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Verse and Voice
Enjoy a collection of poetry and other word artistry curated by WNPR.

The Senate Trial Begins, Or: Impeachment Apprentice

Connecticut Public Radio | By Colin McEnroe,
Jonathan McNicol, Betsy Kaplan
Published January 17, 2020 at 6:12 PM EST

President Trump fretted this week that White House lawyer Pat Cippolone and personal lawyer Jay Sekulow lacked experience on television. So he added a few TV-ready lawyers to the mix, each with scripted roles to play.

This week, Lawfare's Benjamin Wittes and Susan Hennessey argue that President Trump has changed the presidency from one of public service to one that serves his personal interests. Will we ratify his vision or reject it? It may be up to voters to decide.

Also this hour: Slate's Stephen Metcalf thinks Trump is a hostage to 1979. Why else would he be obsessed with U.S. embassies and Jimmy Carter?

And singer/songwriter Lara Herscovitch proves music is the antidote to our troubled times.

GUESTS:

  • Susan Hennessey - Senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, executive editor at Lawfare, analyst for CNN, and the co-author of Unmaking The Presidency: Donald Trump's War on the World's Most Powerful Office
  • Lara Herscovitch - A singer, songwriter, and poet; former Connecticut state troubadour
  • Stephen Metcalf - Host of the Slate Culture Gabfest; he's working on a book about the 1980s
  • Benjamin Wittes - Senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, editor-in-chief of Lawfare, analyst for MSNBC, and the co-author of Unmaking The Presidency: Donald Trump’s War on the World’s Most Powerful Office

Thanks to Catie Talarski and Chion Wolf.

Email us your questions at pardonme@ctpublic.org.

Pardon Me is a production of The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public Radio.
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Colin McEnroe
Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
See stories by Colin McEnroe
Jonathan McNicol
Jonathan is a producer for ‘The Colin McEnroe Show.’ His work has been heard nationally on NPR and locally on Connecticut Public’s talk shows and news magazines. He’s as likely to host a podcast on minor league baseball as he is to cover a presidential debate almost by accident. Jonathan can be reached at jmcnicol@ctpublic.org.
See stories by Jonathan McNicol
Betsy Kaplan
Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.
See stories by Betsy Kaplan

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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