Revisiting January 6

In roughly 48 hours, America will have the opportunity to watch the House select committee hearings on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. These hearings will have all the trappings of prime-time television, from b-roll of never-before-seen footage to testimony by well-known individuals. But the importance of the hearings and magnitude of what they mean for America should not be shrouded by the glitz and glam of prime-time TV. The panel is tasked with uncovering the truth about the insurrection and the roles various individuals played in attempting to undermine American democracy and overthrow the election of 2020. This is no small feat for a committee that has worked to stay above the political fray and out of the Republican Party’s crosshairs. Since its formation, Republicans have worked overtime to paint the investigation as a witch hunt with a political axe to grind. While there will be naysayers and people who wish to whitewash history by averting the public’s attention with grandstanding and unsubstantiated claims, we must not lose sight of the purpose of the committee and what it means for American democracy as a whole. For those not buying into the temerity of the GOP’s bombastic claims, we are hopeful for answers and a better understanding of what exactly happened that fateful day as well as leading up to it. When you tune in on Thursday night, I would encourage you to pause and acknowledge two things: 1. The magnitude of the task ahead of the committee. 2. The responsibility we have as a nation to set the truth free and the importance of showing up with an open mind. After all, the committee’s job is not to play judge and jury; it is to reveal the truth. In the words of Joe Friday, “Just the facts, ma’am.” —Mary Anna Mancuso, National Spokeswoman, Renew America Movement

• Key senators eye bipartisan gun bill deal ‘this week’ —NBC News

• GOP Rep. Jacobs to retire after backing assault weapons ban —Associated Press

• NY governor signs law raising age to own semiautomatic rifle —NBC News

• Source: Whitmer, McConnell, Evers on Wisconsin gunman's list —Associated Press

• Seven states prepare for primaries June 7 —The Fulcrum

The truth is coming

Nearly a year since its inception, the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will go public with its findings starting this week. The bipartisan panel hopes its evidence will show the American public who was behind the insurrection and how close our democracy came to the brink of disaster. The series of hearings will take place over the next several weeks, beginning with a prime-time session on Thursday night, in which the nine-member panel will give an overview of its 11-month probe. Catch up on news about the investigation ahead of the hearing. —Associated Press

• Trump on trial: A guide to the Jan. 6 hearings and the question of criminality —Brookings Institute

• Secret Service scrambled to explore taking Trump to Capitol on Jan. 6, witnesses told Jan. 6 committee —The Washington Post

• Trump campaign told fake electors in Georgia to use 'complete secrecy and discretion,' email reveals —CNN

• Proud Boys ex-leader charged with seditious conspiracy —The Wall Street Journal

• Jan. 6 committee questions ‘puzzling’ DOJ decision on top Trump aides —Axios

• ‘More than incitement’: Jamie Raskin teases Trump revelations ahead of Jan. 6 hearings —Rolling Stone

• Liz Cheney: Jan. 6 ‘conspiracy’ was ‘extremely broad … well-organized’ —CBS News

• Pence staff feared for his safety amid Trump’s pressure campaign before Jan. 6 —The New York Times

• Jan. 6 committee privately divided on abolishing Electoral College —Axios

AJC Ed Board: Don’t undermine faith in elections

“There was a time, not long ago, when those seeking public office were gracious in defeat. That all changed after the last presidential election. Let’s hope it doesn’t continue. Such actions, after all, only threaten to erode our democracy.” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MORE: NYU’s Jonathan Haidt: Why does he think American democracy could fail? —Deseret News

Focus on voting and elections

As a Topline reader, you’re probably familiar with ranked-choice voting, but have you ever heard of approval voting? It’s a new voting format already being used in Fargo, North Dakota, and St. Louis, Missouri. Jed Limke, who leads a local group in Fargo that advocates for it, says it’s even easier than RCV. "With approval voting, I can say, ‘Vote yes or no to each one. Most votes wins.’ And I am done explaining approval voting to you," he said. As with RCV, the goal is to give unifying leaders from any party (or no party) a better chance to compete. Though it has its detractors, it’s being considered now in Seattle, Washington, too. Stay tuned. —MPR News

