The story of the impeachment inquiry has largely played out in Washington as a historic showdown between the legislative and executive branches. Every day, there are committee hearings, news conferences, depositions and subpoenas (some honored, others ignored).

But in the middle of all that, members of Congress took a two-week recess — and the controversy over the impeachment inquiry followed them to their districts. Editor Lisa Chow and producer Jessica Cheung wondered what that sounded like, especially in politically diverse places where voters are split on the issue.

They identified a moderate freshman Democrat, Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who, like many of her peers, had largely avoided the issue of impeachment. Then, last month, she co-wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post with six of her fellow Democrats endorsing an impeachment inquiry. It was a turning point in the impeachment debate.

Slotkin represents a swing district where President Trump prevailed in 2016, but where voters elected a moderate Democrat in last year’s midterms. As Jessica put it, “Slotkin’s district — one where she was the first Democrat elected in nearly 20 years — is right where divided America lives.”