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Daily Video

February 15, 2021

News Roundup: Trump acquitted, but majority votes to convict

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Directions: Read the summary, watch the video and answer the discussion questions. Have students record what they found most significant in the summaries and ask them what they’d like to learn more about. For a transcript of the video, click here. 

Summary of the top news: On Sat., Feb. 13, the Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump on charges of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting to convict Trump but the 57-43 vote fell short of the two-third majority required to pass the resolution.

• Many Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, justified their vote of not guilty by explaining that they didn’t think it was constitutional to convict a president who had already left office. However, some hinted that they believed Trump’s actions were harmful. Still, the vote suggests that Trump still has great influence within the Republican party.

Also in the news:

• The nation marked the third anniversary of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. You can hear from Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie Guttenberg was killed that day, in conversation with EXTRA here.
• Much of the United States was gripped by extremely cold weather, including Texas, which has seen record low temps and ice storms that have cut power to millions.
• Protests in Myanmar entered a second week. Use this lesson to learn more about the coup and protests in the southeast Asian country.

Discussion:

Warm up questions: 

1. Who voted to impeach Trump, and who voted not guilty? 
2. What is impeachment, and what role does it serve in our democracy?
3. Where and When did the impeachment trial taking place?
4. Why did some Republicans decide that impeaching a former president is unconstitutional?
5. How might Trump’s second impeachment affect the future of the Republican party?

Focus questions:

1. What do you think is the best way to hold presidents accountable for actions that endanger the country?

Media literacy: What news do you think was most important from this summary? What important news are you aware of that was left out?

Additional resources:

• Classroom Resource: Discuss the big questions of Trump’s second impeachment trial
• Lesson Plan: Connecting Post-Civil War mob violence and the Capitol Hill Riot
• Why Myanmar’s military overthrew the nation’s democratically elected government

 

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Tags:

classroom resourceCongressdemocracyDonald Trumpextreme weatherfred guttenbergGovernment & CivicsimpeachmentMarjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoolmyanmarnews roundupschool shootingSenate