focused on alexander the endman, who the president dismissed as never trumper while others challenged the motives of the white house it, a decorated veteran. >> don't know about american policy. like me i am -- the same affinity. >> reporter: that sparked media backlash. >> some of the president's allies even reverted to smearing him. >> reporter: saturation coverage as house speaker nancy pelosi's democrats endorsed rules for impeachment hearings on overwhelmingly partyline vote which republicans have been demanding but hasn't changed their stance on what steve scalise calls the soviet style process. the rhetoric was familiar from both politicians and pundits. >> the president is facing a protracted public airing of his wrongdoing including corrupt abuse of power. >> another disastrous day for democrats and that is why they are staying behind closed doors, why they are using the