THE LEDE

The Democratic primary is now, officially, taking a bit of a backseat while Washington decides whether Donald Trump will be on the Republican line.

The Impeachment Stakes: You've read a lot about Republicans "storming" a meeting room Tuesday to disrupt a deposition. Their claim is that they were objecting to the process being kept secret.

If there's one detail worth keeping in mind as you hear this, it's that Republicans — including Mike Pence's brother — are already able to sit in on proceedings so long as they are on one of the relevant committees.

The Political Stakes: Impeachment has already basically frozen the Democratic primary. There are bits of movement in the polls in Iowa as candidates buy television ads there, but there's little opportunity to cut through — much less change — the narrative.

And things could get a lot tougher: Under Senate rules, Warren, Sanders, Harris, Booker, and Klobuchar will be required to stay in Washington this winter and, mostly, sit in silence during the trial of Donald Trump. Legally enforced silence is not quite what they were looking for, though perhaps one of them will recapture national attention by playing a role in the trial.

READ RECEIPTS

Texting with Tom Steyer

Tom Steyer made his fortune in finance and has spent the last decade in politics — first building a political operation to fight climate change and support other progressive causes, and then spending a lot of money lobbying to impeach the president. I texted with him Tuesday about impeachment, whether he's the right messenger, and that thing he draws on his hand.

BEN SMITH: Tom - Ben Smith from BuzzFeed here. Thanks for doing this! To start, could you send over a selfie, and tell me where you are right now and what you’re doing?

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Selfie of Tom Steyer. TOM STEYER: Sitting at my desk reading the San Francisco Chronicle.

BEN SMITH: To start with impeachment. IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Screenshot of an article entitled “Trump’s 10 Impeachable Offenses” BEN SMITH: You were calling for impeachment long before the Ukraine mess. Do you think the articles should include these other issues?

TOM STEYER: We need to keep it simple. The impeachment hearings should be on TV, where the American people see for themselves. The court that matters is the Court of Public Opinion. We get to decide! BEN SMITH: You’ve invested so much in this, and in climate, and at times been ahead of the rest of the party. Do you worry that maybe you’re just the wrong messenger right now -- a white guy in his 60s who comes out of finance?

TOM STEYER: For ten years, as an outsider in politics, I’ve been pushing on the most important issues facing Americans. I continue to do so. Given the broken nature of our political system, Americans should be asking who they can trust. I am an outsider who’s beat the corporations for ten years and built the grass~roots. You can trust me Look at my record. BEN SMITH: On the debate stage last week, a certain amount of the commentary was about this:

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Screenshot of a tweet from @akarl_smith on 10/15/19 reading, “Tom Steyer looking directly into the camera for every answer,” with a picture of Tom Steyer onstage looking into camera. BEN SMITH: What was the thinking? TOM STEYER: I thought the most important people to talk to that evening were the American people.

BEN SMITH: Some Florida Republicans recently had a public change of heart on climate change. Do you think there’s hope for bipartisanship there? TOM STEYER: Bipartisanship on climate is inevitable because the facts are inevitable. But as long as they lie, we should call them out.

BEN SMITH: Oh shoot - and one more I thought I’d asked, and totally forgot to: You were able to get on the debate stage by spending more than $1 per $1 donor. Isn’t there something ridiculous about the system, and unfair to people like Steve Bullock?

TOM STEYER: I was able to get on the debate stage because voters in the early states are responding to my message. Most Americans didn’t know who I am, and as they’ve gotten to know me and hear my message, it’s resonating with them. That will continue to drive who gets on the future debate stages.

BEN SMITH: And finally - when we first met last year, you showed me a symbol you draw on your hand every day. Could you send over a photo, and explain what it means to you? IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Photo of Tom Steyer’s left hand with a cross drawn on it, with four smaller crosses drawn in the angles of the larger cross. TOM STEYER: It means to tell the truth no matter what the cost is. That ultimately the truth wins. BEN SMITH: Can you explain a little more where it comes from?

TOM STEYER: For a while now, I have drawn it on my hand every day to remind myself to always tell the truth. I later discovered that is has traditionally been known as the Jerusalem cross.

BEN SMITH: Thanks for doing this! TOM STEYER: Thanks Ben!

ON THE TRAIL WITH BUZZFEED NEWS

The group that helped Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will endorse a new slate of progressives running for Congress, Kadia Goba scooped.

Nidhi Prakash reports that Julián Castro is pulling a Cory Booker and says he’ll drop out if he doesn’t raise $800,000 soon.

Donald Trump Jr. and MAGA Twitter are pressuring Lindsey Graham to defend Trump from impeachment, Ryan Brooks writes.

From Mike Sallah, Jason Leopold , and Emma Loop: The investigation into Rudy Giuliani's associates is widening.

📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Ben Smith, Veronica Dulin, and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.

🔔 Want to be notified as soon as news breaks? Download the BuzzFeed News app for iOS and Android (available in Canadian, UK, Australian, and US app stores).

💌 Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get BuzzFeed News in your inbox!