It’s hard to imagine a political event that was covered more intensively
in real time than Trump’s two impeachments. But only now, 18 months
after the Senate acquitted Trump a second time, we are learning crucial
new details about what happened behind the scenes of those proceedings.
And only now are we starting to reckon with what those two failed
impeachments have wrought for Congress, the presidency, and the
Constitution — and who was responsible.

That reckoning comes courtesy of Playbook’s own Rachael Bade and
Washington Post national security reporter Karoun Demirjian, who on Oct.
18 will publish “Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress's Botched
Impeachments of Donald Trump.” It’s an unsparing look at the characters,
the calculations and, frequently, the cowardice that shaped Congress’s
dealings with Trump — and how the results have likely changed
impeachment forever.

On this week’s Playbook Deep Dive, Rachael and Karoun talk extensively
about their book and its provocative argument with Playbook editor Mike
DeBonis. It’s a reunion for the trio, who covered Capitol Hill together
at the Washington Post and watched closely as Congress struggled to hold
Trump to account. They discuss why “Unchecked” is an unapologetically
“both sides” book, how congressional leaders’ public rhetoric rarely
matched private reality, and just how many impeachment articles
President Joe Biden might be facing if Republicans take the House.

Mike DeBonis is Playbook's editor for POLITICO.
Rachael Bade is Playbook's co-author for POLITICO. 
Karoun Demirjian is a national security reporter at The Washington Post.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Brook Hayes is senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Adam Allington is senior producer for POLITICO audio. 
Jenny Ament is executive producer for POLITICO audio.