>>> THIS HISTORIC IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP COMES AMID MUCH

DONALD TRUMP COMES AMID MUCH TALK ABOUT HOW AMERICANS ARE

TALK ABOUT HOW AMERICANS ARE DIVIDED.

DIVIDED. BUT THERE IS STRIKING AGREEMENT

BUT THERE IS STRIKING AGREEMENT AMONG THE WRITERS AND EDITORS

AMONG THE WRITERS AND EDITORS WHO REPORT ON GOVERNMENT FOR A

WHO REPORT ON GOVERNMENT FOR A LIVING.

LIVING. WELL, THEY'RE INDEPENDENT

WELL, THEY'RE INDEPENDENT ARRIVING AT THE SAME ONE.

ARRIVING AT THE SAME ONE. LOOK AT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND

LOOK AT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND HOW THEY PUT IT.

HOW THEY PUT IT. OR TAKE THE NEWSPAPER THAT

OR TAKE THE NEWSPAPER THAT LAUNCHED THE MODERN TRADITION OF

LAUNCHED THE MODERN TRADITION OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN WATERGATE, "THE WASHINGTON POST"

WATERGATE, "THE WASHINGTON POST" NOW ENDORSING THE IMPEACHMENT OF

NOW ENDORSING THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THIS HISTORIC

PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THIS HISTORIC FULL PAGE EDITORIAL, NOTING HIS

FULL PAGE EDITORIAL, NOTING HIS OBSTRUCTION THREATENS U.S.

OBSTRUCTION THREATENS U.S. DEMOCRACY.

DEMOCRACY. IT IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE LAST

IT IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE LAST IMPEACHMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHERE

IMPEACHMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHERE NEWSPAPERS OFTEN CONDEMNED

NEWSPAPERS OFTEN CONDEMNED CLINTON'S PERSONAL CONDUCT BUT

CLINTON'S PERSONAL CONDUCT BUT LARGELY OPPOSED THE REPUBLICAN

LARGELY OPPOSED THE REPUBLICAN PUSH FOR IMPEACHMENT AS LEGALLY

PUSH FOR IMPEACHMENT AS LEGALLY UNWARRANTED.

UNWARRANTED. TODAY SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS SAY

TODAY SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS SAY THEY SHIFTED AGAINST TRUMP WITH

THEY SHIFTED AGAINST TRUMP WITH RELUCTANCE AND ONLY RECENTLY AS

RELUCTANCE AND ONLY RECENTLY AS UKRAINE TIPPED THE SCALE.

UKRAINE TIPPED THE SCALE. QUOTE, VIRTUALLY NOTHING DOES.

QUOTE, VIRTUALLY NOTHING DOES. NOW, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

NOW, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," A

"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," A CONSERVATIVE EDITORIAL PAGE,

CONSERVATIVE EDITORIAL PAGE, OPPOSES THE IMPEACHMENT CASE AS,

OPPOSES THE IMPEACHMENT CASE AS, QUOTE, WEAK.

QUOTE, WEAK. BUT THE DAILY NEWS SAYS INSTEAD

BUT THE DAILY NEWS SAYS INSTEAD OF ONE SMOKING GUN, THERE IS

OF ONE SMOKING GUN, THERE IS ACRID BLACK STUFF RISING FROM

ACRID BLACK STUFF RISING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE WHITE HOUSE. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRY

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRY LABELING TRUMP A THREAT TO THE

LABELING TRUMP A THREAT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY.

NATIONAL SECURITY. OR THE "ORLANDO SENTINAL" SAYING

OR THE "ORLANDO SENTINAL" SAYING BASICALLY ONLY THE MOST CYNICAL

BASICALLY ONLY THE MOST CYNICAL PARTISAN COULD MINIMIZE THE

PARTISAN COULD MINIMIZE THE PUBLIC EVIDENCE AGAINST TRUMP.

PUBLIC EVIDENCE AGAINST TRUMP. SHOULD AMERICANS CARE ABOUT THIS

SHOULD AMERICANS CARE ABOUT THIS ON IMPEACHMENT EVE?

ON IMPEACHMENT EVE? WE TURN TO THOMAS FRIEDMAN

WE TURN TO THOMAS FRIEDMAN MAKING HIS DEBUT ON THE BEAT.

