Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
January 8, 2021
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
I want to let everyone know that Keith can finally reveal that he has moved on to be a senior editor on the Fox News website. As he mentioned before, Fox does not want him at this point to do outside projects. He misses doing Cut to the News very much and appreciates that many of you have asked about him and even expressed concern. Maybe he will sneak in a guest appearance every now and then. I’m sure nobody will get hurt!
He is very excited, though, about his new opportunity and the chance it will give him to balance today’s biased news and work to help preserve this nation.
Warm regards,
Rebekah
Leading the News . . .
Dems inch toward second Trump impeachment . . . Democrats in Congress on Friday weighed impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time, two days after what many believe are false claims of election fraud helped encourage a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol. Democratic leaders including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Vice
President Mike Pence and Trump’s cabinet refused to take steps to remove Trump from power. Reuters
EU regulators OK increasing doses from virus vaccine vials . . . The European Union’s drug agency on Friday approved doctors drawing up to six doses from each vial of the coronavirus vaccine made by BioNTech-Pfizer, a move that could speed up the pace of vaccinations in the 27-nation bloc. Associated Press
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Some GOP senators regret not doing more to curb Trump . . . GOP senators say they feel a sense of growing regret over not standing up to President Trump sooner — a day after a violent mob ransacked the Capitol building in one of the darkest and most humiliating days in U.S. history. “We should have done more to push back, both against his rhetoric and some of the things he did legislatively,” said one lawmaker. “The
mistake we made is that we always thought he was going to get better. We thought that once he got the nomination and then once he got a Cabinet, he was going to get better, he was going to be more presidential.” The Hill
Trump stays out of sight as resignations and recriminations batter White House . . . President Trump remained invisible and offline on Thursday as his administration was rocked by fresh resignations and the condemnations of former allies a day after his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. The president finally abandoned his attempt to hang on to power with a statement published online by an aide, but it was not enough to stem desertions
or demands that Trump be removed from office. Elaine Chao, Transportation Secretary, became the first member of the Cabinet to resign amid reports that other key officials were expected to follow. Washington Examiner
Kellyanne Conway condemns violence, supports Trump, in statement on Capitol riots . . . Kellyanne Conway, former longtime adviser to President Trump, in a Thursday statement condemned the violence that occurred at the Capitol on Wednesday while also expressing support for the president, even as others have said he's to blame. "The thugs from yesterday are responsible for their own actions," she stated. "They don't represent the millions
of Trump voters, or the massive 'MAGA' movement; they insult them." Conway also praised Trump for his response to the riot. The Hill
Nikki Haley slams POTUS . . . Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley delivered a harsh rebuke of President Donald Trump's words and actions since the November election, telling fellow Republicans on Thursday that his behavior since the November election "will be judged harshly by
history." Haley, who is considered a likely 2024 presidential contender, struck a balance between criticism of the president's actions and a full repudiation of his tenure. Calling Wednesday's violence "un-American," she nonetheless vowed to "defend the achievements of the past four years" and referred to her service in the Trump administration as "the honor of a lifetime." The Hill
Graham: Trump's legacy 'tarnished,' but his is not supportive yet of 25th Amendment . . . Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday warned that President Trump's legacy was undercut after rioters supportive of challenging the election results breached the Capitol on Wednesday, he added that he wasn't supportive of "at this point" of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. Graham said Trump's legacy was "tarnished
by yesterday."
