A) Much of Congress is scripted. We usually know the outcome of things. Sometimes day in advance.

But today, a huge, O. Henry surprise. And where this takes the second impeachment trial, no one really knows.

B) The tectonic plates on Capitol Hill just shifted significantly. With the Senate vote for witnesses, this could potentially extend the trial for weeks. Both sides will need to depose witnesses, summoned on both sides as well as open the gates to “discovery.”

C) Republicans really played into the hands of Democrats. A 50/50 vote, along party lines, by rule, would have lost. But Republicans used the math against Democrats today, joining them to make sure they stretch out the trial.

D) This is NOT want Democrats wanted a a few days ago. They wanted to put the the trial to bed and get on with passing a coronavirus bill in the coming weeks. This could disrupt all of that.

E) A Senate trial is supposed be a political forum. That’s what the Founders intended. A Senate impeachment trial is not like a traditional courtroom. But by shifting it to issuing subpoenas for witnesses, this tilts the field more to the traditional legal realm.

F) That’s the turf of Trump’s defense counsel team of Mike van der Veen, Bruce Castor and David Schoen. So, where this goes, no one knows. The Senate vote stands for now. This likely means, unless there is a separate agreement to forge ahead, no vote to acquit or convict today.