MAKING HIS DEBUT ON THE BEAT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> ARI, GREAT TO BE HERE WITH

>> ARI, GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

YOU. >> WHAT DOES IT SAY TO

>> WHAT DOES IT SAY TO AMERICANS, AND SHOULD IT MATTER

AMERICANS, AND SHOULD IT MATTER THAT SO MANY EDITORS AND LEADERS

THAT SO MANY EDITORS AND LEADERS IN JOURNALISM ARE TAKING THIS

IN JOURNALISM ARE TAKING THIS POSITION?

POSITION? >> I THINK IT REALLY COMES DOWN

>> I THINK IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO

TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO SIMPLE ISSUES HERE.

SIMPLE ISSUES HERE. ONE IS THAT IF WE LET A

ONE IS THAT IF WE LET A PRESIDENT USE CONGRESSIONALLY

PRESIDENT USE CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED DEFENSE FUNDS FOR

APPROPRIATED DEFENSE FUNDS FOR UKRAINE IN ORDER TO INTIMIDATE

UKRAINE IN ORDER TO INTIMIDATE THE PRESIDENT OF THAT COUNTRY TO

THE PRESIDENT OF THAT COUNTRY TO TAKE HIS RIVAL IN THE NEXT

TAKE HIS RIVAL IN THE NEXT ELECTION, WE ARE BASICALLY

ELECTION, WE ARE BASICALLY SAYING IT IS OKAY FOR ALL FUTURE

SAYING IT IS OKAY FOR ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTS TO ENLIST FOREIGN

PRESIDENTS TO ENLIST FOREIGN POWERS.

POWERS. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH MONEY

CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH MONEY SOMEONE COULD RAISE FROM ENLIST

SOMEONE COULD RAISE FROM ENLIST OR FROM IRAN?

OR FROM IRAN? WE WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE A

WE WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT.

LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT. SOMEONE WHO YOU SAID WELL, I

SOMEONE WHO YOU SAID WELL, I LIKE OR DON'T LIKE HIM OR HER

LIKE OR DON'T LIKE HIM OR HER BUT THEY'RE LEGITIMATE.

BUT THEY'RE LEGITIMATE. WE WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE A

WE WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT.

LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT. AND THAT WOULD BE A PRESCRIPTION

AND THAT WOULD BE A PRESCRIPTION FOR POLITICAL CHAOS.

FOR POLITICAL CHAOS. SECONDLY, IF WE'D LET A

SECONDLY, IF WE'D LET A PRESIDENT IN THE FACE OF THESE

PRESIDENT IN THE FACE OF THESE CHARGES NOT ALLOW THE KEY

CHARGES NOT ALLOW THE KEY WITNESSES TO TESTIFY, THOSE

WITNESSES TO TESTIFY, THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROCESS,

CLOSEST TO THE PROCESS, GIULIANI, POMPEO, MICK MULVANEY,

GIULIANI, POMPEO, MICK MULVANEY, IF WE DON'T LET -- IF WE LET HIM

IF WE DON'T LET -- IF WE LET HIM GET AWAY WITH NOT LETTING THEM

GET AWAY WITH NOT LETTING THEM TESTIFY AND NOT TURNING OVER ANY

TESTIFY AND NOT TURNING OVER ANY DOCUMENTS, WE ARE BASICALLY

DOCUMENTS, WE ARE BASICALLY SAYING WE NO LONGER HAVE A

SAYING WE NO LONGER HAVE A SERPTHS OF

SERPTHS OF SEPARATION OF POWERS, WE

SEPARATION OF POWERS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MONARCHY.

ACTUALLY HAVE A MONARCHY. AND IF WE LET BOTH OF THOSE

AND IF WE LET BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, THE AMERICA THAT

THINGS HAPPEN, THE AMERICA THAT YOU AND I KNEW, GREW UP AND

YOU AND I KNEW, GREW UP AND LOVED, THE AMERICA THAT IS SO

LOVED, THE AMERICA THAT IS SO WIDELY RESPECTED AROUND THE

WIDELY RESPECTED AROUND THE GLOBE WILL BE NO MORE, AND WE

GLOBE WILL BE NO MORE, AND WE WILL MISS IT WHEN IT'S GONE.

