Operation: Protect D.C.
The U.S. is scrambling to boost security as Inauguration Day approaches. The Senate is gearing up for another impeachment trial. And I've never been more fired up about a bird until I heard the story of a pigeon named Joe.
It's Ashley with the news everyone's talking about.
But first, anyone can fall for "fake news." The violence at the Capitol showed the dangerous consequences of false information. Here are some tips from experts on guarding yourself against misinformation. I found it helpful to review this fact-check on what's true about the Capitol riot, from antifa to BLM to Chuck Norris.
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The mad scramble to boost security before Inauguration week
President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated next Wednesday (Jan. 20), becoming the 46th president of the United States. It'll be like no other inauguration in history: Security in Washington has ramped up after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week, and the FBI warned over the weekend of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington. Around the Capitol, the National Mall and some nearby federal buildings, nonscalable walls and metal gates have been erected, streets have been closed and a contingent of National Guard troops are camping out, John Bacon reports. Will the country be fully prepared for possible violence?
Next stop, not the Capitol: Biden won't take an Amtrak train to Washington for his inauguration because of security concerns.
Thinking about bringing a gun to Washington next week? Not on Delta. Starting this weekend, Delta will ban passengers traveling to Washington from checking firearms.
Armed "militias" are illegal. Some legal experts are calling on authorities to enforce longstanding laws outlawing organized groups that act as citizen-run, unauthorized militias.
Has someone you care about been radicalized? USA TODAY spoke with experts about what radicalization is, how de-radicalization works and where there is room for loved ones to help.
Senate awaits article to start impeachment trial
The Senate is poised to begin another impeachment trial for President Donald Trump after the House voted Wednesday to charge the outgoing president with inciting the insurrection at the Capitol last week that left five people dead. But we're now in a waiting game. Senators must first receive the article of impeachment House lawmakers approved Wednesday – and there's no telling how long they'll wait. The Senate must move directly to the trial once it receives the article. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declined repeatedly to respond to questions about when she would send the article to the Senate.
Peter Meijer, a Republican who voted for impeachment, says he's buying body armor due to threats.
What stars from Geraldo Rivera to Chrissy Teigen are saying about Trump's second impeachment.
What everyone’s talking about
Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Bon Jovi are among the stars tapped to appear during Inauguration festivities.
Jeff Bridges says his tumor "drastically shrunk" since lymphoma diagnosis.
Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey: Why everyone is talking about the two.
Julia Letlow, the widow of U.S. Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, will run for the congressional seat her husband was unable to fill because of his COVID-19 death.
After Kyle Rittenhouse was seen at a bar flashing white power sign, prosecutors want him to stay away from the Proud Boys.
Hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? You and France both.
The United States isn’t the only country in the world struggling with people who are reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccine, Adrianna Rodriguez reports. A new survey found residents in seven other countries were more hesitant to get the vaccine than Americans — with France leading the pack. China ranked the highest in vaccine acceptance, with 80% of respondents saying they would get it. France ranked the lowest, with only 40%. The U.S. stayed somewhere in the middle, with 69%. In every country, between 57% and 80% of those who say they wouldn’t take a COVID-19 vaccine cite concerns about side effects.
More important COVID-19 news to know:
Pope Francis received the first shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Thursday. The 84-year-old has advocated that everyone should get the vaccine.
The single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine is safe and generates an immune response, based on early-stage clinical trials.
A global team of researchers arrived Thursday in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus was first detected, to investigate its origins.
Did Capitol rioters have help — from members of Congress?
As Congress debated the second impeachment of Trump on Wednesday, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., demanded an immediate investigation into colleagues she said led people through the Capitol on Jan. 5 in what she termed a "reconnaissance for the next day," when a deadly siege took place at the building. Her request cited "suspicious behavior and access given to visitors." Sherrill's letter comes after Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former U.S. Army captain, last week requested a wide-ranging investigation into the attack — including reviewing actions of congressional colleagues.
Real quick
Siegfried Fischbacher of Las Vegas duo Siegfried and Roy has died of pancreatic cancer at 81.
A retired Pennsylvania firefighter was arrested, accused of throwing an extinguisher at Capitol police.
Two Virginia police officers are also facing charges from the Department of Justice for their roles in the riot.
2020 was just short of being Earth's hottest year on record as global warming continues.
What the outcry from Kumail Nanjiani's sculpted body tells us about racism and masculinity standards.
Hey Australia, if you can hear me, I'm willing to adopt Joe the pigeon
Australian authorities are planning to kill a racing pigeon (named Joe) who survived a mind-boggling 8,000-mile Pacific Ocean crossing from the United States to find a new home in Australia. Authorities said the pigeon — who could be a quarantine risk — was “not permitted to remain in Australia" and "poses a direct biosecurity risk to Australian bird life." Kevin Celli-Bird discovered the exhausted bird that arrived in his Melbourne backyard on Dec. 26 had disappeared from a race in Oregon on Oct. 29. Experts suspect the pigeon, named Joe after the U.S. president-elect, hitched a ride on a cargo ship to cross the Pacific. Pigeons have been known to contract a variety of diseases, including coronaviruses.
A break from the news
🥳 Betty White turns 99 on Sunday, and the landmark birthday has fans wondering – what's her secret to a long, healthy life?
💰 Stimulus checks: Americans say financial stability depends on economic impact payments.
😷 Clorox wipes are finally back in stock. Here's where you can find them.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden inauguration, Trump impeachment, COVID-19 vaccine: Thursday's news
