c-span.org. just type, speaker pelosi in the video search box which you can at the top of the page. the house agenda, the next steps in impeachment, the u.s. mexico canada trade agreement being debated and state and local tax legislation. more discussion later today with kevin mccarthy, his weekly news conference set to start in about 15 minutes at 11:30 eastern liev here as well. coming up later, the house oversight subcommittee holds a meeting about climbed change. live here on c-span 3, also live, or listen with the radio app. in wood bridge, virginia, democratic caller. your reaction to the debate and

the vote. >> caller: first let me say after watching that clip from that rally, that just proves the immoral depravity of president trump and the people at that rally. but as far as the impeachment, i watched a lot of it. i heard so much republican showboating and repeating the same constant talking points that you hear every conservative radio host say. it comes down to republicans just don't care. they know that he is guilty. they just don't care about it. they have placed trump above the constitution, above the country. some of them view him as a king. some of them even view him as a messiah. and that's the problem. they will not listen to facts. they've been bred into believing that facts are fake news. and that's my comment. >> okay, robert.

myron in milwaukee wisconsin. independent. >> caller: thank you. i wanted to say i think first of all we need to not look at this so much as a partisan issue but rather protecting the greater good of american citizens and see this as a demonstration of the effect of powers of the checks and balances of our government to keep the american people safe. the act of impeach as zoey lofgren put it, not to punish but to protect the american people. and i think it's really important that republicans understand this. trump is not a traditional republican. his ideology is so extreme he cannot be labeled as a republican. let's not forget he threatened to sue the republican party over an issue about louisiana delegates. and it's very ironic that in june he criticized bill clinton for his impeachment in bad times but now look where he is. i mean, the biggest danger with

trump in this impeachment is that he's going to use it as a win, and i say that because i don't believe that it will pass through the senate and he'll be removed from office. so i think what's going to end up happening is he's going to use this as propaganda for another election, because it will be able to allow him to be portrayed as invincible seeing he wasn't effectively removed from office. and i think it's going to make him more extreme in the long run, come his second term, because he's already tested the waters, so to speak. this is an ostentatious psychopathic liar with criminal ties to the russian mobs. a man who praises kim jong-un, rodrigo dwart ai from the philippines, a man who is a threat to the common person. i highly suggest for c-span viewers to read a back, plaintiff in chief, by james b.

burren. i mean, there is just a mountain of evidence to corroborate these claims that trump is just not fit to be our president. he is clearly a danger and it's very scary that you have people who are utterly loyal to him, comparing him to jesus christ when jesus christ did not portray these traits. as a proud christian i take great offense when people make these claims. >> the caller mentioned the predicted acquittal in the senate, in the senate trial that is coming next for this impeachment process. it's going to take 67 senators, two-thirds of them to impeach him. democrats have 47 members. republicans have 53. we'll go to frank next in

delaware aba republican. >> caller: good morning. first thing i have to say is that guy from wisconsin is an idiot. and that also i watch news all day sometimes, day after day after day, i've been watching it like, watched the impeachment and everything. and it always takes me back to the 1800s that when people back then run into something like this, they were hung, because the people that were in charge back then, they drove a narrative that was wrong. and they hung people. and it still got the united states of america that when you run into something like this, you're in trouble. because no matter how right you are, they're going to twist it and make it wrong. and they want people to give up their guns? i don't think so. i wouldn't give up my guns knowing like somebody like this is in charge of the government. >> rene, indianapolis, democratic caller, what do you think? >> caller: well, thank you so much for taking my call.

i think that this is not a sham. i think that they've been talking about, the republicans have been shouting over and over and over again, this is not -- [ inaudible ] the fact of the matter is that he refused, the president, and he is going to let anybody come testify. he ignored all the subpoenas that requested information. he see with a willing nonparticipant. but then he come on cameras and said i've given them everything they asked for. that's not true. i've watched him. he has a point that he will go and say something and then do the opposite of what he says. they mentioned that the house hasn't passed the deals. the house has most certainly

passed hundreds of bills. mitch mcconnell hasn't brought them to the floor. he didn't do that with president obama and he's not doing it now. i just, when i look at things, for me, i'm afraid for this country. i'm afraid because not because president trump is the president. there's no -- with the democrats. there's only jobs. the job is the oversight. and he's even not given general information and given -- claims. >> okay. rene, heard your point. we'll get back to more phone calls in a little bit as we continue here throughout this hour up until 9:00 a.m. eastern time when the house will gavel in for again taking votes on that united states mexico canada trade deal, usmca, that has been negotiated between the speaker and the white house, and it will

get its vote today sent to the senate, and the president expected to sign that into law as well. before we get to more calls though, a little bit more from last night's yesterday's debate. this moment when texas republican louie go maurt demanded -- prompting house judiciary chair nadler to assert the request was russian propaganda. >> in 1998 senator schumer said, and i quote, this impeachment will be used as a routine tool to fight political battles. we thought it was a prediction. it was a promise. and now it's playing out. it's exactly what's being done here. and for those that say we don't address the defenses of fact, here you go. the impeachment serves two purposes. number one, stop the investigation by the u.s.

