David Holmes becomes the first witness to note that 2 Ukrainian soldiers have died *this week* in the war against Russia. That is indeed, "big stuff."
"I have no interest in advancing the outcome of your inquiry in any particular direction, except toward the truth." Great line from Fiona Hil's opening statement
Another great line:
I know we're all tired, but Holmes and Hill's testimony is incredibly fascinating — lots of new detail about U.S.-Ukraine meetings, the exact pressure Giuliani was putting on Ukraine, John Bolton's reaction as all this was happening, and more.
There are 10.5k live viewers on this hearing livestream right now on Facebook, even though it's just people milling around during recess. Amazing. facebook.com/NowThisPolitic…
While we're going through Republican conspiracy theories, let me take this moment to say I am getting texts of appreciation from friends about Holmes' nicely coiffed hair / hair volume
Watch Fiona Hill right now. Listen to all of it. nowthisnews.com/politics/2-top…
Fiona Hill laying out why she was angry with Amb. Sondland, and how it was received:
"I hate to say it, but when women show anger, it’s not taken seriously or it's pushed off as ‘emotional issues’ - I was upset with him for not telling us about all the meetings he was having."
"I hate to say it, but when women show anger, it’s not taken seriously or it's pushed off as ‘emotional issues’ - I was upset with him for not telling us about all the meetings he was having."
Hill sums it up neatly, and with clear, calm anger, on Sondland doing Trump's bidding in Ukraine: “He was being involved in a domestic political errand and we were working on national security...I did say to him, Gordon, I think this is all going to blow up - and here we are."
What I love about Hill - besides the clear, decisive way she is addressing these questions and the comprehensive answers she's providing - is that she did her homework. She read the depositions of previous witnesses and is citing them as well.
Holmes went toe to toe with Jim Jordan on that Q&A though Jordan was trying very hard to trip him up. Holmes was incredibly effective at rebutting him point by point. Respect.
when you're that good: 
Thank you, Fiona Hill, for calling out what the public can't see: Republican congressman who leave during the hearing while important points are being discussed (some even by their own Republican colleagues). She said it's a shame Reps. Ratcliffe and Turner left.
And it must be noted Reps. Ratcliffe and Turner left after going on diatribes that didn't really involve questions for the fact witnesses.
Rep. Speier is bringing up the Fiona Hill pigtails story YES - and Hill laments that her mom gave her a "bowl cut" afterwards, saying she looks like Richard III in her school photo.
She is gold.
She is gold.
Swalwell is always good at bringing the latest news into these hearings. This being a pretty important story: thedailybeast.com/lev-parnas-hel…
We know the Trump admin and his GOP supporters are all about projection, but it's pretty rich that Trump, Nunes et al are trying to pin 2016 election interference on "corrupt Ukrainians" when they're the ones working with Ukrainian-Americans who have been indicted.
The rub being that Trump, Nunes et al were fine denying Ukrainians critical security assistance during a time of war, and using corruption as an excuse for it, when they are the ones engaging in corruption. To be clear, that's what matters about Parnas and Fruman.
Holmes says he has the "deepest respect" for Ukrainian President Zelensky, making a point that hasn't been getting enough attention: "Frankly he withstood a lot of pressure [from the U.S. government] for a very long time, and he didn’t give that interview" that Trump wanted.
It is remarkable that Zelensky, a brand new president with no prior political experience, withstood a sustained pressure campaign from the most powerful ally that they have.
Commenter on our hearing livestream: "Can we in the UK have Fiona Hill back please? You can have Boris Johnson."
Great questions from Rep. Demings right now, getting Hill and Holmes to explain that withholding the security assistance was "absolutely" a signal to Russia that the U.S-Ukraine relationship is not as solid as it used to be.
Fiona Hill is bringing up "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" as the longest running anti-Semitic trope we have, and explaining how it applies to allegations involving Soros.
Do we deserve her?
also @emilyctamkin is probably very happy right now
Do we deserve her?
also @emilyctamkin is probably very happy right now
@emilyctamkin "It certainly appears that there is a subversion of American foreign policy to push these people's personal interests" — Fiona Hill on Dmitry Firtash, Lev Parnas, and Igor Fruman, who have all been indicted.
@emilyctamkin Don't think I've ever heard Schiff's voice get as loud as it did here
Schiff says Trump’s “there was no quid pro quo” statements are the same as Nixon’s “I am not a crook” defense.
Incredibly powerful closer from Schiff. Nunes's facial expression as they adjourned said it all — for all their obfuscation, they didn't deliver anything that potent.
Schiff: "The day after Mueller testified that not only did Trump invite that interference, but that he welcomed the help in the campaign, they made full use of it, they lied about it, they obstructed the investigation into it..."
Schiff cont.: "...and all this is in his testimony and his report. The day after that, Donald Trump is back on the phone, asking another nation to involve itself in another U.S. election. That says to me this president believes he is above the law, beyond accountability."
Schiff cont.: "And in my view, there is nothing more dangerous than an unethical president who believes they are above the law. And I would just say to people watching here at home and around the world, in the words of my great colleague, we are better than that. Adjourned.”
Must watch from Fiona Hill, where she starts by talking about how women's anger isn't taken seriously and ends by humbly and sincerely pointing out she was right that "this is all going to blow up" in Sondland and Trump's faces:
Another must-watch part of this: Hill describing her realization that Sondland was on a "domestic political errand" for Trump, while she and others were trying to work on actual "national security policy"
