"The explosions at the House impeachment hearings Wednesday were not the work of a mad bomber. The man deploying the bombshells seemed oddly to be enjoying himself," says James Poniewozik of today's testimony. "The testimony of the ambassador to the European Union, Gordon D. Sondland, was deeply serious in substance: that he and his colleagues 'followed the president’s orders' in pressuring Ukraine to investigate Donald Trump’s political rivals; that there was a “quid pro quo” expected; and that 'everyone was in the loop' on the plan, including several high-level officials. But in the Trump era, drama and farce are often inseparable. Mr. Sondland, a hotel entrepreneur who came into his position after donating a million dollars to the president’s inauguration, could have been a minor character in Succession: a wealthy megadonor anxious to avoid being tainted, yet somehow seeming to relish the spotlight. ALSO: Day 3 of the impeachment hearings again draws big numbers.
TOPICS: Trump Impeachment Hearings, Succession, Gordon Sondland, Ratings, Trump Presidency