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| THE BIG STORY
The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump has officially been triggered in the Senate
The second impeachment of Donald Trump took a key step on Monday: The House delivered articles of impeachment to the Senate. The Senate will now hold a trial on whether to convict Trump of the crime of inciting a violent insurrection against the US Capitol.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead House impeachment manager, said Trump “engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors by inciting violence against the government.”
When oral arguments start on the Senate floor— on February 9 — it will be Trump’s second impeachment trial in a year.
Republicans are making the argument that the impeachment trial is divisive and pointless given that Trump is out of office. But Democrats are forging ahead, arguing that Congress still needs to hold Trump accountable for his actions.
A vote to convict Trump would require a two-thirds majority. If all 50 Democrats vote to convict, 17 Republicans would need to join them — an unlikely but not totally implausible outcome. President Donald Trump speaks to supporters near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
President Biden has reversed Trump’s transgender military service ban
The White House announced that President Joe Biden signed an executive order reversing Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the armed forces. The order was expected, as Biden had previously vowed to reverse the ban.
Biden’s directive states that all transgender individuals who want to serve “shall be able to do so openly and free from discrimination.” It also instructs each branch of the military to identify service members who “have been involuntarily separated, discharged, or denied reenlistment or continuation of service on the basis of gender identity.”
Approximately 13,700 transgender service members were discharged when the ban went into effect in April 2019. A NOTE TO OUR READERS
Our journalists filed 58 Freedom of Information Act lawsuits during Trump's presidency, more than any other media organization in the US — and we have no plans to slow down. But pursuing that work is expensive and time consuming.
That's why every BuzzFeed News Membership sign-up or one-time donation from now until March 15th will go toward our FOIA fund. When you donate, you’ll become a BuzzFeed News member and receive special member-only emails, including an inside look when we publish the next major FOIA scoop. Help us reach our goal of $100,000 for our FOIA fund by donating here: support.buzzfeednews.com SNAPSHOTS
A MAGA influencer is accused of urging rioters to force their way into the US Capitol. Brandon Straka allegedly told people to ”go, go” and encouraged rioters to take a shield away from a police officer while forcing his way into the Capitol building.
A minor was arrested for fatally shooting 5 people, including a pregnant woman. Indianapolis police have not released the suspect's name or any other identifying details since they are under 18. The police chief described the incident as a “different kind of evil” that he struggled to comprehend.
Trump won’t face legal consequences for holding onto his DC hotel and other business interests while president. The Supreme Court dismissed cases accusing Trump of violating the US Constitution by refusing to divest from his businesses because he's no longer in office.
STOKING FEAR ON THE ROAD
The road to the Capitol insurrection was paved with MAGA disinformation
One key group involved in the lead-up to the Capitol insurrection is a group that many Americans haven’t even heard of. Women for America First was founded by Trump loyalists and supported by the former president.
It was Women for America First that obtained the permit for the rally where Trump told the crowd to march on the Capitol. They also spent the weeks leading up to it on a 20-city bus tour, spreading incendiary propaganda, lies, and hate across an American tinderbox.
Their campaign was one of the biggest and best-funded efforts to bring people to Washington, DC, for Jan. 6. It was promoted by Trump on Twitter, and attracted thousands of in-person attendees as well as the audiences watching online live streams.
Our reporters reviewed more than 20 hours of footage of the bus tour events dating back to November and found that organizers, rally goers, and guest speakers — some of them government officials — propagated lies and conspiracies, and stoked fear at every stop, helping to lay the groundwork for the deadly insurrection. The March for Trump bus tour kicks off in Doral, Florida, on Nov. 29, 2020. Maria Alejandra Cardona / Reuters CLEARING THINGS UP
This TikToker takes hydroxychloroquine for lupus and wants you to know the facts
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been frequent waves of false information about hydroxychloroquine, a drug that many have claimed could treat or prevent COVID-19. According to the World Health Organization, the drug has shown no benefits in treating COVID-19
This has all been very frustrating for Abby Mahler as someone who takes hydroxychloroquine to manage lupus. That's why they have taken to TikTok to try to debunk the false information.
Mahler has been regularly posting about the false information spreading about the drug, fact-checking common myths and answering questions from viewers. I hope you're in touch with the bravest version of yourself today, Elamin P.S. If you like this newsletter, help keep our reporting free for all. Support BuzzFeed News by becoming a member here. (Monthly memberships are available worldwide). 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Brandon Hardin and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here. Show privacy notice and cookie policy.
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