Monday, January 6, 2025

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1/ A joint session of Congress certified Trump’s 2024 victory without incident four years after he tried to overturn his 2020 election loss by encouraging his followers to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop Congress from certifying Biden as president. Kamala Harris oversaw the proceedings as president of the Senate, certifying Trump’s win, including her own defeat, and announced the final tally: 312 to 226. Unlike the 2021 certification that spanned two days with objections, evacuations, and an angry, violent mob that injured about 140 Capitol and D.C. police officers, this year’s proceedings concluded calmly in under an hour with no disturbances or objections. Four years ago, 147 Republicans voted against certifying some states’ results. Later that month, the House impeached Trump for a second time. He was acquitted by the Senate. Following certification of the election, Harris, who hasn’t given an interview since her loss in November, told reporters that the process “was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power […] And today, America’s democracy stood.” Trump, meanwhile, posted on his social media platform: “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY.” (Associated Press / NPR / New York Times / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Washington Post / Politico / Axios)

💡 Trump rebranded Jan. 6 as a political asset, using conspiracy theories and martyrdom narratives to fuel his return to power while undermining democratic norms and accountability. By downplaying the violence and recasting rioters as patriots, Trump reframed the Capitol attack to bolster his political resurgence and re-election campaign. As he prepares to retake office, his promises to pardon rioters and pursue political retribution aim to cement this alternate history. These actions erode accountability, destabilize democratic institutions, and set dangerous precedents for political discourse and governance. (New York Times)

💡 Trump, who instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, will return to the presidency in two weeks, marking an unprecedented comeback amid unresolved questions about accountability for the violence and its implications for democracy. Despite facing criminal charges, public inquiries, and widespread condemnation, Trump evaded accountability, with his 2024 election win ending efforts to hold him responsible. His reelection represents a normalization of political violence and a broader failure to reckon with the assault on democratic norms. As the Capitol prepares to host his inauguration, it stands as a stark reminder of the events four years prior and their lasting impact on American governance. (Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.