'Pres. Trump has realized the Framers' worst nightmare': Impeachment report | Plus, Joyce Vance is our guest editor this week

The House Judiciary Committee released its full report on the impeachment of President Donald Trump early Monday. [View in browser]( [Article II: Inside Impeachment Podcast - Listen to a new episode now]( [Image]( DECEMBER 16, 2019 Former U.S. attorney and MSNBC contributor Joyce Vance is guest editor for the MSNBC Daily this week. She is currently a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law. Scroll down for Joyce's take on the news of the day and her Most Important Reads. Joyce also answers a question from one of our readers. [Image] Today's headlines: - The [House Judiciary Committee released]( its [full report on the impeachment of President Donald Trump]( early Monday, ahead of consideration by the full House as early as Wednesday. The 658-page document is an explanation in four parts of the committee's process and justification for recommending two articles of impeachment against Trump, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. - Leading Democrats are [taking Republican senators to task]( for signaling how they'll vote in a Senate impeachment trial. For instance, at the Doha Forum on Saturday, [Sen.]([Lindsey Graham said]( "I have made up my mind... I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror, here." "We actually will be taking a second oath when we start the impeachment trial, should the House deliver the two articles of impeachment to us," Sen. Tammy {NAME} told Ali Velshi [on MSNBC](. "And that does pledge to do impartial justice. And so, to hear all these comments of folks who are suggesting that they won't, is horrifying to me." - President Donald Trump on Monday [attacked the commission]( responsible for facilitating presidential debates as being biased against him after it was reported that he was considering skipping the 2020 matchups. "As President, the debates are up to me, and there are many options, including doing them directly & avoiding the nasty politics of this very biased Commission," he tweeted. (The Commission on Presidential Debates is a nonprofit that produces the general election presidential and vice presidential debates.) IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: VIDEOS [Image]( [Giuliani saying he wanted Ukraine envoy out of the way is a 'confession': Butler]( Former federal corruption prosecutor Paul Butler reacts to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani admitting he needed to get U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch "out of the way." (11th Hour) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Rep. Slotkin met with boos and cheers over impeachment stance at town hall]( Democratic freshman Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who was one of the 31 Democrats who flipped Republican seats in 2018, announced she will vote yes on both articles of impeachment against President Trump. (Andrea Mitchell Reports) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( MORE VIDEOS - New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew expected to leave Democratic party over impeachment ([Morning Joe]() - Donald Trump's 'friend' stories get even more egregious ([All In]() - Isabel Bueso safe from deportation for two years for medical treatment ([The Last Word]() - Inspectors warn unsafe pork could make its way to consumers under Trump rule change ([NBC News Exclusive]() - The Hallmark Channel apologizes for pulling a same-sex ad by wedding planning company Zola ([Ali Velshi]() - Seven years to the day after a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School killed 26 people, a high school football team from the town won a state championship ([Morning Joe]() QUOTE OF THE DAY “Now women, I just want you to know— you are not perfect— but what I can say pretty indisputably is that you're better than us (men). I'm absolutely confident that for two years, if every nation on Earth was run by women, you would see a significant improvement across the board on just about everything... living standards and outcomes.” — Barack Obama, during a [private speech in Singapore]( JOYCE'S TAKE “New polls out yesterday show that [50% of Americans]( believe President Trump should be impeached and removed from office. As Trump’s popularity dips and more people believe he should be censured, if not removed, over his misconduct, the stakes get higher. From the Russia investigation onward, a major problem has been Trump’s proclivity to cheat in an election if he thinks he needs help to win. If he's not removed from office over the Ukrainian affair and his obstruction of the investigation into it, Republicans have cleared the runway for him to do it again in 2020. Anyone out there, if you’re listening….” JOYCE'S MOST IMPORTANT READS Links to stories I'm reading today: - The importance of being counted in the census ([NYTimes]() - This editorial from the [Houston Chronicle](, lamenting the death of bipartisan support for the Voting Rights Act - Voting Rights & a questionable fraud prosecution [(The Guardian]() - What options do the Democrats have in the Senate impeachment trial? ([Washington Post]() - And, if you haven’t already, Neal Katyal’s excellent book Impeach, is helpful for those among us who aren’t constitutional law scholars, but want to be conversant with what’s going on, along with Laurence Tribe & Joshua Metz’s book, To End A Presidency. YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED From Laurie B: What can I do to help stop this national nightmare? I've written email to my representative (Mike Gallagher) and my one Republican senator (Ron Johnson) but am certain they never actually see their negative correspondence. Joyce: This is such a good question. I talk to so many people who aren’t elected officials or who don’t live in NY or DC and who often wonder if their voices are heard at all. But each of us has a strong voice– it’s all about voting. Make sure you are registered to vote and help others to vote, especially if you’re in a state that is experiencing purges or has a restrictive ID Act. Educate yourself about the issues in your state, which can include problems like voter suppression, integrity of equipment and ballots, access to the polls and other barriers to voting. Figure out a way to get involved, whether that’s buddying up with friends to get to your polling place, helping transport others, acting as an observer in a polling place or some other kind of involvement in your elections. You can make sure you’re registered by [checking online]( (in most states) at and check your registration again 89 days before each election, whether it’s a primary or a general election, as you can’t be removed from the rolls or moved to inactive status after that cutoff date. Most importantly, make sure you get out and vote! Got a question for Joyce? Send it [here](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com&body=Questions for Joyce). WHAT TO WATCH TUESDAY The House Rules committee is set to meet at 11 a.m. ET to develop parameters for Wednesday's floor debate on the impeachment of President Trump. Their goal, Rules Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern told MSNBC, is to “protect the process and make sure it doesn't turn into a circus." At 10 a.m. ET, former Trump campaign official Rick Gates faces sentencing after he pleaded guilty in Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. His lawyers tell U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson that his extensive cooperation with federal prosecutors should result in a sentence of probation instead of jail time, and the government does not oppose that idea. Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas has a bail hearing at 12:15 p.m. ET. In non-impeachment news, the House is expected to vote Tuesday on an agreement to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. MSNBC will bring you live coverage. A programming note: Rachel Maddow will talk to former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, Tuesday. It will be Page's first TV interview since leaving the FBI. 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Please tell us what you think of the news and send us your questions. [Drop us an e-mail!](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily) Check out [our YouTube feature](, "The Day That Was," a review of MSNBC's primetime coverage. Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe here](. 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