January 1, Bolton Willing To Testify in Trump’s Impeachment Trial

President Clinton’s impeachment trial begins. 

Good Morning Middle Americans, 

You would be forgiven, at least by us, for getting cynical about John Bolton’s involvement in the impeach trial of President Trump.  On Monday, he released a statement saying he would be willing to testify in the Senate, if he were to be subpoenaed. But that’s a big if, considering Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has no desire to open up the process to other witnesses.  It would be pretty interesting if he did though. We might also see Joe Biden and Hunter Biden testify. Wouldn’t that be something? 

Also — we wouldn’t blame you either if you are feeling a little uneasy about what will happen next between the US and Iran. President Trump has hurled several threats, er… warnings at the Islamic Republic, which have been returned in kind.  I must admit it’s kind of odd to see so much shit talking going on twitter, in reference to what could be world war 3. 

Also, Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial has started, but he’s now seeking a delay after new rape charges were filed against him in Los Angeles. 

Read all about it!

– Fraser Dixon

John Bolton Ramps up Pressure on Senate Republicans

(Washington Post) – John Bolton complicated Senate Republicans’ impeachment strategy on Monday, declaring his willingness to testify and upping the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his party to summon the former national security adviser as a witness in President Donald Trump’s trial.

Bolton last fall rebuffed House impeachment investigators’ entreaties to testify about his concerns about Trump’s demands that Ukraine investigate his political rivals as the administration delayed military aid. Bolton’s surprise announcement changed the political calculus for McConnell’s no-witness strategy and appeared to increase the likelihood of additional testimony that could embarrass the president.

“Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study,” Bolton said. “I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify.”

Read more from the Washington Post here

Trump Awaits Iranian Retaliation as White House Security Tightens

(Politico) – It was supposed to be a month of shrugging off impeachment and starting to pivot toward the 2020 election.

Instead, White House aides and other Republicans are now spending the early part of January in suspense about a presidency-defining moment — for the U.S. relationship with Iran and its profound implications for America’s position in the Middle East.

Days after one of Iran’s top leaders was killed in a U.S. drone strike, President Donald Trump spent his first day back in Washington after two weeks in Mar-a-Lago in a business-as-usual posture — but with no public events. He held his usual weekly lunch with Vice President Mike Pence. He tweeted six times. He met with new foreign ambassadors. And then Trump went on Rush Limbaugh’s talk show to defend his decision to kill the Iranian general who he insisted should have been taken out years ago.

“Without Twitter I think we’d be lost. We wouldn’t be able to get the truth out,” he said, referring to his prolific messages about both Iran and impeachment.

College Students Panic About Registering for the Draft

(CBS News) – After a U.S. airstrike killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds military force, in Baghdad on Thursday, Iran vowed “crushing revenge” against all responsible. Now, with #NoWarinIran, #TrumpsWar and #WorldWarIII trending on Twitter, users are looking into the draft — particularly college students about how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could play into their potential future military service.

Hundreds of Twitter users posted messages and memes insinuating that the draft, or selective service, will be put into place within the next few months. They also suggested that college-age students would be prioritized for service.

Concerns over an active draft and FAFSA’s role in the service even shut down the Selective Service System’s website because of the sudden surge in traffic.

Learn more from CBS News here

Harvey Weinstein To Seek Delay In NYC Rape Trial After Being Charged With Sexual Assault In L.A.

(Deadline) – The second official day of Harvey Weinstein’s criminal trial for rape in New York City may be the last – at for a while, if the producer gets his way.

Following Weinstein being charged with four counts of sexual assault by the Los Angeles County District Attorney earlier today, lawyers for the much-accused producer are contemplating on asking for an adjournment in the Manhattan case on Tuesday morning, I’ve learned. However, the Donna Rotunno-led defense team also seemingly anticipate getting a fair amount of pushback to their request from Empire State Supreme Court Justice James Burke, as well as the office of Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance Jr. and chief prosecutor Deputy D.A Joan Illuzzi-Orbon.

Neither reps for Weinstein and his legal team nor the Manhattan D.A.’s office had any comment tonight on the potential adjournment request.

Read more about Weinstein’s rape trial click here