A partisan crusade. That began before president troubled even nominated let alone for. The constitution. And. I dont think they suspect that that was handled well as a. Leader in the senate. Also coming up today Queen Elizabeth revealed the new u. K. Governments to do list for 2020 the top priority will be no surprise me im all for it on. So the times have not. My governments priority is to deliver the United Kingdoms departure from the European Union on the 31st of january and. To our viewers on p. B. S. In the United States and all around the world welcome we begin the day with donald j. Trump the impeached president of the United States last night the u. S. House of representatives took a rare solemn and very partisan step approving 2 articles of impeachment which accuse the president of abusing his power with ukraine and of obstructing Congress Duty to investigate that abuse almost every democrats and not a single republican voted to impeach the speaker of the u. S. House nancy pelosi declared the impeachment of victory for the Us Constitution but in an unexpected move she refused to say when the articles will be sent to the us senate for trial according to the constitution senators are to act as jurors and deliver a verdict on whether or not to remove the president from office but the constitution does not say when a trial must take place and it does not give any hint at what to do about a Senate Leaders such as Mitch Mcconnell mcconnell is a republican and has already said the Republican Majority Senate will not convict the president so when will the trial begin nancy pelosi says as soon as shes sure that trial in the senate will be fair and if the a 230 the nays 1907 present is one. Article one is adopted and just minutes later the 2nd article for obstruction of Congress Went as planned for the democrats on this vote the yeas are 229 the nays are 198 present is one article 2 is adopted. Hundreds of kilometers away at a rally in michigan President Trump reacted to his impeachment. With todays illegal unconstitutional and partisan impeachment. Would do nothing democrats and they are do nothing all they want to do is focus on this what they could be doing are declaring their deep hatred and distain for the american voter. This lol is partisan speech is a political suicide march for the Democrat Party have you seen my polls of the last for which. Back in Washington Democratic had Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the republicans of being purely partisan she threatened to delay the impeachment trial until she could be sure it would be handled fairly in the senate. We have legislation approved by the rules committee that will enable us to decide how we will send over the articles of impeachment we cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the senate side and i would hope that that will be soon so far we havent flown what will they are to us so hopefully it will be fair and when we see what all this will form or. Can a trial be fair what the fuck about that and more tonight here at the big table with me is bourse foreman u. S. Politics analyst and Political Science at bard college here in berlin hes also author of the new book democracy in crisis bourses good to see you again so how long do you think the u. S. House could hold on to these. Articles of impeachment i mean is it possible that a trial never takes place at this point everything see seems possible there was a lot of debate of bode different strategies of the republican the Democratic Party may be waiting to also bogged down senators in their campaign trail so its vitally polarized situation its been that before now its driven to a new point and so we dont exactly know whats going to happen and what do you do weve got republicans in the u. S. Senate you have said publicly that they are not impartial and theyve said that they will not vote to convict donald trump so arent they by saying that arent they violating their oath of office are they violating the constitution at least i mean the Founding Fathers had something in mind with the impeachment process as a mechanism to ensure that certain things wouldnt be possible and there was an assumption that yes. There is a need for individual politicians to put the common good above their own individual interests if there is only the president then there can be a mechanism in place if that is a majority of the of the represent or of the of the senators thats a problem i was looking at both articles today much of the text of the 2 articles of impeachment was actually taken from the bill clinton impeachment articles but there is one important difference that we can pull that up and show the viewers in article one abuse of power this phrase was was added it says President Trump by see his conduct has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to National Security and the constitution if allowed to remain in office if he stays in office a bourse that is implied is that the crimes he committed are still happening and that trump is a threat to the 2020 president ial election well i think thats an interesting observation because that hasnt been discussed much but yeah its of. Its reflecting and its observing the things that have been going on so far but obviously the election hasnt happened and this is about potential influence on the 2020 alexion so yeah its a moving target so to speak. The house is convinced because of ukraine that mr trump will try to do whatever it takes to win the next election lets talk a little bit more about the constitution the authors of the constitution they may have foreseen impeachment for president such as donald trump but i dont think they could have foreseen the hyper