Nightly Nuance - February 8, 2021

Hello, my friends. Let's spend a little time talking about the United States Senate. 

Last week, we talked about the House impeachment manager's brief. We now have the former President's response. In it, Trump argues that the Senate lacks jurisdiction to hear this matter because he is no longer President and that, factually, he had nothing to do with the mob that attacked the Capitol. The jurisdictional argument is not bananas, but it does run counter to the weight of legal authority and historical precedent. Settle in for the story of William Belknap, the disgraced Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant who was tried for "basely prostituting his high office to his lust for private gain" following his resignation from office. Belknap was acquitted, in large part because a number of Senators didn't believe they should be hearing the matter. History repeats itself. 

Staying in the Senate but switching gears, many of you have asked about the Senate's power-sharing agreement. Let's talk about what's in it (not much, but it all matters) and why it took so dang long to finish. 

Have the best available Monday! 

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