How Does the John Bolton Bombshell Change Impeachment?

Now that John Bolton’s pick me! exertions have gotten so loud that even Republican senators are saying that they might consider issuing a subpoena to a materially relevant witness in the impeachment trial, some natural follow-up questions tumble forth, such as: Should the mustachioed former national security advisor be summoned to testify? Does his account, however disputed, change the way people interpret the Trump administration’s 2019 actions vis-à-vis Ukraine? Does any of it excuse the attempt by the lead House manager, Rep. Adam Schiff (D–Calif.), to justify not subpoenaing Bolton in the first place by saying that they needed to stop Trump before he could election again?

These questions and more lead today’s episode of the Reason Roundtable podcast, featuring Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch. The roundtablists also volunteer their biggest critiques of suddenly re-rising presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.), try to dampen the panic about the latest global coronavirus, and discuss the bountiful local goings-on of National School Choice Week. And yes, Kobe Bryant gets a mention.

Audio production by Ian Keyser and Regan Taylor.

Music: “Here Come The Raindrops” by Reed Mathis

Relevant links from the show:

“My Conversations with John Bolton,” by Matt Welch

“John Bolton Says He Would Comply With Senate Subpoena to Testify in Impeachment Trial,” by Scott Shackford

“Trump’s Failed Impeachment Is Still Worth It,” by Shikha Dalmia

“4 Key Republican Senators To Watch as Trump’s Trial Rolls Into the Weekend,” by Eric Boehm

“Did Trump Just Admit To Withholding Material From the Impeachment Process? ” by Peter Suderman

“Does an Impeachment Overturn an Election?” by Keith E. Whittington

“The Senate Can (but Probably Won’t) Fill the Gaps in the Case for a Ukraine Quid Pro Quo,” by Jacob Sullum

“As Progressive Twitter Erupts at Joe Rogan Endorsing Bernie Sanders, a Reminder: Elizabeth Warren’s Sexism Gambit Backfired,” by Matt Welch

“Bernie Sanders Thinks Medicare for All Would Solve America’s Health Care Problems. It Would Make Them Worse,” by Peter Suderman

“Bernie J. Trump: Nationalism and Socialism Are Two Sides of the Same Statist Coin,” by Shikha Dalmia

“Bernie’s Bad Ideas,” by Matt Welch

“No More Pandemics?” by Ronald Bailey

“Pennsylvania Bill Would Toss 35,000 Kids Out of Their Cyber Charter Schools,” by Eric Boehm

“The Story Behind Miss Virginia Exemplifies the Moral Case for School Choice,” by Nick Gillespie