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The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump will begin today.

For Democrats, their case rests not only on Mr. Trump’s words before his supporters stormed the Capitol, but also on a pattern of behavior. The prosecution will claim that months of incendiary words, vexatious legal cases and falsehoods worked up his supporters and incited them to breach Congress.

Mr. Trump’s defense team is likely to focus on two areas: contesting the legitimacy of the trial and asserting that, in any case, his words fell under the protection of the First Amendment.

We look ahead to the arguments both sides will present.

On today’s episode

Background reading

• The impeachment case claims that former President Donald Trump was “singularly responsible” for the Capitol riot. His defense team argues that he cannot be tried.

• Here’s what to watch for as the trial begins.

• Hours after the 2020 vote, Mr. Trump declared the process a fraud. We look at his 77-day campaign to subvert the election.

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Transcripts of each episode are available by the next workday. You can find them at the top of the page.

Jim Rutenberg contributed reporting.

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