Canada declares the Proud Boys a terrorist group
Amanda Coletta for the Washington Post:
Canada on Wednesday declared the Proud Boys a terrorist entity, adding the far-right group to a list that includes al-Qaeda, ISIS and al-Shabab in an effort to crack down on "ideologically motivated violent extremism," described by the country's public safety minister as the "most significant threat to domestic security."
“Very fine people.”
Eli Grober’s wonderful send-up of Insurrectionist Josh Hawley in McSweeney’s:
Hi there, thanks for reading this. I’m being censored. That’s why I’m writing a piece in a major publication that you are consuming easily and for free. Because I am being absolutely and completely muzzled.
MPs unanimously agree to urge feds to designate Proud Boys a terrorist entity
It still requires action by Prime Minister Trudeau to become official. But this is the sad truth — the Canadian House of Commons is doing more to combat the alt-right and white supremacist organizations who attacked the US Capitol Building than the Republican members of Congress who were in the building while it was being attacked.
I wish I saw evidence these people had a conscience
Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union:
And that is how the terrorist attack of January 6th happened. Millions of Americans infected with the virus of disinformation. It was a joint effort by far-right hate groups that the president has been playing footsy with for years and radicalized, infected Trump supporters, and MAGA media.
Multiple dead bodies later, no contrition, no apologies, no acknowledgment of what they did. Until those who spread the big lie work to correct it — putting out a vaccine of facts and truth — I fear that the U.S. will continue to be in this bad and dangerous place even after the inauguration. And I wish, in my soul, I wish, that I saw any evidence that any of these people had a conscience for this to even nag at.
Luke Mogelson for The New Yorker:
The America Firsters and other invaders fanned out in search of lawmakers, breaking into offices and revelling in their own astounding impunity. “Nancy, I’m ho-ome! ” a man taunted, mimicking Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Shining.” Someone else yelled, “1776—it’s now or never.” Around this time, Trump tweeted, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country. . . . USA demands the truth!” Twenty minutes later, Ashli Babbitt, a thirty-five-year-old woman from California, was fatally shot while climbing through a barricaded door that led to the Speaker’s lobby in the House chamber, where representatives were sheltering. The congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, later said that she’d had a “close encounter” with rioters during which she thought she “was going to die.” Earlier that morning, another representative, Lauren Boebert—a newly elected Republican, from Colorado, who has praised QAnon and promised to wear her Glock in the Capitol—had tweeted, “Today is 1776.”
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Jordan Klepper Sees It All at The Capitol Insurrection
Jordan Klepper for The Daily Show:
Amendment XIV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Opinion: I see no choice but to resign from this Death Star as it begins to explode
Alexandra Petri for the Washington Post:
I understand that there might be some confusion about what exactly I’m doing, and why I’m doing this now, but I don’t think there should be. I am objecting, on principle, to staying on this Death Star for a single additional second. To those of you who would question my motives: I did know for a long time that the place I worked was a Death Star, but I have to say, until today, I didn’t understand that it was also very vulnerable to assault by a small one-man fighter because of a design flaw!
Must-See New Video Shows Capitol Riot Was Way Worse Than We Thought
Chris Hayes for MSNBC’s All In:
The Open Society and Its Enemies
Karl Popper:
"...the paradox of tolerance: Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.—In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant."
18 U.S.C. § 2384 - U.S. Code
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
Henry Cavill Builds a Gaming PC
This is peak build porn.
In the oral histories of the Washoe tribe, there is a tragic and shocking story about a group of American settlers headed west. You can read more here, but I’ll quickly summarize.
It was late winter in the mountains. The passes snowed over, trapping the settlers. Realizing that the group was ill-equipped and unlikely to survive, the Washoe decided to help.
They left food on the edge of the camp, but the settlers never took it. One time, the Washoe even tried to bring the settlers a deer that could be butchered for meat. Instead of offering thanks, the settlers fired their guns.
Still concerned, the Washoe continued to watch their new neighbors. Their scouts were terrified by what happened next.
That group of settlers was the Donner Party.
Here is that same story, but as told by an idiot named Rush Limbaugh:
You’ve heard of the Donner Party? Maybe some of you haven’t. The Donner Party, the Donner family and a bunch of travelers trying to get to California over the Sierra Nevada mountain range. They made the mistake of trying to make the trip in the middle of winter. We’re talking the Lake Tahoe region. They get to the peak. It was so bad that they had to turn to cannibalism to survive. … They didn’t complain about it, because there was nothing they could do. They had to adapt. This is what’s missing. There seems to be no concept of adaptation. There seems to be no understanding in the millennial generation that we can adapt to this.
They were offered food, and the Donner Party opened fire.
They were starving and freezing, and people began to die. But instead of accepting help from a stranger, they adapted, and began to eat their dead.
We can adapt and beat COVID-19 — by staying home. We can help stop the spread by wearing masks.
Over 100,000 people are dead, but some argue “there was nothing they could do.”
Instead of staying home or putting on a mask, these people would rather grab their guns and storm state houses while screaming about the death of freedom.
We don’t need to take inspiration from the Donner Party. This country has plenty of fools already acting like them.
The Donner Party was just a group of 19th Century proto-Karens.
Fox News Argues Viewers Don't Assume Tucker Carlson Reports Facts
The Hollywood Reporter:
Tucker Carlson doesn't have an obligation to investigate the truth of statements before making them on his show, and his audience doesn't expect him to report facts, a lawyer for Fox News told a New York federal judge on Wednesday.
People should consider getting this paragraph tattooed on the back of their hands. That way, whenever someone says “well, according to Fox News,” the inevitable facepalm that follows will not only serve as a symbol of your frustration, it will also provide proof that they are a fucking moron.
Star Wars: Squadrons Reveal Trailer
The game’s name and some marketing images were leaked last week — which lead to EA confirming some of the details — and we’ll see gameplay footage Thursday during EA Play. Star Wars in VR is the only reason I’d ever consider buying Valve’s $1000 set-up.
People who identify as LGBTQIA+ didn’t choose to be that way. The internet is full of stories from queer and transgendered individuals where they detail their personal struggles with identity. You can’t deny who you are, because that is not a choice.
Unlike your sexual orientation or gender identity, religion is a choice. You may have been born into a faith, but you choose to stay. If you are an independent adult, there is nothing requiring you to attend church on Sunday, or go to the synagogue on Saturday, or to fast during Ramadan. You don’t have to practice the religious beliefs of your parents. You choose to.
You also choose how you treat those around you. If you deny someone medical service – or a cake! – because of your ‘religious beliefs’, you are choosing to be a horrible human being.
The Trump administration revoking rules that prohibited hospitals, insurance companies, and medical practitioners from discriminating against individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ isn’t protecting religious freedom. And calling the decision cruel is inadequate.
It’s evil.
Dalton Bennett, Sarah Cahlan, Aaron C. Davis, and Joyce Lee for The Washington Post:
Drawing on footage captured from dozens of cameras, as well as police radio communications and other records, The Washington Post reconstructed the events of this latest remarkable hour of Trump’s presidency, including of the roles of the agencies involved and the tactics and weaponry they used.
“To Serve and Protect.”
Just another one of Donald Trump’s ‘very fine people.’
Most of Minneapolis City Council pledges to 'begin the process of ending' Police Department
Liz Navratil for the Star Tribune:
“Decades of police reform efforts have proved that the Minneapolis Police Department cannot be reformed and will never be accountable for its actions,” they said. “We are here today to begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department and creating a new, transformative model for cultivating safety in Minneapolis.”