Security officials underestimated threat to Capitol despite warning signs . . . U.S. officials said they underestimated the potential for Trump supporters to become a mob who quickly seized the U.S. Capitol for hours. In the days before the Capitol rioting, law-enforcement officials were alerted to a noticeable uptick in online discussions about Wednesday’s pro-Trump protests potentially becoming unruly and targeting the
building where Congress would count electoral votes. Storming of the Capitol was discussed in chat room boards in the days leading up to Wednesday’s attack. Wall Street Journal
Capitol Police rejected offers of federal help to quell mob . . . Three days before supporters of President Trump rioted at the Capitol, the Pentagon asked the U.S Capitol Police if it needed National Guard manpower. And as the protesters descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The police turned them down both times. Despite plenty of warnings of a possible insurrection
and ample resources and time to prepare, the Capitol Police planned only for a free speech demonstration. Associated Press
Pentagon criticized for "no show" at the onset of riot . . . A U.S. military that has been desperate to stay out of the nation’s bitter political wars found itself dragged back into controversy on multiple fronts, a day after the breaching of the U.S. Capitol by a crowd of angry Pro-Trump supporters. Top former military officials — including two of President Trump’s previous defense secretaries — harshly criticized the handling of
Wednesday’s events. The military was a “no show” in the first hours of the confrontation that consumed the city. Washington Times
US Capitol Police officer dies . . . A US Capitol Police officer has died from injuries suffered when he reportedly was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher during Wednesday’s riots. Brian D. Sicknick collapsed when he returned to his division office Wednesday and was taken to the hospital, where he died Thursday. The department said Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters.” Sicknick joined the
Capitol Police in July 2008. New York Post
Capitol Police chief announces resignation . . . Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund said Thursday that he will resign later this month after his police force failed to contain mobs who tried to prevent Congress from ratifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory. His resignation letter came hours after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for him to step down. Sund will have only been on the job for about seven months when he resigns effective
Jan. 16. The Hill
Most voters say Trump is 'very' or 'somewhat' responsible for Capitol Hill violence . . . A majority of voters said that President Trump is at least somewhat responsible for the violent Capitol Hill siege, a national poll found. Forty-nine percent of the registered voters surveyed said that Trump was “very responsible” for the events that unfolded at the Capitol, while 14% said he was “somewhat responsible." Nineteen percent said that the
president wasn’t culpable at all, and 9% said he was “not too responsible” for the chaos. When asked how responsible the rioters who entered the Capitol building were, 80% of respondents assigned blame. Washington Examiner
Media downplayed leftist riots, changed tune with attack on Capitol . . . Throughout 2020, members of the media consistently downplayed, made excuses for and at times bolstered violent left-wing riots that shook America. The same media quickly and forcefully condemned Wednesday the Trump supporters who descended on and stormed the U.S. Capitol, often using the term they had avoided for so long — rioting. Riots hit
America following the death of George Floyd in late May, with destruction targeting both big and small cities.Despite videos showing the riots, the media consistently downplayed them. Daily Caller
Some riots and rioters are more equal than others.
Biden finally announces his entire Cabinet . . . Since President-elect Biden won the election in November, he has been announcing the Cabinet nominees who will help him achieve his agenda. Biden's nominees, if confirmed by the Senate after he takes office, would comprise the most diverse Cabinet in American history, a promise which he made while campaigning. Here is a list of who he has chosen to head departments throughout the
executive branch. Daily Caller
What happened to competence? No longer a criterion to serve at the highest levels of government?
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Intelligence downplayed Chinese election interference . . . Politicization problems exist in U.S. spy agency assessments on foreign influence in the 2020 U.S. election, including analysts who appeared to hold back information on Chinese meddling efforts because they disagreed with the Trump administration's policies, according to an intelligence community inspector. A 14-page report to the Senate Intelligence Committee by the analytic
Ombudsman revealed the conclusions of the investigation that was “conducted in response to IC complaints regarding the election threat issue." Washington Examiner
Objective intelligence analysis, free of political considerations, has gone the way of unbiased journalism. It's dead. Jeopardizing the security of American people.
Federal judiciary breached in SolarWinds hack by Russia . . . The electronic filing system used by federal courts has likely been compromised in the massive SolarWinds hack, placing highly sensitive nonpublic court documents at risk. This is yet another branch of government that was impacted by a suspected Russian cyber-espionage campaign, which has breached more than half a dozen Trump administration agencies. Administrative Office of US Courts
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Beijing orders Chinese media to censor coverage of Alibaba probe . . . China’s government has told the country’s media to censor reporting on an antitrust probe into tech group Alibaba, whose founder Jack Ma has disappeared from public view as misfortunes mount for his business empire, according to people familiar with the matter. The move by authorities to exert control over the media coverage of the prominent group’s
woes shows that the issue has become a matter of national political sensitivity in China. Financial Times
Meantime, our American media requires no such order. The "fake news" conglomerate knows exactly which news to censor and which to amplify.
