Thread by @jmartNYT

NEW: The ground appears to be shifting on impeachment.

Those Dems reluctantly for it increasingly see no other recourse & some of the freshmen are rethinking their opposition, may speak out this week

w @npfandos @maggieNYT >

nytimes.com/2019/09/22/us/…

@npfandos @maggieNYT Some of the freshmen who have been uneasy about impeachment were in touch this wknd, are closely watching Thursday's hearing w the DNI

That could be THE pivot point for the Dems Pelosi is so attuned to going into '20

BUT: these freshman are still wary,few would go on rec Sunday

@npfandos @maggieNYT The key, say many Dems, is viewing the transcript of or hearing the call.

"Once that comes out, I don’t see how they can fight it any longer,” says @repdinatitus of those House Dems who've resisted impeachment.

@npfandos @maggieNYT @repdinatitus What's giving House Dems some more confidence about impeachment? They're hearing it a bit more in their districts. Three House Ds from v diff parts of the country all told us the same on Sunday.

@npfandos @maggieNYT @repdinatitus But there's also the sheer black-and-white facts of the matter: a president repeatedly pushing a foreign leader for damaging information on a domestic rival when the country in question is looking for U.S. aid

As @RepDebDingell put it:

@npfandos @maggieNYT @repdinatitus @RepDebDingell “I don’t want to do any more to contribute to the divisiveness in the country but my biggest responsibility as an elected official is to protect our national security and Constitution"

The other thing: even some traditionally cautious, more mod Dems are coming around bc they increasingly see opportunity in making Senate Rs exonerate Trump in an election year

“Let the Senate Republicans stew,” says @JamesCarville

And the sound of silence from most every Senate R in last few days underscores their unease w what Ds see as a brazen abuse of power. Would they want to be on hook for clearing Trump ? It’s a no-win vote for a number of those up in ‘20.