Roundtable: How San Diego’s Lawmakers Handled Trump’s Second Impeachment

Friday, January 15, 2021

Credit: Pool photo via Fox 5 San Diego

Above: Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA 51) in front of the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego on Jan. 9, 2021, calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

San Diego's congressional representatives split on impeachment, a new COVID-19 vaccination center opens near Petco Park, and the vaccine arrives in short supply in Imperial County.

Aired: January 15, 2021 | Transcript

PANEL:

Michael Smolens, columnist, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Jonathan Wosen, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Jennifer Bowman, reporter, inewsource

KPBS Roundtable airs on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. on KPBS Radio and at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS TV. Encore presentation Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on KPBS TV.

Impeachment 2.0

Donald Trump made the wrong kind of history yet again this week by becoming the only President to be impeached twice. This latest condemnation from Congress was due to the President inciting a deadly insurrection against the U.S. Capitol as electoral votes were being counted. One of San Diego’s newest members of congress not only voted against impeachment, but also voted to challenge the election certification based on lies about alleged voter fraud. Michael Smolens, columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune, joins us to talk about how San Diego’s lawmakers weathered the tumultuous week.

Speeding Up Local Vaccinations

San Diego has a plan to vaccinate frontline workers and those deemed a high risk for catching COVID-19. The only problem is that we still don’t have adequate supply. Efforts are being made to improve logistics, including the opening of a new vaccination center near Petco Park and expanding access to those who are age 65 or older. As we wait for more vaccines, there are new efforts to penalize public health violators. Union-Tribune biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen walks us through the latest developments.

Vaccines Arrive In Imperial County

The lack of COVID-19 vaccine supply is a statewide problem. In rural Imperial County, vaccines have arrived, but only for a select number of frontline workers and nursing home residents. The arrival of vaccines is a positive development for a pocket of California that's been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. Jennifer Bowman has been covering the situation in Imperial County and joins us for an update on our neighbors to the east.

Roundtable is a lively discussion of the week's top stories. Local journalists join host Mark Sauer to provide insight into how these stories affect residents of the San Diego region.

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