ProPublica: Insurrectionists made no effort to hide their intentions, but law enforcement protecting Congress was caught flat-footed. “This story is part of an ongoing collaboration between ProPublica and FRONTLINE that includes an upcoming documentary. The invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday was stoked in plain sight. For weeks, the far-right supporters of President Donald… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Category Archives: Congress
DC Mayor Bowser Issues Mayor’s Order Extending Today’s Public Emergency for 15 Days
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 (Washington, DC) – “Today, First Amendment protests turned violent. Many persons came to the District armed and for the purpose of engaging in violence and destruction and have engaged in violence and destruction. They have fired chemical irritants, bricks, bottles, and guns. They have breached the security of the Capitol and… Continue Reading
Most voters say the events at the US Capitol are a threat to democracy
YouGov: “Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol earlier this afternoon to protest lawmakers certifying Joe Biden’s election victory. According to initial reports, one person was shot and killed and at least one explosive device was found in the area. A YouGov Direct poll of 1,397 registered voters who had heard about the… Continue Reading
How years of online misinformation erupted into real-world insurrection
Fast Company – “On social networks, a toxic stew of lies simmered for years—until the president’s supporters responded with violent action at the U.S. Capitol…Despite the many fact-checking outlets and news organization efforts devoted to correcting Trump’s errors, he is un-fact-checkable. His constant stream of half truths and outright lies have fostered an environment where… Continue Reading
Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending
CRS report via LC – Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending, Updated January 6, 2021 – “Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. For more information, see CRS Report R46474,… Continue Reading
We’re botching the vaccine rollout. Here’s how to get it back on track
Fast Company – “…To fix the problem, several things need to change. The Biden administration can help by giving clear guidance to states about how many vaccines they’re getting and how long they can be stored, providing training materials for staff, and setting targets for vaccinating a certain number of people by a certain date,… Continue Reading
Pew – 20 striking findings from 2020
“The global coronavirus pandemic upended life in the United States and around the world in 2020, disrupting how people work, go to school, attend religious services, socialize with friends and family, and much more. But the pandemic wasn’t the only event that shaped the year. The videotaped killing of George Floyd by police officers in… Continue Reading
Road Map for Improvements: GAO’s Transition Webpage Flags Ways to Improve Government, Save Money
“The 117th Congress and the incoming Presidential administration will be taking office in a time that presents significant challenges to the government. Today the U.S. Government Accountability Office launched a new webpage dedicated to informing incoming lawmakers and administration officials about major challenges facing the federal government, as well as possible solutions. This Presidential and… Continue Reading
CRS – Russian Cyber Units
CRS In Focus – Russian Cyber Units, January 4, 2021: “Russia has deployed sophisticated cyber capabilities to conduct disinformation, propaganda, espionage, and destructive cyberattacks globally. To conduct these operations, Russia maintains numerous units overseen by itsvarious security and intelligence agencies. Russia’s security agencies compete with each other and often conduct similar operations on the same… Continue Reading
What to expect when Congress meets to confirm Joe Biden’s win
Washington Post video – “When Congress convenes on Jan. 6 to certify the electoral college vote, President Trump’s allies will mount a final challenge to Joe Biden’s win. But history shows it’s destined to fail, as Capitol Hill reporter Rhonda Colvin explains. Related: How Trump allies in Congress will launch one more challenge to Biden’s… Continue Reading
Facts won’t fix this: experts on how to fight America’s disinformation crisis
The Guardian – “Trump’s false claims about the election and coronavirus are taking a dangerous toll. Can the divide be healed? At the beginning of 2021, millions of Americans appear to disagree about one of the most basic facts of their democracy: that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. The consequences of Donald Trump’s… Continue Reading
COVID-19 in Congress
GovTrack – We’re tracking the impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, on the operations of Congress. Below you’ll find information on: 108 Members of Congress who are or have been quarantined, tested positive for COVID-19, or came in contact with someone with COVID-19 Proxy voting in the House Quarantined and Sick… Continue Reading
