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Leading Republican Liz Cheney has suggested that Donald Trump be prosecuted for his role in provoking the siege of the US Capitol last month. The third highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives spoke on Fox News yesterday, referring to the “massive criminal investigation” that was underway in the US, saying it would look at “everyone involved” and that “people will want to know what the president did ”.
Her comments come as the Senate prepares to begin Trump’s historic second indictment, with arguments starting Tuesday. The former president is accused of inciting the Capitol uprising, which left five people dead, looting and smashing the building, and of Senators hanging behind furniture.
The outcome seems inevitable, and Republicans are expected to acquit Trump regardless of the merits of the case. But even if that does not result in his conviction, the trial will reveal previously unknown details of the attack, with the expectation that the Democratic indictment managers will provide new video footage and evidence. David Smith looks at the differences between Trump’s first and second trials, and what he can expect when the event unfolds this week.
The trial could take longer than expected, after a leading member of Trump’s defense team demanded that the proceedings be stopped during the Sabbath so that he could fulfill his duties as an observant Jew. David Schoen wrote to senior figures in the Democratic as well as the Republican Party asking that the trial be adjourned Friday at 5:24 pm to Sunday, and apologized for the inconvenience, but he explained that the practices and prohibition requirements for me is mandatory … so I have no choice “.
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‘This fever will break, but it was slow’: Republican Jeff Flake, a staunch critic of Trump, said he thought support for the president would have diminished by now. But in this interview, he explains why he is still confident that Republicans will migrate from Trump.
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George P Shultz, Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of State, dies 100 years old. Shultz focused on improving relations with the Soviet Union and working for peace in the Middle East, and was the longest-serving foreign minister since World War II.
Protests increase against coup in Myanmar
Demonstrations are accelerating against the military coup in Myanmar, where the democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was detained and army leaders took power last week. Monday was the third day of street demonstrations, with the highest number of protesters yet.
In the country’s largest city, Yangon, monks marched with workers wearing Buddhist flags and banners in the color of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, and according to some estimates, the number of protesters is hundreds of thousands. While the protests were largely peaceful, police in the capital, Naypyidaw, used water cannon on protesters, but it apparently stopped after a call from the protesters. Over the weekend, a day-long internet ban was lifted.
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Social media app Clubhouse is gaining a foothold in China, with users flocking to the app to conduct uncensored discussions on politics and human rights issues, including actions in Hong Kong and Taiwan and the prosecution of Uighurs. There are concerns that the popularity of the app could lead to the oppression of authorities.
Buccaneers beat the Chiefs at the Super Bowl this weekend
The underdog Tampa Bay Bucaneers claimed victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl at the weekend, with star Tom Brady ‘strengthening his claim as the greatest full-back ever’, writes Bryan Armen Graham in his game. Brady, now 43, “continues to recalibrate our expectations of what is possible on a soccer field” and wins seven Super Bowls; the highest that any other fullback has reached is four. Oliver Connolly writes about his “never-ending, nagging brilliance”.
The Weeknd was the mainstay of the iconic breaktime show by putting $ 7 million of its own money into the show and making the unusual decision to do it solo, albeit flanked by a group of fans who largely covered their accompaniment with bandages. Despite the fact that a good half of his audience were cardboard clippings, the star ‘largely delivered’ with ‘sometimes a disturbing, exciting performance’, writes Adrian Horton in his review.
In other news …
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Rescuers are searching for 202 people after a glacier collapsed in India, releasing a wave of water, rock and dust into a mountain valley. So far, 19 people have been confirmed dead.
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Experts call for a reconsideration of coronavirus vaccination programs after news that the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is significantly less effective against the South African variant of coronavirus. Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, both used in the US, also said that the variant affects the efficacy of their vaccines, although it is purely based on laboratory studies.
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The Punjabi farmers in California find out their peers’ protests in India, where demonstrations have been going on since the end of November against the introduction of new agricultural laws, which include hundreds of thousands of farmers. Outside of India, Yuba City in California is home to one of the largest groups of Punjab farmers, and the connection is clear, manifesting in the largest support period for farmers outside India.
View from the right: Biden preaches unity, but must practicesee it too
With the widening gaps between Democratic and Republican parties, Biden needs to do more to reach the chasm if he is serious about his message of unity, writes Jonah Goldberg in the New York Post. Goldberg argues that seeking Republican support for his policies will bridge the political divide and strengthen legislation itself, and that it will cost ‘more than economically’ to push through his coronavirus aid package for a party vote.
Do not miss it: all the president’s orders
Biden signed a series of executive orders in his first weeks as president, from the environment to immigration, to the pandemic. Our reporters explain what it is and what it will mean for the US.
Last thing: can poe save an Australian coral reef?
Coral reefs are critical to the health of the environment, but are suffering from the effects of the climate crisis. Now scientists in Queensland are investigating the importance of sea-cucumber poo for their survival. The team estimates that 3 million cucumbers on the Heron Island coral reef in Queensland excrete more than the mass of five Eiffel Towers each year. The pea aerates the upper surface of marine sediment, creates a safe habitat for other organisms and releases essential nutrients.
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