The full House is in recess this week (the House spends a lot of time in recess, doesn't it?), but House impeachment investigators will try to continue their work. Four White House officials subpoenaed to testify today have all demured under direction from the White House, and Rick Perry -- who is scheduled for Wednesday -- will also decline to participate. John Bolton has been invited for Thursday, and his participation is up in the air. It is notable, however, that Donald Trump is kissing Bolton's ass, because he's legit afraid of what Bolton could do to him during public testimony, given that Bolton described the arrangement between Trump and Ukraine as a "drug deal."

"I like John Bolton. I always got along with him," Donald Trump said yesterday, which is absolutely not true. In fact, no one quite knows whether Bolton quit or was fired (by Tweet), and Bolton is planning to write a book about his time at the White House. It is not expected to paint a flattering image of the President.

Meanwhile, the House may start publicly releasing transcripts of the closed-door sessions held in recent weeks, which should give the media -- and us! -- more anti-Trump fodder to keep the coals burning on the impeachment investigation. It's not exactly good for those who provided the testimony, however. From The Washington Post:

The anticipated defiance toward impeachment investigators comes as Trump has grown enraged that so many of his "employees," as he refers to them, are going to Capitol Hill and testifying, said a person who regularly talks with him and who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The president has asked for copies of witness statements so he can decide how to criticize them, complained that his lawyers are not doing enough to stop people from talking, and even encouraged members of Congress to question the credibility of people working in his own administration, current and former officials said.

Trump and the Republicans, meanwhile, are trying out various defenses, like, "Sure, it was quid pro quo, but it isn't an impeachable offense," and that old canard, "Trump was just kidding!" Trump continues to maintain the phone call was "perfect," and some Republicans are endeavoring to limit the entire conversation surrounding the impeachment inquiry to that phone call while ignoring all the other evidence. Trump is also threatening to read the transcript of the phone call aloud during a fireside chat.

Republicans are also attacking the whistleblower, though the testimony of the whistleblower isn't even necessary at this point, because there is ample enough evidence to convict Trump of impeachable offenses, should Republicans decide to grow a moral conscience. The whistleblower has been reluctant to testify publicly because he or she knows that House Republicans will leak his or her name, which may or may not get the whistleblower killed (not that a President responsible for separating over 5,000 children from their parents would care). The whistleblower, however, has agreed to answer written questions under oath, but that's not good enough for Trump, who *checks notes* answered written questions under oath from Robert Mueller.

The Whistleblower gave false information & dealt with corrupt politician Schiff. He must be brought forward to testify. Written answers not acceptable! Where is the 2nd Whistleblower? He disappeared after I released the transcript. Does he even exist? Where is the informant? Con!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2019

Trump is also attacking Purple Heart recipients because the only award recipients that Trump recognizes are dogs.

NEW: President Trump threatens to expose information about Lt. Col. Vindman. Watch. pic.twitter.com/pEmUlJkqvB

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) November 3, 2019

Meanwhile, I don't mean to make all of you sick to your stomachs this morning, but while Biden/Sanders/Warren are all leading Trump nationally, in the battleground states where the election will be determined (thanks to the Electoral College), only Biden holds enough of a lead over the President to win the Electoral College, should Dems pick up every other state they won in 2016. Even then, it's a slim one. From the Times:

I know what you're saying: It's a year away, and a lot can change! And that's true, but also with Trump, not. His support has remained rock steady, no matter how much he f**ks up. And as the Times notes: "On average over the last three cycles, head-to-head polls a year ahead of the election have been as close to the final result as those taken the day before."

That made my stomach flip. It also explains why Trump was trying so hard to coerce Ukraine into investigating Biden. The way Trump sees it, 2020 will be a repeat of 2016, and if Democrats don't figure something the hell out in these goddamn battleground states, he might be right. Trump could lose the popular vote by 5 million votes and still win in the Electoral College.

via GIPHY