It was a wild week in politics

IMPEACHMENT. 2020 ELECTION. WASHINGTON. AND MORE FROM THE POLITICS WORLD.

Friday, October 25

President Donald Trump stands during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony for auto racing great Roger Penske in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

OnPolitics weekly wrap-up: Taylor time and the SCIF tiff

A top diplomat to Ukraine has his moment in front of the impeachment inquiry and Republicans want in the room. That and more of the week's headlines.

We did it, everyone. We made it to Friday. This is OnPolitics.

All you need to know about the impeachment inquiry

As the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump entered its fifth week, the former top diplomat to Ukraine offered some of the most compelling testimony yet. Bill Taylor, who led diplomatic relations in Ukraine, said it was made clear to the Eastern European country that the release of military aid would be contingent on whether it opened an investigation into an energy company that employed former Vice President Joe Biden's son. Taylor said he was told that directly on the phone by U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, who gave his own testimony in the inquiry last week.

Another key takeaway from Taylor's testimony was his assessment that the U.S. had two diplomatic channels operating in Ukraine: One that was official, and helmed by the State Department, and a second, unofficial channel "which included then- Special Envoy Kurt Volker, Ambassador (Gordon) Sondland, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, and as I subsequently learned, Mr. (Rudy) Giuliani," Taylor told congressional members and staff.

But the week got really contentious when about three dozen Republicans decided they'd had enough, and pushed their way into the secure room where a Defense official was giving testimony. They were upset about what they called a "secret" impeachment investigation, but there are still 47 Republicans who have access to the closed-door depositions. Either way, the audience of at least one was pleased: "Thank you to House Republicans for being tough, smart, and understanding in detail the greatest Witch Hunt in American History," Trump later tweeted.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves as he goes on stage at Liberal election headquarters in Montreal, on Monday night.

Paul Chiasson, AP

A criminal investigation begins

In political news unrelated to the impeachment inquiry, the Justice Department's inquiry into the origins of the Russia investigation has shifted from an administrative review to a criminal probe , a person familiar with the matter said late Thursday. Attorney General William Barr launched the inquiry in April into whether federal investigators abused their surveillance authority as they sought to understand Russia's interference during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has called the investigation a "witch hunt."

Political world says goodbye to Cummings

Rep. Elijah Cummings' legacy and life will continue to be honored Friday morning, as former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are set to speak at the late congressman's funeral. Cummings laid in state in Statuary Hall Thursday, making him the the first black lawmaker to do so in the Capitol, according to the Congressional Black Caucus.

•	Opinion: We're grateful to have worked for Elijah Cummings
•	Congress bids farewell to 'a master of the House'
•	Photo gallery: Cummings lies in state at the Capitol

This week around the world

•	Amid confusion and criticism, Trump says 'small' contingent of US troops will stay in Syria
•	Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wins second term but loses majority
•	Benjamin Netanyahu gives up on forming new coalition in Israel
•	Trump declares 'big success' in Syria, lifts sanctions on Turkey
•	A judge says the State Department needs to start producing records
•	A bad week for Boris Johnson: His Brexit timetable was rejected

This week in 2020

•	Elizabeth Warren takes a 7-point lead over Joe Biden in a national poll
•	Bernie Sanders takes a little dig at Pete Buttigieg over the Supreme Court
•	Tulsi Gabbard vs. Hillary Clinton: We explain the feud
•	Rep. Tim Ryan dropped out of the Democratic race
•	Julian Castro says he needs to raise $800K or he's leaving the race.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Hope you get to enjoy some leaf peepin' this weekend. (Sorry friends in places without deciduous trees.) - Annah Aschbrenner