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It makes perfect sense that the Speaker standoff in the House of Representatives, now on Day 4, coincides with the somber second anniversary of the Capitol insurrection. The same extremist, burn-it-all-down forces that drove the events of Jan. 6, 2021, are continuing to drive dysfunction and division in Congress today. Fox News host Tucker Carlson, far from a democracy advocate, has claimed, “This is what democracy looks like.” It does? I suppose for a Putin cheerleader, maybe so. But what most Americans see is 20 elected officials preventing a 435-member legislative body from conducting the people’s business. That’s not democracy; it’s a hostage situation. Though it thankfully hasn’t borne the violent hallmarks of the insurrection, the Speaker debacle shows what kowtowing to extremists gets you—humiliation, gridlock, and a whole lot of nothing. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor
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Biden toughens border, offers legal path for 30,000 a month —Associated Press
Ukraine clinches U.S., German armored vehicles, rejects Russian truce order —Reuters
Military investigation reveals how the U.S. botched a drone strike in Kabul —The New York Times
Within hours of Debbie Stabenow announcing her retirement, Dems are scrambling to replace her —Politico
CPAC’s Matt Schlapp accused of fondling male campaign staffer in Georgia —NBC News
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Remembering the fallen, honoring the brave
President Biden observed the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection today by honoring the police officers who protected lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol and others who defended American democracy in the wake of the 2020 election. For the first time in his presidency, Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal—the nation's second-highest civilian honor—to 13 individuals at a ceremony in the White House East Room. "It's not an exaggeration to say America owes you all…a debt of gratitude, one we can never fully repay unless we live up to what you did," Biden said. "And what you did was truly consequential.” —ABC News
Just one Republican. On the Hill, House Democrats, along with GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, held a ceremony on the House steps to mark the anniversary of the attack. Gathering with the families of officers who lost their lives in connection with the riot, lawmakers held a 140-second moment of silence, one second for each officer injured during the attack. “We will never forget their sacrifice and we will never forget this day,” incoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. —The Hill
“A direct and foreseeable consequence.” The longtime partner of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after the attack, has sued Donald Trump and two Capitol rioters for their roles in the mob violence that day. The suit, filed in D.C. Federal District Court yesterday, seeks at least $10 million in damages each from Trump and George Tanios and Julian Elie Khater, who assaulted Sicknick with chemical spray on Jan. 6. —The New York Times
Can it happen again? “Trump was a stress test for the American system in that he exposed that the dangers of a president going rogue are much greater than the dangers of an entrenched bureaucracy,” says Patrick Eddington, a former CIA military analyst and ex-House senior staffer. “But he—or a successor—will be smarter next time. Ronald Reagan's director of personnel Scot Faulkner observed, ‘personnel is policy.’ It would be good policy for this country to have professional civil servants in executive agencies who can resist a renegade president.” —The UnPopulist
MORE: Schmidt: Those who hold the line deserve respect, not derision —St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Fanone: If the fringe takes over
“[Rep. Kevin] McCarthy once told me that he couldn’t control the ‘fringe members’ of the party on January 6. But these members are no longer the fringe: they are on the cusp of taking control of the House, and will have unprecedented influence in the 118th Congress. Whoever takes over the top spot, House leadership has a duty to reject the dangerous rhetoric that has led, and will continue to lead, to political violence here at home. The incoming GOP House leadership must find the backbone to condemn political violence and hateful rhetoric incited by members of their own party.” —Michael Fanone on CNN
Michael Fanone is a former Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officer who was injured during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He is the author of “Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul” and a CNN law enforcement analyst.
MORE: The McCarthy holdouts are trolling democracy —TIME
Will he finally get the votes?
After losing a historic 13 rounds of voting to earn the Speakership of the House of Representatives—the longest in 164 years—Rep. Kevin McCarthy thinks he might finally have the votes, after managing to flip 15 Republicans to his side today. But to secure the votes, he’s had to make deals with the hard-right holdouts that have worried and frustrated moderates. They are concerned that the concessions will make it harder for the new GOP majority to effectively govern, and weaken McCarthy if he does finally win the gavel. McCarthy disagrees. "I think at the end of the day we're going to be more effective, more efficient and that definitely government is going to work," he said. The House will reconvene at 10 p.m. ET. Stay tuned. —CNN
MORE SPEAKERSHIP NEWS:
Northwest lawmakers grow frustrated as House fails to elect Speaker for third straight day —The Daily Chronicle
Gaetz says he ‘will resign’ if Democrats help elect a moderate Republican for Speaker —The Hill
Speaker debacle puts U.S. security 'at risk,' GOP lawmakers warn —Politico
Biden promotes compromise at a moment of Republican chaos in Washington —The New York Times
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Kreilick: Vigilance is still necessary in the face of disinfo
“There is no doubt that those who wield disinformation will adjust their tactics over the coming months and in advance of the 2024 election. They will continue to use disinformation to divide and conquer those who should stand together to build a safer, healthier world; work to mislead and misdirect people into making decisions against their own interests; and strive to overwhelm and exhaust all of us with a flood of false information.” —Johanna Chao Kreilick on the Union of Concerned Scientists blog
Johanna Chao Kreilick is president of the Union of Concerned Scientists. She previously served on the executive team of the Open Society Foundations.
MORE: Trust issues becoming the norm —Voice of America
Zakaria: Why populism is on the run
“Populism thrives as an opposition movement. It denounces the establishment, encourages fears and conspiracy theories about nefarious ruling elites, and promises emotional responses rather than actual programs (build a wall, ban immigration, stop trade). But once in government, the shallowness of its policy proposals is exposed, and its leaders can’t blame others as easily.” —Fareed Zakaria in The Washington Post
Fareed Zakaria writes a foreign affairs column for The Washington Post. He is also the host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS.
MORE: Repel and rebuild: Expanding the playbook against populism —Institute for Global Change
Ed Board: Learning the lessons of Jan. 6
“It’s important to talk, and it’s important to remember that whether our colors are blue or red, we all want pretty much the same things: happiness, safety, enough money to keep the bills paid. … In this moment, we’re watching our nation try to rise from the serious injuries it has suffered in recent years. As the Jan. 6 uprising so chillingly showed us, our country’s life is at stake. Let’s hope we trust the truth and have the humanity to overcome our differences.” —Yakima Herald-Republic
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I am not surprised by what is going on in the House of Representatives. Perhaps ALL the Republicans in the House need to be reminded of the words of another great Republican, Abraham Lincoln. He said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” —John C., Florida
Is it possible for moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats to choose a compromise Speaker? I think Kevin McCarthy has burned that bridge, but maybe someone else...? —David M., Colorado
George Santos is Herschel Walker for the House. It doesn't matter who he is/isn't/was. He's an “R” and a “Yes” when he's told to be a “Yes,” and a “No” when he's told to be a “No.” He's just what Kevin needs. —Jim S., Texas
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The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Renew America Foundation.
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