department of justice and ukraine into the corruption of ukraine interference into u.s. election in 2016. you said this was about, oh, this terrible russia collusion, oh then that fell through, it's about emoluments, it's about bribery, it's about extortion. it's changed. but one thing hasn't changed, and that is the intent to impeach this president. it's always been there. but let's be honest. the president turning his back on ukraine, that happened in 2009, because in 2008, ukraine invaded georgia. what happened? put bush put sanctions on russia to teach them a less on. what happened after that? hillary clinton was sent over to russia with a rae set button to say bush overreacted. we're okay that you invaded georgia. it was a green light to russia

to invade ukraine. what do you do? send blank oats and mras that you eat and be warm while the russians are killing them. that is what the obama administration did. this is a travesty. and we're in big trouble. because shooufchumer was right. now it's lowered even further, the bar. it will be used for political battles, and this country's end is now in sight. i hope i don't live to see it. this is an out rage. i yield back. >> gentleman from new york. >> speaker, i am deeply concerned that any member of the house would spout russian propaganda on the floor of the house. i now yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, mr. higgins. >> the gentleman from new york is recognized for -- the house will come to order. the gentleman from new york is recognized. >> thank you. >> call the propaganda --

>> the house will come to order. the house will come to order. the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. >> more from yesterday's debate. if you missed any of it, want to follow along, go to our website c-span.org. because on our video player, you'll see key moments from the debate including that one where you don't have to sit and watch the entire six hours. you can go to those key moments of -- and you can also find where your congressman spoke on the floor. again, if you go to our website, c-span.org, you can just listen to different parts of the debate. you don't have to listen to the whole thing. john mccartel what do you have? >> i want to follow up on one story we talked about on this program yesterday. very busy news couple of days here. so trying to follow up and stay on top of the stories as they develop. this was the story about acting ambassador to ukraine bill taylor stepping down from his

post. follow-up reporting today, bill taylor was instructed by a top aide to secretary of state mike pompeo to hand over his post just days before he planned to visit the ukraine capitol according to a person familiar with the situation. the timing countered earlier statements that his precise date was predetermined and would allow him to avoid meeting or being photographed with an ambassador who has drawn president trump's ire for his testimony, according to this person "the wall street journal" talked to as well as a ukrainian official. mr. taylor planning to leave on the 2nd. visit planning to take place from january 3rd through 4th. we'll keep on top of all of the aspects of this story for you. >> anna, hoyt, what did you think of the debate and the

votes? >> caller: yes, ma'am, i think that corporate america somebody in the white house. my grandmother was an enthusiastic member of the d.a.r., and i opted to serve this country in the army under an unqualified president. i'm starting to see a pattern here of illegitimate born policy. i don't think president trump is qualified to take the trash out in the white house. >> that was hoyt's thoughts. a viewer texting in, early from madison wisconsin saying the praeds are using impeachment as if there were a parliamentary vote of no confidence. sorry, that's not our system. joining us from capitol hill this morning is representative brenda lawrence, democratic of michigan, sits on the oversight and reform committee. congresswoman, there was a headline in the papers about

your position on impeachment. where it said that you had favored censure over impeachment. removing the president from office. what is your position? >> my position has been the same. the president's behavior, understand this is rnot a desir or wish of the democratic party, it is our responsibility to follow the constitution. i have been in favor of impeachment based on the president's behavior. i had made a statement that i think it would be totally a miss carrying of justice if the senate just absoflz the

president of this behavior. clearly they can see what he did was wrong, inviting a foreign government into investigating an american citizen where we have a cia and fbi, if the president felt that there was corruption, that was within his ring. but to invite a foreign government and withhold funds was an impeachable act. what i said is that the senate at minimum should consider censureship for what the president had done. but my position has never changed. >> what was it like on the house floor yesterday during debate? >> i can tell you my stomach was in knots. to listen to the rhetoric, to even compare the president to jesus and to other historic times in our history, and to just blat aptly say nothing happened, and to blatantly not use factual information like the republicans were excluded from

the process, when i sit on government oversight, and during the hearings with the intel committee, i was sitting in the room. and sitting in the room with republicans every step of the day. and to say that they did not have access to the information we did is totally incorrect. and to say that we didn't have certain information when the president of the united states instructed his administration not to appear before the committee, instructed them not to provide documents and information, come on. i mean, you -- it's a good debate is good. the american people need to hear this issue debated. but you have to have one set of facts. and throughout the day yesterday, it's as if we were talking about two different realities. >> why didn't the democrats include in the articles of

