Thailand Launches Air Strikes as Border Clashes With Cambodia Intensify 
CFPB to Review Anti-Discrimination Policies and Fair Lending Rules Amid Policy Shift 
Australia Imposes Sanctions on Taliban Officials Over Human Rights Abuses 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain Security 
Qatari PM Says Gaza Truce Negotiations Reach “Critical Moment” as Mediators Push for Lasting Ceasefire 
Trump Backs Review of U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule After Hepatitis B Policy Change 
U.S. Urges Europe to Take Over Majority of NATO Defense Burden by 2027 
U.S. Defense Bill Sets Record $901 Billion Budget, Includes Ukraine Aid 
Hong Kong Elections Proceed as Voter Turnout Scrutinized Amid Public Anger Over Deadly Fire 
Honduran Election Deadlock Continues as U.S. Attention Intensifies 
Netanyahu Says Second Phase of U.S. Gaza Plan Nearing but Key Issues Remain 
Trump Hosts Kennedy Center Honors for First Time as President Tightens Grip on Iconic Arts Institution 
Zelenskiy Describes “Substantive” Call With Trump Envoys as Ukraine, U.S. Explore Peace Path 
Zelenskiy Calls Talks With U.S. Envoys “Constructive but Difficult” as Ukraine Pushes for Peace Plan 
Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Amid Rising West Bank Violence 
Supreme Court to Review Legality of Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Restrictions 
U.S. and Rwanda Sign $228 Million Health Partnership to Boost Self-Reliance 
The GOP has drawn backlash over the claim made by the Republican National Committee that the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol was “legitimate political discourse.” Former vice president Mike Pence’s top aide Marc Short refuted the claims, saying that there was none of what it was claiming.
Speaking on NBC, Short, who has reportedly been cooperating with the congressional committee probing the riots, disagreed with RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel’s claim that the insurrection was “legitimate political discourse.” When host Chuck Todd asked Short if he thinks there was truth to McDaniel’s claim, Short disagreed.
“From my front-row seat, I did not see a lot of legitimate political discourse,” said Short, who was present at the Capitol with Pence when the insurrection occurred. “But from talking to some members of the RNC, I think there is concern that there were people there that were peacefully protesting who have been pulled into this, where I think it’s become more of a prosecution of the Jan. 6 committee and feel like they’re being unfairly treated.”
Republican officials have not offered evidence that the defendants of the Jan. 6 insurrection were being prosecuted for their political views. Short is one of the former vice president’s top aides who testified before the committee, followed by Pence’s former counsel Greg Jacobs.
Pence also recently called out his former boss during his remarks at a Federalist Society event. The former vice president said that Donald Trump was wrong in saying he had the authority to overturn the elections. Pence reiterated that the vice president has no authority to do so, making him one of the targets of the mob during the riots.
During the weekend, former Republican congressman David Jolly said that while it was good that Pence and Short have now decided to speak out on the attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 elections, they still need to testify about the whole truth.
Speaking on MSNBC Sunday, Jolly expressed that he was unimpressed by Short’s recent statements about the attempted coup, noting that Pence and Short had the most access in stopping what would be Trump’s attempts to stay in power.
Jolly said that Pence and Short need to testify to the committee publicly.
