10 Things in Politics: Impeachment trial guide – The spies who love US again – A Conway on ‘American Idol’

10 Things in Politics: Impeachment trial guide – The spies who love US again – A Conway on ‘American Idol’

Good morning! Welcome to 10 Things in Politics. I'm Brent Griffiths. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox each day.

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Here's what you need to know:

1. IMPEACHMENT RETURNS: Former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial is set to start later this morning. Senators will begin by debating the other historic nature of the proceedings: the constitutionality of impeaching a former president. The arguments themselves follow on Wednesday.

Here's what will be the same and different, per my colleagues Sonam Sheth and Jake Lahut.

Same ending?: 45 of the 50 Senate Republicans are already on record saying it's unconstitutional to impeach a former president. Democrats would need 17 of them to convict Trump of inciting the Capitol riot, meaning it is almost certain he will receive a second acquittal.

WATCH: Columbia Law School's professor of legislation Richard Briffault explains how the process works.

Can we get a witness?: Probably not. Democrats feel lawmakers already saw and experienced the brunt of their case. After all, the chamber where the trial will be held was literally overrun by rioters. Calling witnesses would also lengthen the trial, not to mention potentially provide an opening for