Biden Nominates Veteran Diplomat for CIA; Capital-Riot Fallout Continues

BY JACK CROWE

January 11, 2021

Good morning and welcome to the News Editor's Roundup, a weekly newsletter that will ensure you're up to date on the developments in politics, business, and culture that will shape the week's news cycle — as well as those that might escape mainstream attention.

Biden Nominates Veteran Diplomat William Burns to Lead CIA

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced his plans to nominate former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns to serve as director of the CIA.

Burns has held a multitude of national security roles under five Democratic and Republican administrations, Biden's transition team noted. He served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 33 years before retiring in 2014.

Burns, who was U.S. ambassador to Russia between 2005 and 2008 and U.S. ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001 is a "consummate professional full of integrity who will bring the facts and independence that our national security demands," team Biden said.

Talk-Radio Owner Threatens to Fire Hosts Who Dispute Election Results

A media company that employs right wing talk-radio hosts, including Mark Levin, Dan Bongino, and Ben Shapiro, circulated a memo after the pro-Trump riots on Capitol Hill telling hosts to dial down allegations of election fraud, or else face termination.

"We need to help induce national calm NOW," Cumulus's executive vice president of content Brian Philips wrote in the memo. The company "will not tolerate any suggestion that the election has not ended. The election has been resolved and there are no alternate acceptable 'paths.'"

FBI: 'No Indication' That Antifa Was Involved in Storming of U.S. Capitol

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday that there was "no indication" that members of Antifa had gone undercover as pro-Trump supporters to spark chaos during Wednesday's storming of the U.S. Capitol by defenders of the president.

In response to a question about whether such an effort had taken place, as some Republican lawmakers had suggested, Assistant Director Steven D'Antuono told reporters, "We have no indication of that, at this time."

Representatives Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), Mo Brooks (R., Ala.) and Paul Gosar (R., Ariz.) all alleged that left-wing anarchists had posed as Trump supporters to create trouble on Wednesday as Congress met to count electoral votes after President Trump's "Save America" rally.

In remarks on the House floor late Wednesday, Gaetz said he had read "compelling evidence" that some of the rioters were from Antifa.

Twitter Permanently Suspends Trump

Twitter announced Friday it had decided to permanently suspend President Donald Trump's personal account, @realDonaldTrump, citing "the risk of further incitement of violence."

"After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence," a post from Twitter Safety read.

Petition to Recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom Draws 1 Million Signatures

The latest effort to recall California governor Gavin Newsom has gained more than 1 million signatures, with nine weeks left to collect the additional 500,000 that would enable the measure to be placed on the ballot.

Should the recall effort receive 1.5 million total signatures by mid-March, a mid-year election would take place.

"The people are being heard loud and clear, and it is not a matter of IF we are going to reach our goal necessary that will trigger a recall election of Newsom, it is just when we cross the finish line," Orrin Heatlie, the Lead Proponent of the official RecallGavin2020.com, said in a statement.

Amazon, Google, and Apple Suspend Parler, CEO Says Site Could Be Offline 'Up to a Week'

Tech giants Amazon, Google, and Apple have all suspended social-media app Parler, in an attempted crackdown on what the companies viewed as dangerous content following the pro-Trump riots on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Parler, whose format is similar to Twitter, has catered to right-wing users disappointed at what they perceive as censorship by other social-media platforms. However, several big tech companies grew increasingly concerned by calls for violence appearing on the site, after President Trump incited a mob of his supporters to head to the Capitol while Congress certified the Electoral College results.

Clyburn Hints House Won't Send Articles of Impeachment to Senate for Biden's First 100 Days

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., Ga.) indicated that the House may not send articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate during the first 100 days of Joe Biden's presidency, in an interview on CNN.

Pat Toomey Says Trump Could Face 'Criminal Liability' after Capitol Riots, Calls for Resignation

Senator Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) said on Sunday that President Trump could face "criminal liability" after inciting a mob of supporters to head to the Capitol while Congress was in the process of certifying the Electoral College results.

Toomey also called on Trump to resign, in a Sunday interview on CNN's State of the Union.

"I think at this point, with just a few days left, it's the best path forward, the best way to get this person in the rearview mirror for us that could happen immediately," Toomey told host Jake Tapper. "I'm not optimistic it will. But I think that would be the best way forward."

NR Exclusive: The 'Q Shaman' on Why He Stormed the Capitol Dressed as a Viking

Jacob Angeli Chansley says he traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to oppose tyranny.

He went, he said, to protest governments that have shuttered businesses during the pandemic, told citizens to avoid their own family members, and mandated that people wear masks.

He went to oppose the recent coronavirus stimulus package and omnibus spending bill that sent billions of dollars to foreign nations, but only $600 to American citizens.

And most importantly, he went because, "Donald Trump asked everybody to go to D.C., didn't he?" said Chansley, who views himself as a truth-teller and an activist willing to stand up to the most powerful figures in government.

"I am a true patriot that believes in the founding documents, that believes in our founding principles," Chansley said Friday in an interview with National Review. "I have no concern, whatsoever, what happens to me, because I will not live on my knees, and I will not allow my country to be ruled by lesser men."