about what in particular this defense will look like and when it will be mounted. the president waited for his symbolic day in court, believing that the senate will vindicate him after he was impeached by the house. he's eager to get this trial under way. of course he's being stymied by house speaker nancy pelosi who has so far refused to send over those two articles of impeachment. now, what is this standoff all about? it's about the rules of the senate trial, what it will look like. pelosi believes that democrats should be able to call witnesses, including some of those white house officials who refused to participate in the house proceedings like acting chief of staff mick mulvaney. that's in direct opposition to what senate majority leader mitch mcconnell has said. he said he cannot set the rules for the senate trial until he has the articles of impeachment. he so far has refused democrats' requests to include witness subpoenas in the initial resolution setting the senate trial. he has expressed a desire not to get the senate trial under way. he doesn't share president trump's eagerness to get this