NPR News Podcast

The president's lawyers will conclude their defense of his actions toward Ukraine on the Senate floor on Tuesday. They've hardly mentioned new allegations in an unpublished book by former National Security Adviser John Bolton. What are they saying instead? President Donald Trump is also expected to release his Middle East peace plan later on Tuesday. What's in the plan, and why was there almost no input from from the Palestinian side? In New York, Harvey Weinstein's trial continues. We'll hear about grueling testimony from another one of his accusers.

An excerpt of former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton's upcoming book has leaked, and it undercuts President Donald Trump's impeachment defense. Could it change things? The sports world mourns a basketball icon. Former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant died yesterday in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. We'll look back at Bryant's remarkable career. And there are now five confirmed cases of a strain of coronavirus in the U.S. Are the travel bans in the affected parts of China working to keep the disease from spreading?

President Trump's legal team begins his defense now that Democrats have finished their arguments against him; millions of people are affected as China limits travel during a busy holiday season to stem the coronavirus outbreak; and new details from Guantanamo Bay about how the U.S. used torture techniques on suspected terrorists after 9/11.

Friday will be the last chance for House Democrats to make their case for the removal of President Donald Trump. How have Republicans pushed back, and what can we expect as the president's lawyers get ready to launch their defense? Friday's "March for Life" rally is a chance for President Trump to shore up an important part of his base. Will these voters support him in 2020? And a former "Sopranos" actress testifies in Harvey Weinstein's trial about the trauma she suffered.

Democrats will take the stage again on Thursday in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. Are any of their arguments winning over Republicans? China has stopped all transportation within the city of Wuhan and canceled all outgoing flights and trains. At least 17 people have died so far from a new strain of coronavirus. What is causing this disease to spread? And the International Court of Justice ruled on a request for "emergency measures" in Myanmar to protect Rohingya Muslims and preserve evidence of past abuses against the ethnic minority.

The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump will continue Wednesday afternoon. The first day of the trial was dominated by partisan fighting over the rules of the trial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had to make some last-minute changes. How will these changes affect the process? A new virus thought to have originated in China made it all the way to Washington state. How is the Chinese government responding to the outbreak? And some more news from Washington state. More than a million people will be able to vote in a local election using a smartphone. Does this present a security risk?