Daily Briefing: A striking condemnation of Trump
The House committee investigating the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, voted Monday to recommend the Justice Department bring criminal charges against Donald Trump. Also in the news: What to know about the "big mess" of winter weather on the way and what Olympic organizers are doing to ensure transgender athletes can compete.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. From "The White Lotus" to "The Bear," what was your top TV show of 2022?
Now, here we go with Tuesday's news.
Decision to charge Trump is up to the Justice Department
Congress' 18-month probe into Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack has led the investigating panel to recommend the Department of Justice prosecute the former president over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including his role regarding the assault on the Capitol.
One thing to know: The recommendation is nonbinding, but if the department agrees, it would be the first time a former president faces federal charges.
- What was in the final report: Seventeen findings about the Capitol attack and "an overriding and straightforward conclusion: the central cause of January 6th was one man," Trump. "None of the events of January 6th would have happened without him," the report said.
- Which charges were recommended against Trump and why? In referring the case to the DOJ, the committee accused Trump of violating laws governing obstruction of Congress, inciting an insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and conspiracy to make a false statement.
- The bipartisan committee also recommended House Ethics Committee inquiries for four Republican lawmakers who defied the panel's subpoenas.
- Trump responded on his Truth Social website that he wanted to prevent violence on Jan. 6, but spent most of his statement in campaign mode, saying his enemies only want to block a presidential campaign he predicted he would win.
👉 More analysis: Allegedly inciting an insurrection is a striking condemnation of Trump - but a high bar for prosecutors.
'Big mess' of winter weather is days away
The U.S. may experience “the coldest air of the season” as a strong arctic front marches across the eastern two-thirds of the country days before Christmas, according to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. The bitterly cold temperatures and a significant winter snowstorm could threaten aa “big mess” for travelers flying or driving home for the holidays, experts say. The storm is expected to result in mostly rain and wind across the Ohio Valley and along the East Coast in cities such as Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and Boston on Thursday and Friday. Here’s what else to know about the frigid week ahead.
- When is a nonrefundable plane ticket refundable? 10 airlines' 24-hour cancellation policies.
More news to know now
- 🔵 Lawmakers unveiled a bill to avoid a government shutdown, boost Ukraine.
- 💊 Sales of some children's pain relief medication have been limited.
- ⚖ Jury selection begins in a trial for Proud Boys leaders charged with seditious conspiracy.
- 📰 Will Trump's taxes become public? Here's what to expect.
- ✈ A visual breakdown of when turbulence rocked a Hawaiian Airlines flight.
- 🍳 Eggs are up 50% from last year. How is inflation hitting your holiday meals?
- 🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Paste BN Justice Department Correspondent Bart Jansen looks at the charges recommended by the Jan. 6 House Committee for former President Donald Trump. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
🌤 What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Chief Justice Roberts pauses lifting of Title 42
Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily blocked the Biden administration from ending the pandemic-era Title 42 immigration policy by Wednesday. The decision came after 19 conservative states filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court Monday asking the justices to block a lower court ruling requiring President Joe Biden to end the Title 42 expulsions by Dec. 21. Though the move may hold off a new influx of migrants on the southern border, the administrative stay doesn't necessarily signal which way the high court is leaning on the broader questions about the policy. Roberts, or the court, will likely issue another order in a matter of days. Read more
Harvey Weinstein found guilty of rape in LA trial
A jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape and sexual assault in his Los Angeles trial Monday, adding to legal woes for the disgraced film producer as he continues to face repercussions from sexual assault allegations that kickstarted the #MeToo movement. Over the course of the more than monthlong trial, prosecutors called 44 witnesses to the stand, as they alleged experiences of facing sexual assault and rape at the hands of Weinstein, and the pain, shock and shame felt in the aftermath. The 70-year-old former movie mogul is already two years into a 23-year sentence for a rape and sexual assault conviction in New York. Read more
Just for subscribers:
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- 📱 Stop charging your phone to 100% once a day and other battery-saving tips.
- 🍅 Here's what could stop Kroger's takeover of Albertson's.
- 🦈 The shark species blamed for 25% of Florida's bites was seen near New England. Is warming water to blame?
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USOPC pushes category qualifiers for sport transgender issue
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is encouraging individual sports to consider “category qualifiers” — classified in some sports as “open” categories — to ensure transgender athletes will have events to participate in once they reach puberty. The USOPC finalized its so-called position paper at its board meeting earlier this month and released it Monday, addressing a proposed path forward for transgender participation in sports. The federation said it wanted to follow the science in determining the conditions under which transgender athletes can compete once they reach puberty, and acknowledged that the “sport landscape may leave currently competing athletes feeling uncertain regarding potential shifts in their eligibility status.” Read more
- Photo story: Raising transgender children.
📷 Photo of the day: Best celebrity photos of 2022 📷
Lizzo got in the holiday spirit; Keke Palmer's pregnant belly on "SNL"; Jack Harlow and Dua Lipa: Here are some of the best star-studded photos of the year.
One more thing
- 👁 A repeat burglary offender broke in to Robert De Niro's NYC home.
- 📞 The top 10 tech gifts people actually want this Christmas.
- 😲 Ash Ketchum and Pikachu are leaving Pokémon.
- 🎬 Here's how immigrant characters on TV remain one-dimensional.
- 🗺 ''National Treasure'' is back as a TV show, but lacks the film's brilliance.
- 🐟 A deal reached at a U.N. biodiversity conference represents the most significant effort to protect the world’s lands and oceans.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to Paste BN here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.