When the Prime Minister appointed TV broadcaster and journalist Mike Duffy to the Senate in 2008... he could not have known what was about to be set in motion ... and how the very institution he publicly loathed would become such a political hot potato.

The RCMP charged Mike Duffy with 31 counts including fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. Today, the suspended Senator's trial gets underway. It is expected to capture headlines for at least the next 41 days.

To bring us up to speed and help us dissect what the trial could mean for the balance of power in Ottawa, we heard from Chris Hall. He is the CBC's National Affairs Editor and has been covering politics in Ottawa for over two decades.

This segment was produced by The Current's Kristin Nelson.