'Worst thing he could do to Trump'? Bolton now willing to testify in Senate impeachment trial

It’s a reversal for former national security adviser John Bolton, who previously said he would only testify if he is subpoenaed and a judge ordered him to defy the White House. [View in browser]( [Image]( January 7, 2020 Recent headlines: - John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump,[said Monday he is willing to testify in the Senate impeachment trial]( if subpoenaed. In a statement posted Monday, Bolton wrote, "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify." The decision marks a significant, and potentially dramatic, development in the impeachment process that House Democrats set in motion just two weeks after Bolton left the White House on contentious terms with the president. It’s also a reversal for Bolton, who previously said he would only testify before Congress if he is subpoenaed and a judge ordered him to defy the White House by appearing. "Today, of all days, John Bolton decided to publicly announce... that he is ready, willing, and able to testify in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump," said [Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC](. "You can believe in coincidence... but John Bolton doesn't do coincidence," added O'Donnell, [calling the move]( "the worst thing he could to Trump." "If nothing else, Bolton's move will flush out which senators want to do fact finding...if you don't want to hear from him, then apparently you don't want to hear from some of the most noteworthy, reliable, insider witnesses you can find," said [Ari Melber.]( - President Donald Trump dug in Sunday night on his threat to [attack Iranian cultural sites]( if Tehran retaliates for the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Speaking aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington on Sunday from a holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said: "They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites. It doesn’t work that way." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House will vote soon on a [war powers resolution]( to limit President Trump's military action. She said the House resolution is similar to one introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. "It reasserts Congress’s long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration’s military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days," she said. - The body of top Iranian military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani reached his hometown for burial on Tuesday and was greeted by a tide of mourners. In Baghdad, the Iraqi parliament voted to ask its government [to end the U.S. military presence]( in the country, and Iraq's prime minister has scheduled a meeting with the U.S. ambassador to discuss the U.S. role in Iraq, according to two officials familiar with the planning. The officials say Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is expected to tell Ambassador Matthew Tueller that U.S. troops will have to leave the country, and is expected to ask for a timeline. - Harvey Weinstein, the former film mogul whose alleged pattern of sexual abuse fueled the #MeToo movement, was [charged in Los Angeles on Monday]( with sexually assaulting two women, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney. The charges come on the eve of jury selection in a criminal trial against Weinstein in New York, where he has been charged with felony sexual assault. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: VIDEOS [Image]( [John Bolton willing to testify in the impeachment trial if subpoenaed]( Former National Security Advisor John Bolton said in a letter today that he will testify in a Senate impeachment trial if he is issued a subpoena. (Deadline: White House) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Warren: Trump inability to get story straight on Iran shows his real motives]( Senator Elizabeth Warren, 2020 Democratic candidate for president, talks with Rachel Maddow about why she thinks Donald Trump's actions on Iran were really about Trump's personal political situation. (Rachel Maddow) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Devastating wildfires continue to ravage Australia]( At least 25 people are dead, 2000 homes destroyed, and thousands of animals have perished in the massive wildfires that continue to ravage Australia. (11th Hour) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( MORE VIDEOS - Day 1,082: Chaos and confusion from the Pentagon as Trump goes off on Iran ([11th Hour]() - Iraq withdrawal letter screw-up shows Pentagon tainted by Trump ([Rachel Maddow]() - Rep. Khanna: Article of impeachment 'on the table' after Iran strike ([Hallie Jackson]() - Buttigieg says Soleimani a bad actor but questions his killing ([Morning Joe]() - Susan Rice: Never presented extreme options to Obama like Trump’s team ([The Last Word]() - Internal document suggests Pence role in Trump Ukraine scandal ([Rachel Maddow]() - Julián Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren ([Stephanie Ruhle]() - Amy Klobuchar says Trump’s problems with Iran ‘predictable’ since nuclear deal pullout ([Hardball]() - Actress Michelle Williams defends a woman’s right to choose, encourages women to vote in Golden Globe speech ([Video]() QUOTE OF THE DAY [“This is all an absolute moral abomination... This barbaric vileness from the president has real, tangible effects on what happens next to us and to others.”]( —Chris Hayes examines President Trump's "pro-war crimes agenda" ([Video]() MORE STORIES [Iranian Americans say they were questioned and held by immigration officials]( Mona Zabihian, an Iranian American, attempted to return to Washington state from Canada late Saturday after attending a concert — a trip she said she makes several times a year with no issues. This time was different, Zabihian said, as she and dozens of others were questioned and held for hours. Immigration authorities asked her about her social media accounts and the last time she had been to Iran. Zabihian’s account comes as other Iranians, Iranian Americans and advocates claimed they were held and questioned by immigration authorities amid tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the high-profile killing of Gen. Soleimani last week. [Australia begins damage assessment amid temporary respite from fires]( Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended his leadership and his government's record on climate change Sunday as milder temperatures brought hope of a respite from wildfires that have ravaged three states, claiming 24 lives and destroying almost 2,000 homes. WHAT TO WATCH On Tuesday, the House of Representatives convenes for the 116th Congress second session, as the stalemate over the senate impeachment trial continues. Jury selection in the Harvey Weinstein trial begins in New York City at 9:30 a.m.ET. We'll bring you the latest on those stories, and the latest developments on the Iran tensions. This edition of the newsletter was prepared for you by Sam Go. Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe here](. We love to hear from you. [Send us an e-mail.](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily) [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily) [A new episode! 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