Five nations want Iran to deliver justice on downed plane . . . The countries - Ukraine, France, Canada, Britain and Sweden - whose citizens were killed when Iran accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner said Friday they want Iran “to deliver justice and make sure Iran makes full reparations to the families of the victims and affected countries.” The shootdown by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard happened the same night Iran
launched a ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. soldiers in Iraq, its response to the American drone strike that killed Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3. Associated Press
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More coronavirus relief is on the way for small business . . . Millions of business owners are about to get help. The Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department are preparing to revive the PPP five months after its first two rounds of funding ended. First-time borrowers with no more than 500 workers will be able to borrow up to $10 million. The loans, which can be forgiven, will have five-year terms and
carry an interest rate of 1%.
The SBA is expected to announce soon the date when it will begin accepting loan applications. All applications must be submitted and approved by March 31. Associated Press
Amazon vendors hiked prices on pandemic items . . . Amazon vendors doubled prices last year on 136 products considered essential for consumers, health providers and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, including Toilet paper, patio heaters and surgical gloves. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group report released Thursday analyzed prices of 750 “essential supplies” such as toilet paper, pulse oximeters
and hand sanitizers sold over the online retail site from Dec. 1, 2019 through Dec. 1, 2020. Sellers of 409 products raised prices more than 20% over the past year. Another 136 items doubled in price, according to the report. USA Today
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Capitol riot drew different groups . . . Several different groups were represented at President Donald Trump’s rally and riots at the Capitol Building later in the day in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Flags from the Three Percenters, Confederate flags and other emblems and slogans associated with other organizations were present throughout the day. It was mixed collection of individuals that included
militant Trump supporters, election deniers, Liberate movement followers, Alt right, Nazis, neo-Confederates, conspiracists, Proud Boy supporters, Q Anon adherents, Second Amendment and insurrectionists, and groypers. Daily Caller
BLM activist took part in raid on Capitol . . . A Black Lives Matter activist was part of the group that entered the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. John Earle Sullivan, who has advocated for an armed revolution on social media, was arrested in July 2020 for making a threat of violence and criminal mischief. He organized a protest with Black Lives Matter activists and members of the far-left Antifa network. Sullivan damaged vehicles and
urged people to block roadways. Video footage captured him threatening to beat a woman. The Epoch Times
Banks fight rule that would force them to work with firearms industry . . . Financial institutions are pushing back against a proposed rule change that would force them to work with the firearms industry, citing concerns over the legality of the measure.
Introduced by the Treasury Department's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in November, the measure would block financial institutions from refusing to do business with companies the banks believe may hurt their image. The rule requires that banks base decisions on financial risk assessment: As long as the numbers are financially sound, banks will be unable to deny services to a lawful business. Washington Free Beacon
Simon & Schuster cancels deal to publish Josh Hawley's book The Tyranny of Big Tech . . . A planned book by Sen. Josh Hawley, who objected to President-elect Joe Biden’s win and backed claims that the election was stolen, has been canceled by its publisher in the wake a Capitol siege in Washington by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, a decision the Missouri Republican called “Orwellian” and vowed to fight in court.
Simon & Schuster has had numerous clashes with Trump and his supporters over the last few years. It previously canceled a deal with the far-right Milo Yiannopoulos and published several anti-Trump best-sellers, including niece Mary Trump’s “Too Much and Never Enough” and former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s “The Room Where It Happened. Washington Times
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No pants subway ride cancelled for 2021 due to COVID . . . The organizers of the No Pants Subway Ride, an annual January event held on public transport in more than a dozen cities worldwide, announced the 2021 event has been canceled. Improv Everywhere, the performance art group that has organized the No Pants Subway Ride since the first event was held in 2002 in New York City, said this year's sans-pants public
transit trek has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UPI
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Have a great day.
Rebekah
Rebekah Koffler
Author of Putin's Playbook: Russia's Secret Plan to Defeat America, to be released on July 27, 2021
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