Crash Course: Jan. 6 was a success

Plus: Are you ready for "flurona"? none Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none none A day of Jan. 6 remembrances One year ago, [the United States Capitol was under siege](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvaS13YXMtdGhlcmUtZm9yLXRoZS1kYXktdGhhdC1wb2lzb25lZC1hbWVyaWNhLS1hbmQtaS10aGluay13ZS1jYW4tc3RpbGwtcmVjb3Zlci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). In fiery speeches lasting long into the night, Congresspeople in both parties vowed to never forget, to hold the planners and insurrectionists responsible for an attack that struck at the very heart of American democracy. But that outrage didn't last long. Just 12 short months later, the Republican Party has changed its tune. Here are just a few of ways high-profile GOP members commemorated the Jan. 6 anniversary Thursday: - [Trump said a speech by President Joe Biden, who did not mention him by name, was "very hurtful."](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvY2FsbHMtYmlkZW5zLWphbi02LXNwZWVjaC12ZXJ5LWh1cnRmdWwtd2hpbGUtY29udGludWluZy10by1zcHJlYWQtbGllc19wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) He also shared several false statements about election fraud that aren't really worth repeating here. - Rep. Matt Gaetz spread conspiracy theories that the attack was masterminded by federal law enforcement agencies and left-wing agitators - Sen. Ted Cruz called the Capitol riot a "terrorist attack," but [was quickly shouted down](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvdGVkLWNydXotYmxhc3RlZC1ieS10dWNrZXItY2FybHNvbi1yaWdodC13aW5nLXR3aXR0ZXItZm9yLWNhbGxpbmctamFuLTYtYS10ZXJyb3Jpc3QtYXR0YWNrLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) by the likes of Fox News host Tucker Carlson and others. Cruz eventually backed down and expressed support for "the patriots and peaceful protestors supporting President Trump." - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted (using her official Congressional account, due to the permanent ban of her personal one): "When Democrats and their spokesmen in the media claim January 6th was one of the worst attacks in American history, they are lying." Beyond the more bombastic statements of support for the Capitol riot, by far the most common response among Republicans was to simply remain silent. In fact, what was meant to be a bipartisan event at the Capitol Thursday had just two Republican attendees: Dick and Liz Cheney, who simply by dint of their presence were [warmly embraced by Democrats](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvZGVtb2NyYXRzLWVtYnJhY2UtZGljay1jaGVuZXktZHVyaW5nLWphbi02LXJlbWJyYW5jZS1ldmVudC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). "It's an important historical event," Dick Cheney said at one point. "You can't overestimate how important it is." This widespread historical revisionism and embrace of conspiracy theories, [Salon's Amanda Marcotte argues](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvY291cC1mYWlsZWQtLWJ1dC1qYW51YXJ5LTYtd2FzLWEtc3VjY2Vzcy8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), is the best evidence we have that while the insurrection itself may have failed, Trump's takeover of the GOP succeeded last Jan. 6: It did not, contrary to what many liberals hoped or the mainstream press assumed, make them realize things had gone "too far" or to abandon Trump. Instead, the violence of Jan. 6 functioned more like the hazing rituals used by cults (or even fraternities) to draw their members deeper in. Induced to go along with that which ranges from embarrassing to immoral, once having gone there, members feel they can't go back. Use whatever cliche you wish — "in for a penny, in for a pound," "crossing the Rubicon," "down the rabbit hole" — but ultimately it's all the same thing. Having the leader of their party incite a fascist riot created a stark and undeniable choice for Republicans, both voters and politicians: You're either a fascist or a Democrat — and the vast majority of them think there's nothing worse than being a Democrat. [Read more of Salon's Jan. 6 coverage](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0QlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL3RvcGljL2phbnVhcnlfNlcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) none none Mike Pence is "particularly cooperative" with Jan. 6 committee Even as Jan. 6 remembrance events took over the airwaves Thursday, more news trickled out from the House select committee investigating the events of that day: former Vice President Mike Pence and his aides are fully cooperating with the panel. Salon's Igor Derysh reports that "some of the most helpful information has come from lower-ranking [Pence] aides" who were not directly involved with the events of Jan. 6, but were at the White House on that day and had access to senior officials. Ex-White House communications director Alyssa Farah even told Axios that the committee has already pieced together a lot of details of Trump's actions during the riot. [Read more about the committee's findings as the panel prepares to go public](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvcGFydGljdWxhcmx5LWNvb3BlcmF0aXZlLW1pa2UtcGVuY2VzLXRlYW0taXMtcmVwb3J0ZWRseS1oZWxwaW5nLWphbi02LWNvbW1pdHRlZS1idWlsZC1pdHMtY2FzZS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Photo via Getty Images) none - The corporations behind Trump's coup are already [back at it](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvdGhlLWNvcnBvcmF0aW9ucy1iZWhpbmQtY291cC1hcmUtYmFjay1hdC1pdC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Alison Roman [defeats so-called cancel culture](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvYWxpc29uLXJvbWFuLWNvb2tpbmctc2hvdy1jbm4vP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) by landing a new cooking show on CNN+ - I was there on Jan. 6 — and no, it [didn't make sense](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvYW4tZXlld2l0bmVzcy10by10aGUtYnJlYWtpbmctb2YtaGlzdG9yeS1pLXdhcy10aGVyZS0tYW5kLW5vLWl0LWRpZG50LW1ha2Utc2Vuc2UvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Sorry, drinkers: Scientists say [there is no hangover cure](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvc29ycnktZHJpbmtlcnMtc2NpZW50aXN0cy1zYXktdGhlcmUtaXMtbm8taGFuZ292ZXItY3VyZS10aGF0LXN0YW5kcy11cC10by1zY3J1dGlueS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) that stands up to scrutiny - Learn the [5 French mother