1 House Approves Bill Forming January 6th Commission
A bill that would set up an independent January 6th commission is officially headed to the Senate after passage by the House. It passed with a 252-175 vote, with 35 Republicans joining Democrats. The measure is opposed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and former President Trump...but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seemed open to it – until Trump came out against it. The problem? McCarthy wants the scope broadened to include other acts of political violence, unrelated to the Capitol attack. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says opponents appear to be "afraid of the truth." As McConnell sees it, the Democrats' proposal is “slanted and unbalanced proposal.” Once the bill arrives in the Senate, McConnell has reportedly signaled willingness for the party to potentially filibuster the legislation. Sources say he made a comment along the lines of "there's 41 of us who could change this.”
2 Trump Fires Back About Criminal Probe
Former President Trump is now facing a criminal probe in addition to the civil legal issues he facing. Among other things, he's calling the New York probe into his organization a "corrupt" investigation in desperate search of a crime. He hadn’t responded to the reports yesterday at press time – but he has now. Trump called these investigations “a continuation of the greatest political Witch Hunt in U.S. history. "Working in conjunction with Washington,” Trump offered via his website. “These Democrats want to silence and cancel millions of voters because they don't want 'Trump' to run again.” Trump is also criticizing New York Attorney General Letitia James and says we are no longer a free democracy when candidates pledge to "take out" their enemies when they run for office. He claimed Democrats "failed to stop me in Washington, so they turned it over to New York to do their dirty work."
3 Fauci Says COVID Booster Shot Likely Needed
For those unhappy about the COVID vaccine situation as it is, buckle up – the various vaccines will likely need a booster in the future. That's the word according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who spoke during a web event for Axios. He said a vaccine booster, once approved, will likely be needed within a year of getting the first shots. Fauci noted the current vaccines are effective for six months, while adding it's likely longer. “We know that the vaccine durability of the efficacy lasts at least six months,” he explained. “And likely considerably more, but I think we will almost certainly require a booster sometime within a year or so after getting the primary.” Meanwhile, more companies are saying it's okay to shop without a mask. Kroger and Walgreens are the latest to join a growing list of mandates dropped. It's only for people fully vaccinated against coronavirus, to coincide with the CDC's updated guidelines.