How Trump's Impeachment Will Change Washington

The political world is already changing after Wednesday's vote. [Nancy Pelosi]( Alex Brandon/AP Spotlight: 4 Takeaways From Impeachment One week after a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol, threatened lawmakers and forced evacuations, members returned to the House floor. What followed was an emotional, and often angry, debate about recrimination for the president who many argued incited the riot that resulted in five dead. The House of Representatives [approved one article of impeachment]( Wednesday against President Trump for "incitement of insurrection," with [10 Republicans joining all Democrats]( in a 232-197 vote. The article now heads to the Senate, which is [not expected to reconvene until next week](. Throngs of [armed National Guard troops]( were positioned around the Capitol, and they lined the streets around buildings housing members' offices and the area where Joe Biden will be sworn in next Wednesday. There was a bipartisan standing ovation for members of the U.S. Capitol police, who undoubtedly saved members, aides and reporters from a far worse outcome. But Washington and the country are still reeling from the images of the attack. As [more details emerge]( about how it was orchestrated and the severity of the threats, the political fallout is sure to continue. Here are four ways the impeachment is already changing the political world: 1. President Trump makes history Trump has shattered norms since he rode the golden escalator down to his presidential campaign announcement in 2015. Now he has a distinction in the history books that no president wants — the first to be impeached twice. He also is the president who has had the most members of his own party vote for impeachment. 2. The cracks of the Republican Party are out in the open, growing larger in real time There are no signs the president's base is abandoning him, but the split among congressional Republicans about the future of the party is accelerating after the events of last week, and it's happening in real time. Now that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made it clear that no trial will take place until after Trump leaves office, the Senate vote is now about whether Trump will be able to run for office again. There is some legal debate about whether it is binding, but how Senate Republicans approach it will say a lot about their call on who should lead the party going forward. 3. President-elect Biden's agenda gets complicated Even before Wednesday's vote, Biden's allies openly worried about what starting the impeachment train moving would mean for the incoming president's ability to secure Senate confirmation for [his Cabinet nominees]( and press for top priorities like coronavirus relief. Now that reality is setting in, and the trial will likely commence shortly after Biden takes office. 4. The U.S. Capitol has been forever changed by Jan. 6 The images of [magnetometers stationed around the House chamber]( National Guard troops napping on marble floors coddling their weapons, and remnants of broken windows make it apparent that things have dramatically changed in the building. The symbol for democracy used to be a frequent tourist attraction pre-pandemic for school groups learning about the country's founders and history. Now, it has a new image of what can happen when political rhetoric ignites supporters to turn on their opponents. — Deirdre Walsh, NPR congressional editor [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Vote breakdown]( NPR The 10 Republicans Who Voted To Impeach The 10 House members who voted to impeach President Trump on Wednesday [don't cut a singular profile](. They come from a range of districts, from coast to coast, some representing places Trump won handily in 2020, while others are in more moderate seats. This vote could expose some of them to potential primary challenges from the right, as well as possible safety threats, but for all of them Trump had simply gone too far. Multiple House Republicans said threats toward them and their families were factors weighing on their decisions on whether to impeach this president. [Ten out of 211 Republicans]( in the House is hardly an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, and clearly, most Republicans' sympathies still lie with Trump — and his ardent base of followers. But the 10 represent something significant — the most members of a president's party to vote for his impeachment in U.S. history. [Read more]( — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! 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