Trump, Biden & Ukraine
Dueling corruption allegations arose over the weekend, entangling both Trump and Democratic frontrunner, Joe Biden. In a phone call to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump allegedly threatened to withhold U.S. aid to Ukraine until the Ukrainian government investigated Joe Biden and his son’s business dealings in Ukraine, according to a government whistleblower.
Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Trump, Biden & Ukraine
Links
“The story behind Biden’s son, Ukraine and Trump’s claims”
https://www.apnews.com/9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c
“What is the Trump-Ukraine scandal about and how is Joe Biden involved?”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/22/trump-ukraine-scandal-joe-biden
“Trump, Biden And Ukraine – What Happened And What’s Next?”
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/763443697/whats-the-ukraine-story-about-trump-says-it-s-biden-democrats-say-it-s-trump
“Trump goes on offensive over Biden and Ukraine as Schiff ponders impeachment”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/22/donald-trump-rudy-giuliani-joe-biden-ukraine
“The most noxious part of the Ukraine-Biden whistleblower affair is Team Trump thinks we’re all idiots”
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-09-23/trump-ukraine-biden-military-aid
“Pelosi warns of ‘new stage of investigation’ if Trump administration blocks whistleblower”
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/462525-pelosi-whistleblower-complaint-must-be-addressed-immediately
“There’s a glaring Loophole in Trump and Giuliani allegations against Joe Biden”
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-giuliani-joe-biden-ukraine-burisma-loophole-2019-9
“Source says whistleblower didn’t have ‘firsthand knowledge’ of Trump call with Ukraine president”
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/source-says-whistleblower-didnt-have-firsthand-knowledge-of-trump-call-with-ukraine-president
Assessment
- Writing: Several advisors to the president have argued that releasing the phone conversation to Congress’ intelligence committee would set a dangerous precedent that may subject sensitive communications with foreign leaders to be investigated by Congress in the future. Does the need to ensure that the President acts constitutionally in managing foreign affairs override this danger?
- Debate: There is evidence that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are guilty of a quid pro quo agreement with Ukraine and should be investigated by Congress.
- Poll: Based on the evidence presented so far, who do you think is in more political trouble, Joe Biden or Donald Trump?
- Short Answer: Donald Trump is accused of having colluded with the Russians to undermine the integrity of the 2016 presidential election. In what way is this new Ukrainian allegation like the Russia case?
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