Daily Skimm: Jan 6 investigation, Twitter, and Argentina

Getting Down to Business

The Story

The Jan 6 investigation is coming to a close. 

For real this time?

Yes. For more than a year, a House select committee has been probing the insurrection at the US Capitol. Over the course of 10 hearings, lawmakers have presented their findings from more than 1,000 interviews. And have maintained that former President Trump carried out an effort to overturn the 2020 election. Today at 1 pm ET, the committee’s holding its final, final hearing — bringing it one step closer to sealing its investigation. 

What’s on the agenda?

The panel’s reportedly expected to vote on criminal referrals against Trump, including obstruction, insurrection, and conspiracy. It’s also expected to make referrals against the former president’s allies to various authorities — which could include the Justice Dept, the House Ethics Committee, and others — on issues ranging from ethics to campaign finance violations. Also on the to-do list: Preview the committee’s eight-chapter report detailing all their findings, which is set to drop on Wednesday. And yes, it’ll be available for purchase.

It wasn’t on my holiday wishlist. Should it be?

Your call. Meanwhile, it’ll be up to the Justice Dept to decide if it takes up the committee's referrals — including whether to potentially charge Trump. Any criminal referral against the former president would be unprecedented. And would add political pressure to the DOJ, which already has a special counsel looking into the 2024 presidential candidate’s actions. Also in the works: making changes to legislation in an effort to prevent a repeat of 2020.

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House Democrats have to hand over the gavel to Republicans next year. And part of Dems’ EOY duties involves wrapping up this investigation. It comes as the GOP’s expected to turn the tables and launch an investigation into President Biden’s son, Hunter, once they take the majority.

And Also...This

Where there are no free rides…

Twitter. Yesterday, the company said it’s not allowing users to promote other social platforms — everything from Facebook and Instagram to Mastodon and former President Trump’s Truth Social. Chief Twit Elon Musk says that under the new policy, there will be “no more relentless free advertising of competitors.” It comes as some users have been posting their account links to other sites before leaving Twitter. Meanwhile, most companies targeted by the new policy have yet to comment. But backlash has already begun, with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey saying the new policy “doesn’t make sense.” Even Musk has apologized, saying there will be a “vote for major policy changes” moving forward. And appears to have scrapped the policy. Now, he apparently plans to rule Twitter like a popularity contest, relying primarily on Twitter polls for major policy decisions here on out. The companies targeted by the new policy have yet to comment.

• They see me pollin’: First up, whether Musk should step down. Last night, the billionaire asked Twitter if he should resign as CEO, saying he’d “abide by” the results. It’s not clear when he’ll close the poll — but as of 6 am ET, it's leaning toward a ‘yes, resign.’

Who’s still taking a victory lap…

Argentina. Yesterday, Lionel Messi — one of soccer’s greatest players of all time — led his country to its third World Cup win. The play-by-play: Argentina was in the lead 2-0. But French soccer star Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in about two minutes to tie the game. Both teams later scored, the game went into OT, and ended in a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout. Along with the title — which is Messi’s first and likely last — Argentina will also take home $42 million from the $440 million FIFA prize fund. Every national soccer federation that qualified, including the US, will get at least $9 million. And for the first time, the US men’s team will split that prize money evenly with the women’s team thanks to a landmark settlement earlier this year that helped level the pay-ing field. Meanwhile, the tournament is over, but a Qatari official reportedly says the country will “continue” to look into incidents where workers building the stadiums died.

Where there’s controversy (again)...

The Catholic Church. Yesterday, reports revealed that the Vatican defrocked an American priest. Frank Pavone — who has served as a religious adviser to former President Trump — is also an anti-abortion activist. During the 2016 presidential election, he posted a video online of an aborted fetus on an altar as part of his appeal to protect unborn children. Now, the Vatican has found Pavone guilty of “blasphemous communications” on social media and of “persistent disobedience.” While there’s no possibility of appeal, Pavone reportedly says he’ll appeal to the next pope and “to the people of God.”

What’s been 84, err, 25 years…

The release of “Titanic.” Today, the movie celebrates its 25th anniversary. And director James Cameron finally gave fans a science-backed answer to what’s been dubbed the “modern cinema debate of our time”: Could Jack have fit on the door? According to a forensic analysis, ahem, organized by Cameron, the answer is no. Ready to put the theories to rest, Cameron said “there was no way they both could have survived. Only one could survive.” He may be more than ready to move on...but as for the rest of us? We’ll never let go (of it), Jack.

What people can’t avoid knowing about on TikTok...

Buccal fat removal.

Who went out on a Strong note…

Cecily.