partisanship that we see right now in congress can the constitution work in this type of environment i think institutions are only as good as the politicians that run the institutions so to speak and if you have every institution can be hollowed out i mean theres been a myth i think american democracy that you must particularly stable only because of its institutions it requires politicians to stick to the rules basically and if that doesnt happen then even the best constitution will have live with them a very shaky ground when you wrote your book democracy in crisis were you thinking about that hyper partisanship and this impeachment process when you were writing the book well i wish i could say that the case i mean what were writing about in this book is the yes hyper polarization that led to gridlock i think a lot of dissatisfaction on both sides of the aisle really with politics and establishment politics was gridlock in congress and the fiscal cliff 2013 different processes that happened after and before the Global Financial crisis so polarization has been a longstanding issue in the ninetys the culture wars and the story goes on and on so there is a book caved in the american political system in part you could say this is exactly what the constitution was trying to establish new kate so that theres always. A shift in the balance between the different powers but what were seeing now i think is that the separation of powers as the core piece really or one core piece of the american constitution is being threatened and lets look into the future weve got the election coming up next year today the u. S. President hinted that he is not going to abide by the rules for the president ial debates which are scheduled to happen in the fall of next year and already were seeing huge cracks in the structures that help with a peaceful transition of power in the United States do you think its possible that we could be talking about a major crisis leading up to election day next year if weve got a u. S. President who says i dont recognize these rules anymore. Lets assume the best. But yes theres again the institutions are only as good as the politicians and theres there have been states of emergencies before where certain constitutional provisions have been bypassed so this can all be so but. This would be a fundamental threat to american democracy and we certainly hope that doesnt happen boris foreman political scientist with bard college here in berlin as always boards we present your insights thank you thats. 2 times in 2 months yes that describes how many times the world has watched the u. K. Parliament begin a new session today however the political power in parliament was definitely in favor of the conservatives and boards johnson after last weeks general election johnson enjoys a Strong Majority and can easily move his agenda forward it may not surprise then that today when Queen Elizabeth laid out the governments agenda in a speech written by the Prime Minister she said that delivering breaks it is the number one priority johnson now has the votes to pass his bill to take the u. K. Out of the European Union. Parliament is set to vote on that bill tomorrow today the queen made it clear that britains departure from the e. U. Is now imminent my governments priority is to deliver the United Kingdoms departure from the European Union on the 31st of january my ministers robredo shortage of station to ensure the United Kingdoms exit on that date and to make the most of the opportunities that this brings all the people of the United Kingdom. When Boris Johnsons government is not the only one planning to leave a union scotlands 1st minister Nicola Sturgeon today wrote to jobs and demanding the right to hold a 2nd referendum on Scottish Independence scotland she says wants to leave the United Kingdom because the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union scotland made very clear last week that it does not warrant a to any government led by Boris Johnson taking his 8 of you to and dating a path that we havent chosen but that is the future be face if we dont have the opportunity to consider the tentative of independence and it is a very different future to the one in prostate when scotland voted no to independence in 2014 there has been a Material Change in circumstances nicolas sturgeon there saying there has been a Material Change lets talk about this and a lot more im joined tonight from the highlands of scotland by journalist Andreas Wolff fundraises good to see use so we are coming off of that general election last week in the u. K. Does nicolas sturgeon does she really have a mandate to push for another independence referendum in scotland. Well brant it has been pointed out that the s. And p. Only got 45 percent of the vote share in scotland in this general election and not all of the voters that would fit for the s. N. P. May support independence they may have wanted for their local m. P. Because they like that a little m. P. But on the other hand the s. N. P. Government of scotland and 1st minister Nicola Sturgeon pointed out that they had they previously had 35 m. P. s they now have 48 out of 59 and because here in scotland and at the same time the tories the conservatives lost 7 of their 13 and he is so they think that that indicates that there is a change and voters opinion polls suggest that there still is a very small majority of people in scotland who oppose independence that are pro unionists however as we heard earlier she the 1st minister has now sent a request to london for to transfer powers to scotland for a 2nd independence referendum yes hes made that request british Prime MinisterBoris Johnson is likely to