What to know about the aftermath of January 6, 2021

[View this email in your browser]( [Open Ars Technica in your browser]( We've never seen a day like January 6, 2021 in the US, and let's all hope we never see another. We don't have to rehash all the awfulness here, but this idiotic coup was so severe and scary that even the worst COVID-19 death tolls and infection totals to date have been pushed to the back of mind for the last week. Fall out from this historic event has been fast and furious, from the president of the United States no longer being welcome in many online platforms to lingering anxiety over how the virus may have spread widely in the background of all of it. Just today, Airbnb [cancelled all Inauguration week reservations]( in the DC area in the hopes of preventing further violence. For this week's Orbital Transmission, we've rounded up the latest happenings to stay aware of in the aftermath of January 6. At this point, we're all on pins and needles to an extent through January 20, when a peaceful transfer of power will theoretically take place just like it has some 45 times before. But if the early days of 2021 (not to mention the entirety of 2020) has taught us anything, it's that the landscape in the US can change drastically day to day. —[@NathanMattise]( Dealmaster's Deal of the Week Dealmaster's Deal of the Week Eufy Indoor Cam 2K (2-pack) for $60 at Amazon (normally $70) We recommended the Eufy Indoor Cam 2K in our [2020 holiday gift guide]( because it offers crisp video quality, Apple HomeKit support, and a variety of recording options on the cheap. The discount on this 2-pack matches the lowest price we've seen to date. [$60 at Amazon]( Orbital Transmission 01.13.2021 Orbital Transmission 01.13.2021 [(image) ]( Those who stormed the capitol have left many, many digital footprints [Read Full Story »]( Those who stormed the capitol have left many, many digital footprints Many insurrectionists storming the capitol last week were, uh, not subtle about it. People livestreamed themselves in restricted areas doing stupid things; others were photographed with maskless faces (or with explicit ID badges). It all added up to [many, many resources for law enforcement]( to use while tracking down individuals for arrests—see [the downfall of West Virginia State Legislature Derrick Evans](, as just one flashy example. Even the digital activity of these folks after last Wednesday could be useful for digital sleuths. Before [Parler went dark](, for instance, hackers showed they could scrape 99 percent of all posts on the site... even those supposedly "deleted." [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( On top of everything else, last Wednesday's riots have already spread COVID-19 [Read Full Story »]( On top of everything else, last Wednesday's riots have already spread COVID-19 Set aside the large, unruly, and unmaked mobs for a moment. Given the wide variety of attitudes politicians have taken towards COVID-19, there was concern almost in the moment that lawmakers evacuating together to small safe rooms last Wednesday had [the potential to spread the disease]( among each other. In the following days, those fears turned into reality. As of Tuesday, three elected officials—Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)—have all announced positive COVID results. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( Major social media platforms are unleashing permabans, but issues remain [Read Full Story »]( Major social media platforms are unleashing permabans, but issues remain You won't find Donald Trump or various slices of his followers (QAnon groups, r/The_donald) on the biggest social media platforms at this point. From [Twitter]( to [Instagram](, YouTube to [Twitch](, permabans or lengthy suspensions keep coming. But this hasn't stopped inciting conversations from leaking back onto these platforms. Facebook, for instance, banned Trump and publicly said it would [block posts discussing "Stop the Steal."]( In practice, however, even a cursory search of Facebook "events" in and near Washington, DC, next week brought up several gatherings and demonstrations that seem designed to interfere with President elect Joe Biden's inauguration. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) ]( The aftermath is still unfolding, but encouraging politicians are slowly facing consequences [Read Full Story »]( The aftermath is still unfolding, but encouraging politicians are slowly facing consequences As of Wednesday, January 13, president Trump was still in office, as were numerous politicians who spoke at the rally last Wednesday or perpetuated the myth of a rigged election through Congressional or Senate votes (or just plain rhetoric). But if government institutions can't or won't force consequences for this, businesses are stepping in to exert their influence and frustration. From major credit card companies to ISPs, every day it feels like a new industry is coming forward to pledge no more donations for any politicians who explicitly supported the election myth or the mob that followed. [Read Full Story »]( [(image) Condé Nast Spotlight | The breaking news and top stories everyone is talking about. All in one place. 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