WILL MISS IT WHEN IT'S GONE. >> IT'S STRIKING WHEN YOU LAY IT

>> IT'S STRIKING WHEN YOU LAY IT OUT LIKE THAT.

OUT LIKE THAT. YOU'VE COVERED MANY PRESIDENTS.

YOU'VE COVERED MANY PRESIDENTS. YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD.

YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD. YOU'RE A HIGH-LEVEL GUY, TOM, IF

YOU'RE A HIGH-LEVEL GUY, TOM, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME SAYING.

YOU DON'T MIND ME SAYING. AND YOU MADE THE OBSERVATION

AND YOU MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT IN A WEIRD WAY DONALD

THAT IN A WEIRD WAY DONALD TRUMP, WHO STYLES HIMSELF A

TRUMP, WHO STYLES HIMSELF A COMMUNICATIONS GURU, HAS

COMMUNICATIONS GURU, HAS DISARMED FROM THE BULLY PULPIT

DISARMED FROM THE BULLY PULPIT OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM.

OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I COVERED THE SECRETARY OF STATE

COVERED THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND I COVERED THE FIRST YEAR OF

AND I COVERED THE FIRST YEAR OF BILL CLINTON.

BILL CLINTON. SO I'VE BEEN IN KIND OF BOTH

SO I'VE BEEN IN KIND OF BOTH THOSE PRESS ROOMS.

THOSE PRESS ROOMS. AND I ALWAYS NOTICED HOW MUCH

AND I ALWAYS NOTICED HOW MUCH THE BEST SPOKESPEOPLE FOR

THE BEST SPOKESPEOPLE FOR THOSE -- FOR THOSE OFFICIALS

THOSE -- FOR THOSE OFFICIALS WOULD USE THE QUESTIONS THEY GOT

WOULD USE THE QUESTIONS THEY GOT FROM THE PRESS AS REAL EARLY

FROM THE PRESS AS REAL EARLY WARNING SIGNS, WHAT'S OUT THERE,

WARNING SIGNS, WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES WE NEED TO

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND WHERE IS THIS

BE AWARE OF AND WHERE IS THIS STORY GOING.

STORY GOING. THE FACT THAT TRUMP HAS NOT

THE FACT THAT TRUMP HAS NOT ALLOWED A WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING

ALLOWED A WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING SINCE I DON'T KNOW, NINE MONTHS,

SINCE I DON'T KNOW, NINE MONTHS, TWELVE MONTHS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW

TWELVE MONTHS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG IT'S BEEN ANYMORE, THE

HOW LONG IT'S BEEN ANYMORE, THE FACT THAT HIS SPOKESMAN ONLY

FACT THAT HIS SPOKESMAN ONLY GOES ON FOX NEWS, THE FACT THAT

GOES ON FOX NEWS, THE FACT THAT HE ONLY GOES ON FOX NEWS,

HE ONLY GOES ON FOX NEWS, THEY'VE BEEN IN SUCH A BUBBLE

THEY'VE BEEN IN SUCH A BUBBLE THAT I THINK, A, THEY DON'T

THAT I THINK, A, THEY DON'T REALIZE THE DANGER THAT THEY ARE

REALIZE THE DANGER THAT THEY ARE IN.

IN. THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW SERIOUS

THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THIS IS VIEWED BY THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS VIEWED BY THE COUNTRY. THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW TRUMP

THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW TRUMP EARLY ON SAID, HEY, I MADE A

EARLY ON SAID, HEY, I MADE A MISTAKE, I REALLY WENT A LITTLE

MISTAKE, I REALLY WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR.

BIT TOO FAR. HAD HE ACCEPTED CENSURE, AND

HAD HE ACCEPTED CENSURE, AND THAT WAS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS

THAT WAS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED I

WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED I THINK, HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY

THINK, HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH CENSURE AND NOT

WITH CENSURE AND NOT IMPEACHMENT.

IMPEACHMENT. IN THE HISTORY BOOKS NO ONE

IN THE HISTORY BOOKS NO ONE REALLY REMEMBERS A PRESIDENT WHO

REALLY REMEMBERS A PRESIDENT WHO WAS CENSURED.

WAS CENSURED. NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET A

NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET A PRESIDENT WHO'S BEEN IMPEACHED.