On Politics A.M.: Ex-Ukraine Envoy Said She Felt ‘Threatened’ by Trump

2019年11月5日星期二

November 5, 2019

Good Tuesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.

Newly public transcripts revealed that the former United States ambassador to Ukraine told impeachment investigators last month that she felt "threatened" by President Trump after it emerged that he told the Ukrainian president she would "go through some things," adding that she is concerned to this day that she will face retaliation.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been drawn deeply into the Ukraine scandal, with a parade of his diplomats testifying. He is sticking by the president.
Instead of denying that the president's decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation of a political opponent was not a quid pro quo, Republicans are trying a different response to the impeachment inquiry: a quid pro quo isn't an impeachable offense.

The Justice Department is demanding identifying details about the senior Trump administration official who denounced the president in a New York Times Op-Ed last year under the byline Anonymous.

Despite low national approval ratings, Mr. Trump remains highly competitive in the battleground states likeliest to decide his re-election. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. ranks as the strongest Democrat in the swing states polled, but the findings are not great news for him, either.

A progressive organization is plunging itself into the presidential campaign, unveiling plans to spend $75 million on digital advertising to counter Mr. Trump's early spending advantage in key 2020 battleground states.

National polls have Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., firmly behind Mr. Biden across the country, and questions remain over Mr. Buttigieg's ability to create a diverse coalition. But in Iowa, he's on the rise. Will that help him anywhere else?
Mr. Trump's decision on Monday to begin the formal process of withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement prompted outrage from the Democratic presidential candidates, who may try to use the existential threat of climate change to motivate voters.

Suburbia is now the nation's political battleground. In Northern Virginia, that means the politics of development — and the epic traffic jams that can come with life in the suburbs.

Virginia's state legislature is up for grabs on Tuesday. The results of the will give the president his last multistate report card before 2020.

At a campaign rally in Kentucky on Monday, Mr. Trump urged supporters on the eve of the state's governor's race to reject "crazy" Democrats in an attempt to bolster Matt Bevin, the state's unpopular incumbent, who is locked in a close race.

Today's On Politics briefing was compiled by Isabella Grullón Paz in New York.

Is there anything you think we're missing? Anything you want to see more of? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.