The Note: Impeachment back to forefront as 2020ers wait

The TAKE with Rick Klein

We now return to your regularly scheduled impeachment programming.

Except, of course, that hasn't been scheduled at all.

Pressure is building on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to send articles of impeachment over to the Senate. Now that those clamoring for a start to the trial include Senate Democrats, it's harder to see the advantage House Democrats expect to derive from further delays.

The timing is of intense interest to the 2020 candidates. Five senators are running, and three of them earned tickets to the one and only scheduled debate in Iowa next week -- a debate that would likely be rescheduled if it conflicts with the Senate trial.

House Democrats' delay has kept alive mild concerns among moderate Republicans over procedural questions. It lasted long enough for former national security adviser John Bolton to dangle his potential cooperation with a Senate invitation to testify.

The delay has not nudged Senate Majority Mitch McConnell any closer to any sort of accommodation with Democrats. That, though, was really not a realistic goal for Democrats -- and now they have their own urgencies to answer.

The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks

President Donald Trump gave no public indication Wednesday that he planned to further escalate military action against Iran, despite their missile launches against U.S. targets inside Iraq. While he seems to have hit the pause button, congressional leaders still have questions about his decision last week and the moment could be ripe for a serious discussion on Capitol Hill about the president's power to go to war.

Democrats, in particular, left their military briefing unconvinced that Trump had evidence and reason to warrant the quick timing of the drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., would not rule out subpoenaing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to answer additional questions, saying, "I'm not sure that 'trust me' is a satisfactory answer."

By and large, Republicans seemed satisfied with the answers given by the Trump administration and argued that now was not the time for Congress to debate limiting the authority. But not all.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, told reporters, "One of the messages we received from the briefers was, 'Do not debate, do not discuss the issue of the appropriateness of further military intervention in Iran. And that if you do you'll be emboldening Iran.'"

He said he found that "insulting and demeaning," and as a result was now looking to support a new War Powers Resolution from Democrats. A resolution to reassert congressional authority to declare war will go to a vote before the House on Thursday.

The TIP with Beatrice Peterson

No more wars in Iran has been a rallying cry in recent days from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. The Hawaii congresswoman is a proponent of ending what she describes as endless wars, and as tensions have escalated in the Middle East she has seen an increase of attention from voters, particularly in New Hampshire.

For some candidates, not making the debate stage hinders their ability to get their message out to voters. However for Gabbard, the size of the crowds at her events has steadily increased since she announced her plans to double down in the state.

In recent days, she has made a personal pitch during stops at businesses, asking people for their vote directly and inviting them to participate in her town halls. And while surfing in the cold, 30-degree weather appealed to some voters in the Granite State, her foreign policy has been the focus of attendees at her town halls as the country monitors news out of Iraq and Iran.

THE PLAYLIST

ABC News' "Start Here" Podcast. Thursday morning's episode features ABC News Senior Foreign correspondent Ian Pannell – he joins us from Iraq where more rockets rained down near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday. Then, ABC News Senior National correspondent Terry Moran says some Republicans are speaking up about the lack of evidence the administration has provided for killing Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. And, we get a preview of the new ABC News two-hour special "Truth & Lies: Jeffrey Epstein," with podcast host Mark Remillard. http://apple.co/2HPocUL

ABC News' "Powerhouse Politics" Podcast. Among the many uncertainties to confront the 2020 Democratic field, add a big one: America is now functionally at war. It will now be a wartime primary campaign -- under clouds of impeachment -- in the race to replace a most unpredictable president. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., speaks with ABC News Political Director Rick Klein and Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl about whether the nation is safer after the strike on Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and the latest on impeachment process. https://apple.co/35Bjdhk

ONE MORE THING

The House of Representatives will vote on a War Powers Resolution on Thursday to reassert congressional authority to declare war by mandating that, absent additional congressional action, the Trump administration's military hostilities against Iran cease within 30 days, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Wednesday afternoon.

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