Monday Update: How Trump Retweeted January 6th

How Trump redefined the January 6 riots as a “day of love”

Four years ago today, protesters stormed the Capitol with batons, chemical weapons and other weapons, fueled by Donald Trump’s lie that the election was stolen from him.

A number of people died during and after the riots, including one protester shot dead and four police officers killed themselves. More than 140 police officers were injured. After the attack, Trump’s political career appeared to be over. But in two weeks, he takes the oath of office.

In the last years of this chaos, he and his followers have devoted a lot of effort to reviving the events of that time. They spread conspiracy theories for their political ends. As his supporters in Congress and the media played down the attack and redirected the blame, violent rebels – prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned – were turned into martyrs.

Now, Trump has a platform to continue the attack on what he called “the day of love.” He vowed to pardon the protesters in the first hour of his new administration, while his congressional supporters pushed for criminal charges against those investigating his actions. This is how Trump turned a violent day into political capital.

Russia and others are using mixed tactics to target the West

Russia, Iran and other hostile states have become emboldened to use “grey zone” attacks – such as hacking of sensitive computer systems, alleged assassinations and surveillance drones flying near military bases – against the West.

Britain, Germany, the US and the Baltic and Nordic countries near Russia’s border are among those most vulnerable to mixed threats, in part because of their prominent support for Ukraine, officials said. Russia has denied launching a hybrid attack against NATO, but NATO officials say Moscow has set up a special unit dedicated to doing so.

They present defense officials with a complex problem: How do countries prevent such actions without provoking a major conflict? And how do they blame when the strikes are designed to avoid guilt?

Syrians get general freedom

Now there are picnics and fireworks on the top of the mountain where no one was allowed to shoot in the areas under the control of the rebels except the soldiers. Protest songs that would have meant jail time are now being heard in the streets. Hundreds have gathered to hear the activist speak, and there is open trading in dollars and imported Nescafé.

“We feel like the city has returned to us,” said Muhammad Qatafani, 21, a dental student, speaking of Damascus.

“For almost 24 years, I have been killing and disposing of many corpses. I try to remember, but I don’t remember everyone.”

Edgar Matobato says he repeatedly killed former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. He was part of Duterte’s violent, impunity campaign against drugs and other social evils that claimed at least 20,000 lives. Now he is on the run and trying to stay alive to testify.

Lives were lived: Tomiko Itooka, believed to be the world’s oldest person, has died at a nursing home in Ashiya, Japan. He was 116 years old.

THEY DO NOT START THE CONVERSATION

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ART AND IDEAS

Hong Kong cabs are facing the end of an era

Often grumpy and in a hurry for the next buck, Hong Kong cabbies have done things their way for decades. They tend to drive fast and recklessly, treat customers in a shady manner and often only accept cash. They are an anomaly in the city’s smooth transport network, a symbol of its high-pressure, hard-working working-class culture.

But due to passenger complaints and the need to revive the struggling tourism economy, the government adopted new regulations last month: By 2026 all cabs must have credit card systems and digital payments and add surveillance cameras.

There may not be a more difficult task in this city of seven million people than changing the habits of taxi drivers, but, as one cabbie observes, “the world has changed—you have to accept it.”

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