Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Republicans in the House and the Senate have sought to downplay the January 6 Capitol insurrection following its one-year anniversary last week. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego recently criticized the recent incident involving Republican Senator Ted Cruz and also took aim at the House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Speaking on MSNBC last week, Gallego weighed in on the backlash Cruz received from Fox News personality Tucker Carlson following the Texas lawmaker’s comparison of the insurrection to a terrorist attack. Cruz later apologized for describing the insurrection as such following the backlash from Carlson.
Gallego said that Cruz’s recent comments were another sign that the Republican Party revolves around twice-impeached former President Donald Trump. Gallego went on to say that Republican lawmakers can no longer criticize the violence that occurred on January 6, 2021, as they would be implying that Trump incited the insurrection and they cannot attack Trump.
When host Chris Hayes made the comparison that McCarthy was somehow similar to Cruz, Gallego agreed but said that the House Minority Leader is “not as smart” as the Texas Republican. Gallego cited that McCarthy was willing to align himself with the pro-Trump Republican faction if it meant he could become House Speaker.
“He’s the dumber version of Ted Cruz, still an empty shell of a human being, just as craven of a politician, but not as smart,” said Gallego. “He’ll do anything to become speaker of the House. He’ll align himself with QAnon crazies, Matt Gaetz — who is pretty close at some point to hopefully being indicted for being a pedophile. This is the type of person that he is, and he’ll do it because he wants that title of speaker of the House.”
McCarthy has also become a key witness regarding the Capitol insurrection. According to former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, the House Republican Leader’s attempt to pander to both sides regarding his public statements about Trump and the insurrection would make him a “marquee witness.”
Citing the clip of McCarthy saying that Trump “bears some responsibility” for the insurrection that now contrasts with his recent comments, Kirschner said that McCarthy must be subpoenaed by the House Committee to testify.
