Crash Course: Jan. 6 hearing makes clear that MAGA is a cult

Plus the Good, the Bad, and the "Squid Game" of the Emmy's Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Jan. 6 hearing: Witnesses describe a cult Is Donald Trump an idiot-man child who cluelessly watched as his supporters ransacked the Capitol or did the former president dupe his followers into harming themselves and the nation on his behalf? It's important to remember that while MAGA is a cult and functions like one, it's not like people go in with good intentions. Tuesday's Jan. 6 committee hearing, the seventh so far, featured one of the men who went to Washington, D.C. on Trump's call to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. As Amanda Marcotte [notes](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvamFudWFyeS02LWhlYXJpbmctbWFrZXMtaXQtY2xlYXItbWFnYS1pcy1hL1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), the testimony offered by Stephen Ayer, who is facing federal felony charges for his actions on Jan. 6, and Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesperson for the Oath Keepers, sounded very much like what people who leave cults report. "The same tribalism and self-deception that led these two men to extreme lengths is endemic in the world of Republican voters," Marcotte writes. "Trump viewed his supporters as mere instruments in his quest for illegally obtained power." Read more on how the Jan. 6 committee portrayed Trump as a sinister cult leader and his followers as his dupes [here](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvamFudWFyeS02LWhlYXJpbmctbWFrZXMtaXQtY2xlYXItbWFnYS1pcy1hL1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo illustration by Salon/ABC/Scott Everett White/Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu/Noh Juhan/Netflix) Emmy nominations: The Good, the Bad, and the "Squid Game" of it all While any year's Emmy nominations are a mixed bag, at best, Salon's Melanie McFarland [argues](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvZW1teS1ub21pbmF0aW9ucy10aGUtZ29vZC10aGUtYmFkLWFuZC10aGUtc3F1aWQtZ2FtZS1vZi1pdC1hbGwvVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) that very history makes several of this year's nominations especially significant. While long-running but recently ended fan favorites like ABC's "Blackish" and NBC's "This is Out," stand out newcomers like ABC's "Abbott Elementary" and Showtime's "Yellowjackets," McFarland writes that "the past year has yielded so much extraordinary work that the most well-rounded nominations list still would have left many deserving titles out in the cold." She continues: "And yet, although no Emmy's nominations slate in recent memory could be considered flawless, this group of contenders validates the perception, true or otherwise, that the industry's creative heft is increasingly concentrated on cable and streaming." To that end, Netflix's "Squid Games" is the first non-English language series to be nominated for Outstanding Drama. "It is also this year's poster model for Emmy's ongoing effort to prove its relevance," McFarland argues. "In case there are any doubts about that, [look closely at the rest of the nominations...](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvZW1teS1ub21pbmF0aW9ucy10aGUtZ29vZC10aGUtYmFkLWFuZC10aGUtc3F1aWQtZ2FtZS1vZi1pdC1hbGwvVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)" - So where did all this [right-wing religious nuttery](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvc28td2hlcmUtZGlkLWFsbC10aGlzLXJpZ2h0LXdpbmctcmVsaWdpb3VzLW51dHRlcnktY29tZS1mcm9tX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) come from? - A surgeon [explains](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvYXItMTUtc3R5bGUtcmlmbGVzLWRvY3Rvci1wZXJzcGVjdGl2ZS9XA3NwY0IKYrvCpc5imMXSGFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) why AR-15-style rifles are so deadly - "[This is huge](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvdGhpcy1pcy1odWdlLWxlZ2FsLWV4cGVydHMtcmVhY3QtdG8tbGl6LWNoZW5leXMtamFuLTYtYm9tYnNoZWxsLWNsYWltL1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)": Legal experts react to Liz Cheney's Jan. 6 bombshell claim - Man charged with [hate crime](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvYXJtZWQtbWFuLWFycmVzdGVkLWZvci10aHJlYXRlbmluZy10by1kZW1vY3JhdGljLWNvbmdyZXNzd29tYW4tYXQtaGVyLWhvbWUvVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) after