reject that request and surgeon she says that she expects that to happen so what do you think her strategy is here then. Well indeed the Prime MinisterBoris Johnson has already rejected this request in Parliament Today pointing to the fact that even the s. N. P. Conceded and 2014 when the last Scottish Independence referendum was out that this was the opportunity of a generation now i think it seems likely that nicolas judge and the s. N. P. Government here in scotland are hoping to win this case by making an argument as she outlined in her paper published today and theres been a distinct. Distinct history here in scotland with scotland joined the union in 1707 when the 2 parliaments unite it she points to different institutions here in scotland different laws a Different Court system Different Police a Different Health system and even a Different Church so a very distinct nation she says and she she makes the case that it should be for the people of scotland to decide the future of this nation which they did back in the referendum in 2014 that referendum was supposed to be the referendum of a generation and now were talking about it again do you think that once breaks it actually begins once brags it is happening that another independence referendum in scotland that that referendum will become inevitable. Well inevitable is a strong word but what i think even bunnicula sturgeons have a sense. That if the westminster government of Boris Johnson continuously rejects a 2nd independence referendum this will only increase the support for such a referendum here in scotland as people kind of say well were not being taken seriously by westminster that made well be the feeling amongst some independents support us and there are some voices even within the conservative Party Andrew Mitchell m. P. Tory m. P. And form a government minister said that he thinks there will be a 2nd independence referendum probably not next year and 2020 as this study in would like but possibly after the u. K. Finally does leave the European Union and tiredly you know it is interesting if you look at these 2 polls you have a majority of scots who say they want to stay in the u. K. But you also have a majority of scots who say they want to stay in the European Union those 2 realities have to diverged at some point. Are we going to seem Public Opinion tip in favor of Scottish Independence do you think i mean something has to give here. Indeed 62 percent of the scottish electorate voted to remain in the e. U. And 2016 and the e. U. Referendum and i think this is possibly also rooted in history there there was this old alliance this alliance by scotland and france in the middle ages which lasted until the 18th century and since then there has really been much more of a. And internationalists a european perspective here in scotland then there maybe has been in parts of england i dont know whether this whether which which argument win this year i am not able to tell you today what i do think its going to be may well be an issue if there is continued which action from westminster but the people of scotland to decide their own future not may not play in their favor well we appreciate you trying to look into their crystal ball none the less tonight for as journalists andreas wolf joining us from the highlands of scotland and thank you. Thank you. Remembrance ceremonies and plants here in berlin tonight 12 peels of the bell at the church for the 12 People Killed 3 years ago today when an islamist extremist rammed a truck into a busy Christmas Market in the heart of the german capital. Dozens more people were injured many of whom continue to suffer from their injuries the attacker. Was known to German Authorities at the time as a potential terrorist a Parliamentary Committee has been investigating the case opposition members of the committee have now presented their interim report and some of their findings are damning. 3 years on candles and flowers still commemorate the victims of the attack. A Parliamentary Committee is still trying to discover why authorities werent able to prevent it opposition politicians make serious charges and i felt once that we simply have to point out that German Security agencies completely misjudged the threat their assessment of unease amery was incorrect to a great extent they failed to take his plan seriously even at some time. Soon after the attack authorities describe damrey as a lone wolf a small time drug dealer who picked up radical ideas on his own some members of the Investigative Committee say that theory no longer holds water and his family had close ties to Germanys Islamist scene and the authorities were well aware of his activities so far im a big fear was one of the most dangerous potential terrorists of 2016 so no one seriously disputes that it was a hot potato that they are passing back and forth no one really wanted the case. You couldnt get should frist weve already determined the intercepted telephone conversations were not on the lies in a timely and competent manner that covert observation was prematurely broken off and especially that the eventual puppetry to cell phone was not thoroughly searched for evidence was. Would. 