• Arizona. A Superior Court judge has rejected a bid by the Arizona Republican Party to eliminate most mail-in voting in the upcoming general election. The lawsuit, which argued that mass voting by mail is inconsistent with the Arizona Constitution’s requirement for a secret ballot, was filed in Mohave County, home of Kelli Ward, chair of the Arizona GOP. “Is the Arizona Legislature prohibited by the Arizona Constitution from enacting voting laws that include no-excuse mail-in voting? The answer is no,” Judge Lee F. Jantzen wrote in his ruling. —KTAR News

• Georgia. Will Georgia go backwards? Some Republicans hope so. Since tens of thousands of Democrats crossed party lines in Georgia’s primary election last month, they’re proposing a state law to end open primaries and restrict future primaries to voters registered as party members. Currently, any registered voter in Georgia can choose either party’s ballot. The idea for the new law follows complaints from Donald Trump and his supporters that Democrats “tainted” Republican races. —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards said yesterday that he will call the Louisiana Legislature into special session soon to draw new district maps for the state, after a federal judge blocked use of proposed maps with only one majority-Black district. Edwards, whose earlier veto of the maps was overridden by lawmakers, said there should have been a second majority-Black district among the six approved districts, as the state’s population is almost one-third Black. The judge’s ruling orders a new plan by June 20. —Politico

MORE: Supreme Court may hear ‘800-pound gorilla’ of election law cases —The New York Times

When politics defeat freedom

By Lynn Schmidt

Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis has found a new victim in his culture war battles. This time it is the Special Olympics. 

The Special Olympics, which is holding its 2022 USA Games in Orlando, Florida, from June 5 through 12, had a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for its participating athletes. That is until Florida moved to fine the organization $27.5 million for violating a state law against such rules. In a statement, the Special Olympics said it was lifting the vaccine requirement "as required by state of Florida officials on May 27, based upon the Florida Department of Health's interpretation of Florida law." The organization also posted, “We don’t want to fight. We want to play.”

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Many Special Olympics athletes are also physically vulnerable to COVID-19. 

This story is very personal to me. I am the parent and coach of a Special Olympics athlete. My athlete is also immune-compromised. The Special Olympics has given my daughter the opportunity to physically compete, be a part of a team, and more importantly, make friends. I cannot adequately describe the pure joy she expresses when a medal is placed around her neck. I am relieved that she was not planning on participating in the 2022 USA Games, because if she were, I would have had to disappoint her.

But this scenario doesn’t just impact those of us affiliated with Special Olympics. Conservatives have traditionally stood for limited government and for allowing businesses and private organizations to make their own choices. What DeSantis is doing in this situation (and others) is the opposite of that—using governmental power to weaken the freedom of groups and individuals to decide for themselves.

The idea that DeSantis is willing to put our society’s most vulnerable in a risky situation for cheap political gain is unconscionable. All Special Olympics athletes make the following oath before games begin: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." Shame on the governor, who only seems to think about winning. 

Lynn Schmidt is a Renew America Movement fellow.

MORE: Special Olympics drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate after Florida threatens $27.5M fine —Orlando Sentinel

I agree with Karel M. of Washington that a cultural paradigm shift needs to occur so that gun ownership isn't equated with patriotism. I also think that Hollywood and video game makers need to be held accountable for glorifying violence and guns, since data shows we emulate what we see. (Don't believe me? Why would marketing and advertising still exist if it weren't so?)

Similarly, if a type of medical device used but not according to instructions killed tens of thousands of people annually in the U.S., it would be taken off the market, regardless of the potential good it had when used correctly, and those manufacturing such would be sued or fined. How do the gun makers and entertainment industries get away with encouraging violence or enabling death, while other industries have to be accountable for their products’ misuse? —Michael L., California

The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff, the Renew America Movement, or the Renew America Foundation.