Joining us this hour. Heres an interesting thing. Sort of a personal thing, but also a news thing. Right before President Trump was impeached the first time, i published a book called blow out and the weird surprising to me thing about blow out is that tended up being oddly well timed. I had no idea it was going to be well timed when i set out to write it, but thats how it landed. It was a book about the Oil And Gas Industry and the political power and geopolitical power of that industry. And a big chunk of that book was about all of the craziness and Corruption In Ukraine. And of course, then, right at the time the book came out, all the craziness and Corruption In Ukraine ended up being the setting, like the Playing Field for what President Trump got impeached for the first time he got impeached. I did not intend it to land that way. It was fortuitous and i hope helpful to people trying to figure out that landscape while we were looking at that first impeachment. Now, of course, mr.
Well timed. That is how it landed. A book about the Oil And Gas Industry and a big chunk of the book was about the craziness and the corruption in the ukraine. Then it was the playing field. I didnt intend it to land it that way. Well, now of course mr. Trump is being impeached for a second time. And it is kind of uncanny, a lot of the things that i wrote about in the book that came out in the first trump impeachment. The whole reason that i wrote the book is because we were consistently underestimating the sway of this one industry. How much sway it has over politicals and governments here and around the world. I thought there was a need for a explainer and how the industry could explain. If something is happening that does not make sense on the surface it helps to look at the industry and see if they are maybe The Hidden Hand, when politics fail or governments are bad. This is a place to look. One thing to say here is the hidden power that is making it possible or impossible and call
All about the craziness and Corruption In Ukraine. And of course, then, right at the time the book came out, all the craziness and Corruption In Ukraine ended up being the setting, like, the Playing Field for what President Trump got impeached for the first time he got impeached. I did not intend it to land that way. It was foretuittous, and i hope, helpful to people trying to figure out that landscape while we were looking at that first impeachment. Well, now, of course, mr. Trump is being impeached for a second time, and its kind of uncanny a lot of the things that i wrote about in that book that came out during the first trump impeachment. Theyre sort of coming home to roost now. The whole reason i wrote that book is because i think we were pretty consistently underestimating the sway of this one industry, how much sway the Oil And Gas Industry has over politics and whole governments, both here in the United States and around the world. And so, i thought it would be helpful. I thoug
Hearing will come to order. I welcome everybody to this hybrid hearing. Both Ranking Member mister heiss and myself have wanted to have hearings resume in person. Especially when we are in session i made a promise to mister heiss that i would fight for that and today is the fruit of that effort i believe when we were in session, to the extent possible, protecting everybodys health and safety, we can and should be meeting like this. At least in hybrid form those members who are not comfortable or who physically cannot join us in the hearing room are more than welcome to join us through the web. We are happy to have them. We ask everybody, when they are not speaking, to wear a mask that is the guidance and the capitol hill position. That is the guidance of the chairwoman of this committee. It protects everybody i really appreciate that cooperation. Let me see. For members appearing remotely, just a few reminders before i get my Opening Statement. House rules require that we see you so pl
Do we ask everyone to turn on their cameras . Were getting ready to get started. The hearing will come to order. I welcome everybody to this hybrid hearing. Both ranks member mr. Hysse and myself have wanted to have hearings resume in person especially when we are in session. I made a promise that i would fight for that, and today is the fruit of that effort. I believe when were in session protecting everybody, those who are not comfortable or physically cannot join us in the hearings room, are more than welcome to join us through web i no noor. We ask everybody when they were not speaking, to wear a mask. I really appreciate that cooperation of for members appears remotely. House rules require that we see you, so police have your cameras turned on at all times during the course of the hearing. If they can let us you can use the chat function to send a request. And if that doesnt work, you can unmute and seek recognition. These arent ideal circumstances, but we are in the midst of a pa