3 years later the Committee Investigating the case says these work is far from finished. And for more now im joined here at the big table by young son pierre he is a security and counterterrorism expert here in berlin he was with us as we covered that terror attack 3 years ago he was at tonights Memorial Ceremony its good to have you back on the show you have been at these memorial ceremonies now every year since the attack happened what was different this year in your opinion i thought was a bit more solemn on 2 levels 1st more people a lot of people that werent there last year the year before finally having the strength of the victims to go there this year which changed the dynamic a bit and i thought was the 1st time where the people at by child plats in around were actually willing to take part in the ceremony where you know day they shut down the lights they have the bell ringing 12 times but its always a struggle to get people to go on with this and this year it was. Very broad in terms of support and i was very interesting that the awareness of that attack has reached a level where theres and the knowledge meant of the victims you know its a sign that time has passed a little bit of time has passed which also allows us to know a lot more than we did 3 years ago what went wrong 3 years ago what was the biggest failure well. One would be i think if were going to put one above all else is communication i think the lack of trust and communication between the different Security Services both at the federal and the land level local local level is probably what stands out the more however. What stands out as well for me is the quality of the analysis the risk evaluation the issue in berlin to say well is a drug is a drug dealer is a drug addict so we cant be in this limits well when it was actually well known that its part of a cover up things like that that. The dea the templates that were used in the analysis were outdated and that led to it and the comp. Tition between sets are Different Services to say were right no you guys are wrong and that some of the things that came out in the report the templates have been updated it is that why we can sit here tonight and say that we havent had a repeat of the Christmas Market attack i mean we havent talked about a serious islam is attacked since then really well i think there were a lot of Lessons Learned internally and some changes were made by thinking has a lot more to do with the tunnel vision that suddenly occurred after that attack that people you know its interesting that during the previous summer prior to that attack in july germany had a week where 3 attacks occurred major attacks and the amitie situation the attack happened and so that was more of a we black eye we need to react to it and the resources were invested properly and this the fact that germanys been playing catch up since then as allowed. Partners then to improve the efficiency of the measures nonetheless in the threat level is there and we saw that with other types of the time the threat level is there and weve had far right terrorism thats on the radar now theres also concern. German citizens or european citizens who joined Islamic State who were coming back. For those 2 factors what do they mean for security moving forward while the 1st one comes into the far right again its the Biggest Issue is the tunnel vision its either one or the other instead understanding that the mindset is pretty much the same they did the channel will differ but the mindset is the same that there is a tit for tat there is in the skill ation in the process and that rather than focusing on one or the other that we need to understand such a mutual it feeds off each other and that Security Services need to integrate and compliment each of these resources whether it be from the private sector the civilian sector and the state sector so thats one and the other in terms of the returning fighters i think thats about the political will. Measures of their actual resources are there but will somebody in the western country have the courage to say we will assume responsibility for what our citizens of done we will bring them back have them on their surveillance. Offer them a trial but its a its so poisonous in terms of politics i dont see it coming you know and some pure as always we appreciate your insights appreciate you coming in tonight thank you thank you. Well the day is almost done the conversation continues online youll find us on twitter either at u. W. News you can follow me of ripped off t. V. To forgive to use the hash tag is the day and i will see you in again in 2020 so in the meantime remember whatever happens between now and then tomorrow is another day happy holidays and have a happy new year of. 2 conflicts with 10 sebastian. Chinas recent celebrations for his 70th anniversary one quite the Public Relations triumph it was supposed to be my guest this week here in london is free to gothe how does he justify chinas comes along the human rights abuses of a continuing pressure on hong kong conflict so for next decoupling. Its time to take stock. And face. Time europe just such the. And the fight for the troops took the time to overcome boundaries and connection to. The time for double. Duty of indias coming up ahead. Times. 50 years of religions for peace people from many different faiths are working together toward a common goal the peaceful resolution of religious conflict. Now all female members are religious for peace from the middle east are demanding the larger. Oh canada ground is empowering women giving them the rule making them agent of change. The female peacemakers starts january 5th on t. W. Let china have its own little law what you agreed about the minds of most of the people all the Training Camps all the training was a month before the incident rationed care of it is now all the law and all that very much at stake in Hong Kong China is recent celebrations for its 70th anniversary one quite a Public Relations triumph it was supposed to be not worth continuing protests in hong kong and fresh revelations about human rights abuses in the shin jang region my guest this week here in london is victor gao the chinese aka day