Ten days ago, when asked about the phone call between Ukranian President Zelensky and Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he could not speak to it because he had not read the transcript. Pompeo has now admitted what the news media had already reported: Mike Pompeo was on that phone call. It's unusual for the Secretary of State to be on a phone call with a foreign leader unless that phone call was a priority. The only thing in that phone call that could have been a priority to anyone was the decision to pressure Zelensky into investigating Hunter Biden. We know that. He knows that. That's why he tried to hide his presence.

Now Pompeo, like Trump, is trying to use Mafia methods to keep those within the State Department from speaking to Congress. He's stonewalling. He's suggesting that the Democrats are intimidating employees within the State Department by asking for documents and/or testimony. It's clear that Pompeo used his aides in the State Department to aid Rudy Giuliani's attempts to shake down Ukraine, and he doesn't want them to talk.

Trump, by the way, tweeted last night that this isn't an impeachment. It's a "COUP," ramping up his Civil War rhetoric. "I am coming to the conclusion that what is taking place is not an impeachment, it is a COUP, intended to take away the Power of the People, their VOTE, their Freedoms, their Second Amendment, Religion, Military, Border Wall, and their God-given rights as a Citizen of the United States of America!" Rudy Giuliani, meanwhile, is threatening to sue Democratic Congress members for "violating" his Constitutional rights by subpoenaing his records. Good luck, Rudy.

Meanwhile, apparently Kurt Volker, the Ukraine envoy who "resigned" last Friday was actually forced out by Pompeo, who -- according to The Daily Beast -- Pompeo tried to scapegoat. Despite Pompeo's attempts to stonewall Congress, Volker is nevertheless scheduled to meet with Congress tomorrow. Tomorrow could be an explosive day. So could today, because the State Department inspector general has requested an urgent meeting with members of Congress. Man, the cover-up on this has been insane.

Pompeo is also using the State Department to investigate email records of 130 current and former department officials who sent emails to Hillary Clinton. They're still 'BUT HER EMAIL'ing Hillary Clinton. And Trump is using William Barr and the DOJ and Mike Pompeo and the State Department to basically investigate intelligence agencies and his political enemies.

It's a f**king mess. There's no other way to put it. This impeachment investigation has revealed just how deeply authoritarian Trump is now. He does not govern. He uses the government to fight his political battles and settle scores. Hopefully, it backfires, because even if he is not impeached, he does not have the support to win re-election, unless he cheats, and that is what he is counting on. Surviving impeachment and using the powers of the presidency to get himself re-elected over the will of the people. He is trying to pull a Putin, and the State Department and the DOJ are going to do everything they can to help him.

Morning Consult poll:

Two weeks ago: 36% for beginning impeachment proceedings, 49% against.

Last week: 43% for, 43% against.

Now: 46% for, 43% against.

That's a move of 16 net points in two weeks to begin impeachment proceedings, and independents are now in favor 43-39.

— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 2, 2019

Both Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump will speak in press conferences today.

I doubt that this will come to anything, but I should also note that Kamala Harris is trying to convince Twitter to suspend Donald Trump's Twitter account, based on Twitter policies that prohibit inciting violence and making threats. Trump is threatening the whistleblower, and in his talk about a COUP and a Civil War, he is inciting violence. Of course, if Jack suspends his account, there will be a whole different kind of hell unleashed, although I don't know where Trump will unleash that hell if he doesn't have access to Twitter.