The deadly attack on Congress at the Capitol is raising questions about the lapse in security over what was expected to be one of the most well-protected buildings in the nation. Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio - 17th District) called law enforcement's response to the mayhem a "complete embarrassment."
"We didn't have enough backup there, which, given Trump's rhetoric for the last four years, [and for] the last four, five weeks since the election precisely identifying January 6 as a date that, 'It's going to be wild,' he said, 'We need to go there,' and then whipping everybody up yesterday morning into a frenzy and then sending them down to the Capitol," Ryan told Cheddar. "All of those should have been indicators that we have been planning for the worst-case scenario."
Going forward, the congressman said, there needs to be a reassessment of security protocols at the Capitol.
Following a summer of massive demonstrations protesting the police killings of unarmed Black Americans that came bundled with heavily secured streets and swarms of law enforcement, obvious comparisons were being drawn to the chaos that ensued in Washington, DC.
"We also do have to recognize that some of these situations with Black Lives Matter were handled much more differently. The approach was much more aggressive versus the Trump mob," Ryan said.
"I don't think there's any question there's a lot more aggressive behavior around people of color but at the same time, there was an escalation, a slow escalation for what happened this summer versus something immediate here. But that, to me, that doesn't excuse anybody."
While the Ohio representative said he supported the removal of the House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, who resigned Thursday, and Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund for their handling of the breach, Ryan said the president also has to be held accountable for directing his supporters to incite violence and chaos. In fact, Ryan said the sentiment among most Democrats — and some Republicans — is growing.
As America waits for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be officially installed as president and vice president on January 20, the need to neutralize the president's power is more evident than ever following yesterday's events, according to Ryan.
"The next two weeks leading up to the inauguration will be very, very difficult, I think, if we allow him to stay there," he added.
As the standoff between the U.S. and its allies continues with Russia over its possible designs to invade Ukraine, President Biden held a video conference call with European leadership and had 8,500 American troops put on high alert. Jamil Jaffer, a former associate White House counsel for the Bush Administration, joined Cheddar to discuss his views on the escalating crisis in Eastern Europe.
As controversy dogs the run-up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, China is hiring TikTokers and other social media influencers to promote the nation's history, culture, diplomatic efforts, and current trends.
The Supreme Court has rejected another request to block Texas' strict abortion law. This marks the third time the high court has declined to intervene in challenges to the law that bans abortions after six weeks, well before many women even know they're pregnant. Aziza Ahmed, professor of law at the University of California, Irvine, joined Cheddar News to discuss the impact of the law so far on women seeking abortion services in Texas.
Mayors in cities like Miami and New York City are considering introducing cryptocurrencies as a way to reduce economic inequality. Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez has even pushed for distributing Bitcoin dividends to the city's inhabitants.
The U.S. will be implementing a vaccine mandate for all people entering through its land borders, removing exemptions for "essential" travelers such as truckers, students, and business people. While the Canadian Trucking Alliance argues that the new, stricter rule might exacerbate ongoing auto supply chain issues, some health experts see the potential for helping curb the ongoing pandemic. Anthony Santella, a professor of health administration at the University of New Haven, joined Cheddar to give his take on the updated border crossing restriction. "We can't just focus on one type of travel. We need to ensure that it's clear and consistent across all types of travel," Santella said.
Will Rhind, CEO of GraniteShares, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says he believes the Fed's plans of increasing rates is taking its toll on some of the more speculative stocks and the technology market.
Mona Zhang, states cannabis policy reporter at POLITICO Pro joins Cheddar News to discuss major factors that caused Canada's retail marijuana sales to drop last year.
The January 6 committee has asked Ivanka Trump to give voluntary testimony, saying there's evidence she was in "direct contact" with her father on the day of the capitol insurrection. I's unclear whether she will comply with the invitation, but it marks the first time the House committee has sought testimony from a member of the former president's family. Bradley Moss, national security attorney, joined Cheddar News to discuss what the committee hopes to learn from Ivanka and what the Supreme Court's decision on Trump's Jan. 6 materials means for the investigation.