impeachment the underlying crime that the president committed? >> he obstructed congress. he didn't -- he denied -- i don't understand why that question keeps being asked, because we have outlined. that he obstructed congress from doing their constitutional duty of oversight, and he abused his powers by stepping outside of the united states of america to call in a foreign government to investigate an american citizen. that's very clear. i don't know why that answer keeps being asked. those are the violations of his office that he has performed. >> the questions are being asked because people point to previous impeachment where there was an underlying violation of law by the president. in bill clinton's case it was perjury. there's also the argument that congress did not wait for the third branch of government, the

judiciary, to decide whether or not the president was obstructing like they did in the nixon impeachment. >> i will say to everyone who wants to entertain that, that's a deflection. this process have had, everything you can think of thrown against the wall to see what will stick. the actions are undeniable. no one is denying the actions. they said well i can't deny the actions, so i'll bring up, why didn't you go to the courts? why didn't you do this? but no one is saying that the president is innocent. >> brenda lawrence, finally, what is your committee continuing to investigate when it comes to president trump? >> we still have lawsuits and subpoenas out on the abuse of issuing of top clearance security clearances to his family. that is something that's unprecedented because his family did not take an oath of office. they are not part of the

government. we have numerous emoluments violations. this president has personally been enhanced his wealth by being in office with the trump hotels and his resorts, that every time he has a meeting he wants to go to one of his own facilities, which carries this ability to fill up his hotels and give people access. those are things that are still going on. but i don't want to leave this camera without calling out the shame of this president, what he said last night about my colleague and my state colleague, debbie dingle, and john dingle who is a ledgent not only in michigan but in this country. and i am so sick of hearing, oh, that's just the president. he's not like other presidents. when is it acceptable to be insensitive, rude, and to just make hurtful comments? this woman is first holiday without her husband.

he has no sense of compassion. and he gets a pass on that. anyone else would have been called to task. >> brenda lawrence, democrat of michigan, we thank you for your time this morning. >> thank you. >> back to our phone calls with you. joe in michigan, democratic caller, joe, good morning. >> caller: good morning, greta. >> yes, you're on the air, joe. >> caller: yeah, i just want to say that yesterday i watched all of it, and he definitely should be impeached. you know, he is, so that's the way it is. he says he's so transparent. he is because we know exactly what he's doing. >> okay. aimmediate ahmed. >> caller: greta, i wanted to call to unite the country approximately first of all. first of all i want you to know that i went to the same

university as president trump did. and it was founded by benjamin franklin. and many of the graduates of there, alumnis wrote the constitution. and i want to tell you this is the country at its best. we should not hate each other. we should understand this is what benjamin franklin designed this in our constitution, that we have to have debate. and what we are doing is right. we should not make a argument about which one is right, which one is wrong. accept this is not what you get in other countries. the other countries are terrible. they're -- i came from those countries. and they don't have rights. they don't have any of these political arguments. this is we have freedom. we should cherish this freedom. instead of hating each other. this is the greatest country. and we should accept whatever it

happens, it's happening for the good of this country. i just want everybody to know. >> all right. john mccartel. >> greta, with about a half an hour before the house gavels in for its work today, want to remind viewers where we are in in process of impeachment. here's how roll call puts it in their lead story today. the house not transmitting the articles of impeachment against president trump to the senate until senators determine a process for a trial according to speaker pelosi. the california democrat said she cannot name impeachment managers to present the house case to the senate until she knows what that process will look like and the impeachment managers once named are the ones who will actually transmit the articles of impeachment to the senate. obviously mitch mcconnell, the senate majority leader, likely to have plenty to say about that. we're expected to hear from him just about an hour from now. this was his tweet last night. that he'll be on the senate floor at 9:30 eastern today.

you can watch him on c-span 2. he says i'll speak about house democrats' precedent breaking impeachment of the president of the united states. more on holding the articles of impeachment. this from senator lindsey graham today. his tweet about that process. he said if house democrats refuse to send articles of impeachment to the senate for trial, it would be a breathtaking violation of the constitution an act of political cowardice and fundamentally unfair to the president. the republican senator from south carolina goes on to say that not allowing the senate to act on approved articles of impeachment becomes constitutional extortion and creates chaos for the presidency. it also sets in motion a tremendous threat to our constitutional system of checks and balances. and one more tweet for you just from a few minutes ago, the president of the united states is up and tweeting today. this his latest tweet saying i got impeached last night without one republican vote being cast

with the do-nothing democrats on their continuation of the greatest witch hunt in american history. now the do-nothing party want to do nothing with the articles and not deliver them to the senate. but it's the senate's call. >> and joining us from capitol hill this morning, steve chabot, a republican of ohio, a member of the judiciary committee, and also a house manager back in 1998 during the clinton impeachment. congressman, we know you voted to oppose two articles of impeachment -- >> hello. now, this is going to be our last weekly press conference for the year and decade. before we begin if i don't get to see you i want to wish you all a very, very merry christmas and prosperous new year. being our last press conference we're going to start where we started about a year ago, talking about impeachment. you watched what transformed last night on