Crash Course: Keep your hands on the wheel: What's real — or a distraction — about Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony

The House Select Committee on January 6 has marshaled facts in fastidious detail showing Trump's intent for a coup Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Keep your hands on the wheel: What's real — or a distraction — about Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony In the public hearings so far, the House Select Committee on January 6 has marshaled facts in fastidious detail showing that former President Trump's attempted coup was plotted and organized by the president himself with the help of his chosen accomplices and enabled by Cabinet members, aides and staffers who knew it was wrong but said nothing. The first four hearings made it clear that Trump and his henchmen knew the election had not been stolen and yet they insisted to his followers that it had been. They launched spurious lawsuits, pressured election officials, tried to corrupt the Department of Justice and strong-armed Vice President Mike Pence all in an attempt to overturn the election. But we hadn't heard any direct testimony — until yesterday — that Trump was aware in advance that Jan. 6 could turn violent but incited the mob anyway. Now we know that he even knew that day that many in the crowd were armed. Thanks to [Cassidy Hutchinson](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0QuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL3RvcGljL2Nhc3NpZHlfaHV0Y2hpbnNvblcDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Read the rest from Heather Digby Parton.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkva2VlcC15b3VyLWhhbmRzLW9uLXRoZS13aGVlbC13aGF0cy1yZWFsLS1vci1hLWRpc3RyYWN0aW9uLS1hYm91dC1jYXNzaWR5LWh1dGNoaW5zb25zLXRlc3RpbW9ueS9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Getty Images/Carol Yepes) Birth control access could be next for SCOTUS to roll back: "There's no doubt Griswold is at risk" When news broke that the United States Supreme Court had voted to [overturn Roe v. Wade](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjQvdGhlLWVuZC1vZi1yb2Utdi13YWRlLWFtZXJpY2FuLWRlbW9jcmFjeS1pcy1jb2xsYXBzaW5nL1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), the 1973 ruling which had legalized [abortion](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0Q5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDUvMTIvYWJvcnRpb24tYmFuLWV4Y2VwdGlvbnMvVwNzcGNCCmKzRoK9YksYmWVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) nationwide, many people began to scramble and stock up on contraceptives. Hoarding over the last few days has now caused some national pharmacy chains like CVS and Rite Aid to limit the number of emergency contraceptive pills customers can purchase. While the panic buying might seem reminiscent of the rush to buy toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic, it comes with a more consequential and very real threat. In Justice Clarence Thomas' concurring opinion on the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, he opined that SCOTUS should revisit precedents that codified same-sex marriage, same-sex relationships and the right to contraception. [Read the rest from Nicole Karlis.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvYmlydGgtY29udHJvbC1hY2Nlc3MtY291bGQtYmUtbmV4dC1mb3Itc2NvdHVzLXRvLXJvbGwtYmFjay10aGVyZXMtbm8tZG91YnQtZ3Jpc3dvbGQtaXMtYXQtcmlzay9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - [Melania Trump](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvbWVsYW5pYS1nYXZlLWEtb25lLXdvcmQtcmVzcG9uc2UtdG8tdGhlLW9wdGlvbi1vZi1wcm9tb3RpbmctcGVhY2Utb24tamFuLTYvVwNzcGNCCmKzRoK9YksYmWVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) gave a one-word response to the option of promoting peace on Jan. 6 - [Say gay](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0QpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvc2F5LWdheS9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Martha Stewart’s [cauliflower-and-chickpea pitas](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvbWFydGhhLXN0ZXdhcnRzLWNhdWxpZmxvd2VyLWFuZC1jaGlja3BlYS1waXRhcy1hcmUtYS12ZWdldGFyaWFuLWRlbGlnaHQtcGVyZmVjdC1mb3Itc3VtbWVyLWx1bmNoZXMvVwNzcGNCCmKzRoK9YksYmWVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) are a vegetarian delight perfect for summer lunches - Alec {NAME}'s interview with [Woody Allen](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvYWxlYy1iYWxkd2luLXdvb2R5LWFsbGVuLWludGVydmlldy9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) was shoddy, shallow & glitchy – Why did this happen again? - This riff on a [chocolate-packed cookie classic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvdGhpcy1yaWZmLW9uLWEtY2hvY29sYXRlLXBhY2tlZC1jb29raWUtY2xhc3NpYy1pcy1zby1nb29kLWl0LW1pZ2h0LW1ha2UteW91LWNyeS9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) is so good it might make you cry - [Lauren Boebert](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvbGF1cmVuLWJvZWJlcnQtY29tcGxhaW5zLXRoYXQtc2hlLWlzLXRpcmVkLW9mLXRoaXMtc2VwZXJhdGlvbi1vZi1jaHVyY2gtYW5kLXN0YXRlLWp1bmsvVwNzcGNCCmKzRoK9YksYmWVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) complains that she is "tired of this separation of church and state junk" - [Post-Roe polls](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvcG9zdC1yb2UtcG9sbHMtbWlkdGVybS1zdXBwb3J0LWZvci1kZW1vY3JhdHMtc29hcnMtYWZ0ZXItc3RyaWtlcy1kb3duLWFib3J0aW9uLWFjY2Vzcy9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Midterm support for Democrats soars after Supreme Court strikes down abortion access - [Fox News flips on Donald