allegedly threatening to kill Rep. Pramila Jayapal - Guess who? Fox News host claims that [desegregation](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvdHVja2VyLWNhcmxzb24tdGVsbHMtZm94LW5ld3MtYXVkaWVuY2UtdGhhdC1hbWVyaWNhbi1lZHVjYXRpb24td3JlY2tlZC1ieS1kZXNlZ3JlZ2F0ZWQtYnVzc2luZy9XA3NwY0IKYrvCpc5imMXSGFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) via busing "absolutely wrecked" the American education system - Martha Stewart’s [shrimp fajitas](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvbWFydGhhLXN0ZXdhcnRzLXNocmltcC1mYWppdGFzLWFyZS10aGUtc3BpY3ktc3dlZXQtdXBncmFkZS15b3VyLXdlZWtuaWdodC1kaW5uZXItcGxhbnMtZGVzZXJ2ZS9XA3NwY0IKYrvCpc5imMXSGFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) are the spicy-sweet upgrade your weeknight dinner plans deserve Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. Photo illustration by NASA The first five images from the James Webb Space Telescope, explained Five images were revealed on Monday by the James Webb Space Telescope — but what does each one mean for humanity? Salon's Matthew Rozsa reports on the five stunning images which demonstrate the immense observational capacity of the new space telescope. Look at the awe-inspiring [images here](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0Q3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvandzdC1pbWFnZXMtZXhwbGFpbmVkL1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). - "The never-ending war on the woke " [The Forum](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly9mb3J1bW1hZy5jb20vMjAyMi8wNy8xMS90aGUtbmV2ZXItZW5kaW5nLXdhci1vbi10aGUtd29rZS9XA3NwY0IKYrvCpc5imMXSGFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Gannett facing more criticism after publishing Proud Boys Op-Ed," [New Jersey Globe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdqZXJzZXlnbG9iZS5jb20vbWVkaWEvZ2FubmV0dC1mYWNpbmctbW9yZS1jcml0aWNpc20tYWZ0ZXItcHVibGlzaGluZy1wcm91ZC1ib3lzLW9wLWVkL1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Subway can be sued over its tuna, U.S. judge rules," [Reuters](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmV1dGVycy5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvcmV0YWlsLWNvbnN1bWVyL3N1YndheS1jYW4tYmUtc3VlZC1vdmVyLWl0cy10dW5hLXVzLWp1ZGdlLXJ1bGVzLTIwMjItMDctMTEvVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Manchin, playing to the home crowd, is fighting electric cars to the end," [New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wNy8xMi9jbGltYXRlL2VsZWN0cmljLXZlaGljbGUtdGF4LWNyZWRpdHMtbWFuY2hpbi5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Founders of bankrupt crypto hedge fund 3AC go missing, as investors try to recoup assets," [CNBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25iYy5jb20vMjAyMi8wNy8xMi9mb3VuZGVycy1vZi1iYW5rcnVwdC1jcnlwdG8taGVkZ2UtZnVuZC10aHJlZS1hcnJvd3MtZ28tbWlzc2luZy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)  (Getty Images) What's the matter with Arizona? Last week, Salon's Kathryn Joyce [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMDEvc2Nob29scy1vdXQtZm9yZXZlci1hcml6b25hLW1vdmVzLXRvLXB1YmxpYy1lZHVjYXRpb24td2l0aC1uZXctdW5pdmVyc2FsLXZvdWNoZXItbGF3L1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) on how Arizona Republicans are attempting "to kill public education" with a new universal voucher law. This week, Joyce is once again reporting on the GOP's moves. This time, conservatives want to undo the "teacher-licensure racket" by undermining unions and university education programs to pave the way toward a radical reimagining of teachers' jobs. Specifically, GOP Gov. Doug Ducey [signed into law](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvd2UtZG9udC1uZWVkLW5vLWVkdWNhdGlvbi1ub3ctYXJpem9uYS1zYXlzLXRlYWNoZXJzLWRvbnQtcmVxdWlyZS1jb2xsZWdlLWRlZ3JlZXMvVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) an education measure decreeing that public school teachers are no longer required to have a college degree of any kind before being hired. Arizona teachers will only have to be enrolled in college in order to begin teaching the state's public school students. 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~/RgRksSrAP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmK7wqXOYpjF0hhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRksSrAP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpiu8KlzmKYxdIYUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)