sauces](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvdGhlLTUtZnJlbmNoLW1vdGhlci1zYXVjZXMtZXZlcnktY29vay1zaG91bGQta25vd19wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) every cook should know - ABC's "Women of the Movement," though imperfect, [gives life to Emmett Till's story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvd29tZW4tb2YtdGhlLW1vdmVtZW50LXRob3VnaC1pbXBlcmZlY3QtZ2l2ZXMtbGlmZS10by1lbW1ldHQtdGlsbHMtc3RvcnkvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Everyone is [backing away from Chris Noth](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvY2hyaXMtbm90aC1hbmQtanVzdC1saWtlLXRoYXQtYmlnLWZpbmFsZS1jdXQvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), as "And Just Like That" cuts him from finale - And, finally, you only need 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to bake [this magical chocolate cake](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYveW91LW9ubHktbmVlZC0zLWluZ3JlZGllbnRzLWFuZC0xNS1taW51dGVzLXRvLWJha2UtdGhpcy1tYWdpY2FsLWNob2NvbGF0ZS1jYWtlLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0QgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to receive Crash Course. none What if Black and brown people had invaded the Capitol instead? It's an interesting thought experiment, and one that's been rattling around our columnist Chauncy DeVega's head for a while now. He tackled that question this morning, coming to the conclusion that the world would have responded very differently to this alternative series of events: The national security and surveillance state would have expanded even more than it has already, likely in ways surpassingthe aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. A new COINTELPRO-style program would be attempting to destroy Black and brown civil society organizations. The full force of the national security and law enforcement apparatus would have come crashing down upon Black and brown America. Black and brown people would be viewed as de facto enemies of the state. Their constitutional, civil and human rights would be sharply restricted. Those deemed to be "suspicious" or a "security threat" or supportive of "terrorism" would be disappeared into the country's vast network of detention facilities, with or without hard evidence and with little or no due process. We would have seen mass arrests, interrogations, harassment and (more) police thuggery and violence directed against Black and brown communities. There would indeed be a bipartisan Jan. 6 committee, with both Republicans and "moderate" or even "liberal" Democrats focusing on issues of "Black crime," "radicalization" and "terrorism." Its hearings would be televised daily. The Department of Justice would have ordered thousands of arrests, in all probablity most of them targeting people who were in no way implicated in the attack. These Black and brown "terrorists" (and very likely their white "collaborators") would have faced the most severe punishments available under American law, perhaps amplified by special "emergency" statutes. Some would face death sentences or life without parole for treason, insurrection and sedition. [Read the full alternative history of Jan. 6](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDcvaW1hZ2luZS1hbm90aGVyLWFtZXJpY2Etb25lLXdoZXJlLWJsYWNrLW9yLWJyb3duLXBlb3BsZS1oYWQtYXR0YWNrZWQtdGhlLWNhcGl0b2wvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none - "It's okay if you don't have baby fever!" [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0TVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMS8xMi9ob3ctY29tbW9uLWJhYnktZmV2ZXIvNjIxMDgzLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXRsYW50aWMtZGFpbHktbmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fY29udGVudD0yMDIyMDEwNiZ1dG1fdGVybT1UaGUlMjBBdGxhbnRpYyUyMERhaWx5VwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Mike Pompeo lost 90 pounds since leaving the Trump Administration," [The New York Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RYaHR0cHM6Ly9ueXBvc3QuY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvbWlrZS1wb21wZW9zLXdlaWdodC1sb3NzLXN0b3J5LWRvd24tOTAtcG91bmRzLWluLTYtbW9udGhzL1cDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Date Night: Kanye West and Julia Fox," [Interview Magazine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0Q0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW50ZXJ2aWV3bWFnYXppbmUuY29tL2N1bHR1cmUvZGF0ZS1uaWdodFcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Elmo — yes, that Elmo — is beefing with a rock. And Twitter is eating it up," [The Los Angeles Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGF0aW1lcy5jb20vZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC1hcnRzL3R2L3N0b3J5LzIwMjItMDEtMDYvZWxtby1yb2Nrby12aWRlby12aXJhbC10d2l0dGVyLXNlc2FtZS1zdHJlZXRXA3NwY0IKYdZSK9hhQFx-aVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "The secret MVP of sports? The port-a-potty," [ESPN](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0ROaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNwbi5jb20vbmZsL3N0b3J5L18vaWQvMzI5OTI3NjEvdGhlLXNlY3JldC1tdnAtc3BvcnRzLXBvcnRhLXBvdHR5VwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) none none Are you ready for flurona? As the world is preoccupied with worries about the omicron variant's rapid spread, it appears another virus is rearing its ugly head: the common flu. And that's not all: in a few rare instances, people appear to be contracting both illnesses at the same time, a malady colloquially referred to online as "flurona." But how worried should you be of this new viral one-two punch? Doctors say the chances of a "twindemic" are slim due to ongoing mitigation measures like masks and distancing — and the good news is that both the symptoms and treatment methods for both are relatively similar. "Everybody knows flu is bad; everybody knows coronavirus is bad," one doctor said. "You put the two together, you think you're even worse. For the most part, virus-wise, we don't see that." [Learn more about the spread of "flurona."](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMDYvZmx1cm9uYS1leHBsYWluZWQtaW5mbHVlbnphLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Photo via Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, 19801 DE [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmHWUivYYUBcfmlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjurBRP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgph1lIr2GFAXH5pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)