So the sham 'trial' has begun. Trump's team aren't contesting any of the facts as they're too damning. It's difficult to make a decent argument in Trump's defence - if it wasn't, it would have been made by now. Funny how we don't hear "no quid pro quo" any more.

It looks like this is how they're doing it. The Ukraine extortion to get an investigation into Biden's son was foreign policy, and the obstruction of the impeachment inquiry was executive privilege. If the president does it, it's not illegal.

The ultimate aim is to keep all the republican senators happy enough to give their votes (not going to be difficult) then go to the Winchester for a nice cold pint until this blows over.