Trump](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvZm94LW5ld3MtZmxpcHMtb24tZG9uYWxkLWR1cmluZy1qYW4tNi1oZWFyaW5ncy9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) during Jan. 6 hearings - Officials who disputed [Cassidy Hutchinson bombshell](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvb2ZmaWNpYWxzLWRpc3B1dGVkLWNhc3NpZHktaHV0Y2hpbnNvbi1ib21ic2hlbGwtdGVzdGltb255LXdlcmUtdHJ1bXBzLXllcy1tZW4tcmVwb3J0L1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) testimony were Trump’s “yes men”: report - [What Cassidy Hutchinson told us](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvd2hhdC1jYXNzaWR5LWh1dGNoaW5zb24tdG9sZC11cy0tYW5kLXdoeS13ZS1zaG91bGQtaGF2ZS1rbm93bi1pdC1hbHJlYWR5L1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) — and why we should have known it already Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. (Photo illustration by Salon) Our summer of misogynist rage: Toxic men unleash a wave of violent threats aimed at outspoken women Shortly after Cassidy Hutchinson finished her searing testimony that correctly painted Donald Trump as a violent but cowardly bully, desperate right-wingers tried to make "Amber Heard 2.0" a thing on Twitter. The choice was a telling one, though not in the way the MAGA heads think. The abuse aimed at the former aide for Mark Meadows, Trump's chief of staff, who spoke before the January 6 committee on Tuesday, does resemble [the harassment of movie star Johnny Depp's ex-wife](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMDIvdGhlLWpvaG5ueS1kZXBwLWFuZC1hbWJlci1oZWFyZC12ZXJkaWN0LWEtdmljdG9yeS1mb3ItdGhlLW9uLWZyZWUtc3BlZWNoL1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). In both cases, misogynists launched an intimidation campaign to silence a woman. Not, importantly, because she's lying, but because her haters fear she's telling the truth. [Read the rest from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvb3VyLXN1bW1lci1vZi1taXNvZ3luaXN0LXJhZ2UtbWVuLXVubGVhc2gtYS13YXZlLW9mLXZpb2xlbnQtYWltZWQtYXQtb3V0c3Bva2VuLXdvbWVuL1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Ghislaine Maxwell Receives 20 Years for Aiding Epstein in Sex Trafficking," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDIyLzA2LzI4L255cmVnaW9uL2doaXNsYWluZS1tYXh3ZWxsLW5ld3MtZXBzdGVpblcDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges," [CNN](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25uLmNvbS8yMDIyLzA2LzI5L3VzL3Ita2VsbHktc2VudGVuY2luZy1yYWNrZXRlZXJpbmctc2V4LXRyYWZmaWNraW5nL2luZGV4Lmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Ex-Nazi guard, 101, sentenced for role in 3,500 murders," [NBC News](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmJjbmV3cy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9leC1uYXppLWd1YXJkLW5vdy0xMDEteWVhcnMtb2xkLXNlbnRlbmNlZC1yb2xlLTM1MDAtbXVyZGVycy1yY25hMzU4Mzk_Y2lkPXNtX25wZF9ubl90d19tYVcDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Margaret Keane, Sad-Eyed Waifs Artist, Dead at 94," [Vulture](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0TTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnVsdHVyZS5jb20vMjAyMi8wNi9tYXJnYXJldC1rZWFuZS1zYWQtZXllZC13YWlmcy1iaWctZXllcy1hcnRpc3QtZGVhZC1hdC05NC5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9ZmImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zMSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249dnVsdHVyZSZmYmNsaWQ9SXdBUjByTjNoYUU2Vmt3YjZmNGtKYkhhWkxodmMxeGN2ZzcwNkl2dmx2RzhZc2FwVlRZUHQwd21VMnNRa1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images) Something Awful headline goes here... Ever since billionaires like [Jeff Bezos](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDYvMDcvamVmZi1iZXpvcy1zcGFjZS10cmlwLWF1Y3Rpb24tanVseS9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) and [Elon Musk](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMTAvc3BhY2V4LXNlbnQtdGhyZWUtcmljaC1idXNpbmVzc21lbi10by1zcGFjZS1hbmQtcGxhbi10by1sZWF2ZS10aGVtLXRoZXJlLWZvci10ZW4tZGF5cy9XA3NwY0IKYrNGgr1iSxiZZVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) launched private space travel for the world's elites, everyone from [actor William Shatner](~/AASU4wA~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~~) to [former football star Michael Strahan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3BhY2UuY29tL2JsdWUtb3JpZ2luLW1pY2hhZWwtc3RyYWhhbi1zcGFjZWZsaWdodC1jYWJpbi12aWRlb1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) has taken merry jaunts into outer space. (Or, more precisely, the outer limits of Earth's atmosphere.) It seems like a sci-fi dream come true, albeit limited to Earth's rich and famous. Yet a [new study](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0QcaHR0cDovLzEwLjAuNC41LzIwMjFFRjAwMjYxMlcDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) published in the scientific journal Earth's Future reveals that this particular dream could wind up exacerbating [the planet's ongoing climate change nightmare](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTgvMTAvMTkvd2hhdC13aWxsLXRoZS13b3JsZC1sb29rLWxpa2UtaWYtd2UtZG9udC1zdG9wLWdsb2JhbC13YXJtaW5nL1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) — at least, if current trends continue unabated. [Read the rest from Matthew Rozsa.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0ROaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjkvZWxvbi1tdXNrLXNwYWNlLXRvdXJpc20tY2xpbWF0ZS1jaGFuZ2Utd29yc2UvVwNzcGNCCmKzRoK9YksYmWVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) 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, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmKzRoK9YksYmWVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkoAdFP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpis0aCvWJLGJllUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)