john bolton didn't last that much longer in the administration. >> i'm sure that was totally a coincidence. >> here is what is important about "the washington post" story in addition to the details from the story and we're hearing today. again this narrative is starting to lay itself out. we now know july 25th, which we always knew wasn't the only time this conversation was had. now we know that there were other meetings and know what was happening on july 10th. it is reasonable to assume there was potentially prior to that there were more conversation. it didn't just occur to someone one day, hey, let's do this. you have to suspect that he would have trump -- i mean would have had this idea in his head right from the time they got a new prime minister in ukraine. >> and what is the defense of this? what are people -- republicans on the hill and republicans in the white house saying other than attacking those who are making these allegations in depositions and impugning patriotism, et cetera.