>>> 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.

PRESIDENT WHO'S BEEN IMPEACHED. >> GIVEN YOUR VIEW ON THE ENTIRE

>> GIVEN YOUR VIEW ON THE ENTIRE WORLD, YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT

WORLD, YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT

THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE INCREASINGLY ROOTING FOR

ARE INCREASINGLY ROOTING FOR TRUMP.

TRUMP. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> I THINK BOTH RUSSIA AND CHINA

>> I THINK BOTH RUSSIA AND CHINA WILL BE VOTING TRUMP IN 2020.

WILL BE VOTING TRUMP IN 2020. I'M NOT SAYING THEY'LL

I'M NOT SAYING THEY'LL NECESSARILY INT SCREEN.ERVENE.

NECESSARILY INT SCREEN.ERVENE. I'M SURE THE RUSSIANS WILL.

I'M SURE THE RUSSIANS WILL. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE CHINESE.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE CHINESE. IT'S FOR TWO REASONS.

IT'S FOR TWO REASONS. ONE IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT AS

ONE IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT AS LONG AS TRUMP IS PRESIDENT OF

LONG AS TRUMP IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA'S IN

THE UNITED STATES AMERICA'S IN TURMOIL.

TURMOIL. THE OTHER THING THEY KNOW IS

THE OTHER THING THEY KNOW IS THAT AS LONG AS TRUMP IS

THAT AS LONG AS TRUMP IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HE CAN NEVER GALVANIZE A GLOBAL

HE CAN NEVER GALVANIZE A GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST THEM.

COALITION AGAINST THEM. HE CAN NEVER GALVANIZE THE

HE CAN NEVER GALVANIZE THE EUROPEANS IN A COALITION AGAINST

EUROPEANS IN A COALITION AGAINST RUSSIA AND HE CAN NEVER GAVEL

RUSSIA AND HE CAN NEVER GAVEL GALVANIZE THE ASIANS AGAINST

GALVANIZE THE ASIANS AGAINST CHINA.

CHINA. AND FOR BOTH THOSE COUNTRIES

AND FOR BOTH THOSE COUNTRIES THAT IS CRITICAL.

THAT IS CRITICAL. THEY KNOW AS LONG AS TRUMP IS

THEY KNOW AS LONG AS TRUMP IS THERE THEY WILL NEVER FACE A

THERE THEY WILL NEVER FACE A GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST THEM.

GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST THEM. >> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ASK

>> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN

YOU ABOUT SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSELY HERE WITH OUR

FOLLOWING CLOSELY HERE WITH OUR EXPERTS, AND THAT IS THE DECLINE

EXPERTS, AND THAT IS THE DECLINE OF COMMON FACTS, WHICH IS NOT TO

OF COMMON FACTS, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THERE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN

SAY THERE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN RICH AND HUGE DEBATES IN THIS

RICH AND HUGE DEBATES IN THIS COUNTRY.

COUNTRY. THERE HAS BEEN PARTISAN PRESS IN

THERE HAS BEEN PARTISAN PRESS IN THE FOUNDING ERA.

THE FOUNDING ERA. THERE'S BEEN A LOT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT. SO IT'S NOT TO OVERSIMPLIFY.

SO IT'S NOT TO OVERSIMPLIFY. BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING

BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING YOU KNOW ABOUT AND OUR VIEWERS

YOU KNOW ABOUT AND OUR VIEWERS KNOW ABOUT, WHICH IS LOOK AT THE

KNOW ABOUT, WHICH IS LOOK AT THE DECLINE OF NIXON'S APPROVAL

DECLINE OF NIXON'S APPROVAL ACROSS PARTIES.

ACROSS PARTIES. IF YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT HERE.

IF YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT HERE. AS WATERGATE EVIDENCE CAME OUT,

AS WATERGATE EVIDENCE CAME OUT, IT WAS A NET DROP THAT WAS VERY

IT WAS A NET DROP THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR AMONG DEMS, INDIES, AND

SIMILAR AMONG DEMS, INDIES, AND Rs.

Rs. ALL AROUND 40 OR 40-PLUS

ALL AROUND 40 OR 40-PLUS PERCENT.

PERCENT. IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. DO YOU THINK THAT WAS BECAUSE OF

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CONSUMED