Playbook: “While lawmakers in the Capitol have settled into a familiar and tested routine — Republicans defending the president, Democrats ripping him to shreds — the president seems to have no strategy. The White House complains about the process, calling it flawed and crooked. And the president’s aides, advisers and surrogates keep saying the Senate process will be fairer, as they look forward to hearing from Hunter and Joe Biden. The Bidens will not be testifying in this trial, senators have said, so the White House is constantly creating a construct in which the GOP Senate will have let down the base.”

“Yet Democrats don’t seem to have a plan, either, for what happens after the Senate acquits Trump. How will Democratic voters process that inevitable result? And how will they respond when Trump claims the Senate vote has vindicated him? And finally, what will they do if he keeps engaging in what they’ve deemed to be impeachable acts?”

Beginning at 9 am ET, the House Judiciary Committee will resume debate on the articles of impeachment against President Trump.

The committee today is expected to vote on those articles later today, setting up a vote by the full House of Representatives sometime next week.

“As the House barrels toward a vote next week to impeach President Donald Trump, behind-the-scenes jockeying has intensified to secure a coveted, high-profile job: impeachment manager,” Politico reports.

“These Democratic lawmakers, handpicked by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will effectively serve as the prosecutors making the case to the Senate that Trump deserves to be removed from office over his alleged misconduct centering on the Ukraine scandal. The topic has come up during recent Democratic leadership meetings, according to lawmakers and aides. And several members have been seeking Pelosi out directly — even making a beeline for her on the House floor during votes — to deliver their in-person pitch.”

“Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), speaking on Wednesday at a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee on impeachment, said the name of a person whom Republicans believe is the whistleblower who sparked the inquiry against President Trump,” NBC News reports.

“The Texas lawmaker said the person’s name while rattling off a list of witnesses he said should have been called in the impeachment inquiry.”