership Collaborative. He most recently was CEO of For Our Future and For Our Future Action Fund.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Blain Rethmeier, a Bush alum who was most recently VP of public affairs at Hims and Hers, and Zack Roday, former director of comms for House Energy and Commerce and a Paul Ryan alum, have joined public affairs firm 76 Group, which has rebranded from EIS Solutions.

BIRTHWEEK (was Wednesday): Julia Louis-Dreyfus turned 6-0

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Nina Totenberg, NPR legal affairs correspondent. How she got her start in journalism: “It was really hard, because it was in an era where people either blanket told you, ‘we don’t hire women,’ or ‘we don’t hire women for the night desk.’ So getting my first job on the women’s page for the old Record American in Boston was very hard, and I just worked an extra shift to do real work. Because in those days it wasn’t a style section, it was a women’s page. That meant fashion — not fashion the way it’s covered in the Washington Post — boring fashion, press release fashion rewritten, or recipes.” Playbook Q&A

BIRTHDAYS: Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is 59 … Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) is 52 … Susan Glasser, New Yorker staff writer, CNN global affairs analyst and POLITICO alum … Bill Plante is 83 (h/ts Ben Chang) … Shepard Smith is 57 … League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski is 69 … Michael Reed, RNC deputy COS for comms … Eric Alterman is 61 … Colin Milligan, director of media relations at the American Hospital Association … Margaret Chadbourn … Michael Block … WaPo’s Jen Liberto and Molly Gannon … CAP’s Marcella Bombardieri … Mary Kusler … Sean Johnson of the Maryland State Education Association (h/t Brian Dunn) … Andy Gussert … Mary Jane Cobb … Joan Prince (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) … Amanda Callanan, VP of comms at the Claremont Institute …

… Maureen Dowd … Kevin Manning, a director at the Herald Group, is 31 … Toby Harnden is 55 … Alexandra Shapiro … Jack Torry … Frank Raines is 72 … Karl Beckstein … Teddy Eynon … Andrea Seabrook, managing editor at Countable … Michael Tuchin is 56 ... Ben Koltun, senior research analyst at Beacon Policy Advisors ... Christina Daigneault … William Johnson … former North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue is 74 ... Francisco Martin-Rayo ... Duncan Currie … Sinead Casey ... Ellen Wulfhorst, chief correspondent for the Americas at the Thomson Reuters Foundation … John Ellsworth ... Regina Schofield ... Jeffrey Webb ... Marc Schloss … Megan Milligan … Brennan Moss … Doug Michelman, president of the Sprint 1Million Project Foundation … Erin Haber (h/ts Jon Haber) … Hugh Kaufman