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| THE BIG STORY
The FBI tracked down some of the Capitol rioters in truly surprising ways
When Maryland State Police arrested Daniel Egtvedt, the Capitol riots weren’t a part of the discussion. Egtvedt was arrested trying to stop an older relative from leaving home to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
He told officers he wouldn’t let the relative leave because of a fringe conspiracy theory that the vaccine would “eventually kill off a lot of people as a population control method.”
But when officers ran his name, they learned that Egtvedt was wanted in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol for assaulting multiple police officers, obstructing Congress, and illegally entering the Capitol.
That’s just one of the unusual ways the FBI has managed to track down the 280 people arrested in connection with the insurrection. There’s also the FBI agent who recognized a former classmate who posted online. And the vast network of people who have helped the feds so far in building cases against their friends, family members, coworkers, and exes.
Read Zoe Tillman’s piece on how the FBI’s efforts to arrest rioters serve as a showcase of the range of law enforcement tools. Rioters attempt to enter the Capitol at the House steps on Jan. 6. Tom Williams via Getty Images HELP US FIGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY
Our journalists filed 58 Freedom of Information Act lawsuits during Trump's presidency — more than any other media organization in the US. 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 contribution from now until March 15 will go toward our FOIA fund. When you contribute, 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 contributing here. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
Instagram has launched live “Rooms”
Instagram launched its Live feature in 2017, but the coronavirus pandemic accelerated its popularity. Over the last year, the pandemic created a demand for virtual hangouts, and Instagram Live was a natural fit for celebrity interviews and collaborations between creators.
The Live function helped users expand their reach, too — when two people go on Live together, both of their followers get notified, and they can be introduced to new audiences.
Well now, Instagram is expanding the Live functionality — instead of just two people, Instagram will now allow up to four people to go live on a split screen. SNAPSHOTS
German radio station Bayern3 apologized after their host linked BTS to the coronavirus in an on-air rant. In a vitriolic rant, host Matthias Matuschik likened the Korean group to “a virus that we'll hopefully have a vaccine for soon.”
Taylor Swift called out the Netflix show Ginny and Georgia for its “deeply sexist joke” about her love. In the show, one of the characters made a joke at the singer’s expense, saying, “What do you care? You go through men faster than Taylor Swift.” Swift responded, “2010 called and it wants its lazy, deeply sexist joke back.”
She turned 30 and moved back in with her parents. Sally never expected to be living with her parents when she turned 30 — but moving back home helped her build the life she truly wanted. (An excerpt from But You’re Still So Young.) CROSSFIT BREAKS ITS SILENCE
CrossFit is finally fed up with Marjorie Taylor Greene
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene used CrossFit to build her brand at nearly every step of her political rise. It started with Greene using her time as an affiliate gym owner to build her credibility as a small business owner.
But as people took notice of Greene, CrossFit remained mostly silent. Until now.
We asked CrossFit about Greene’s history of calling for violence against political enemies, support for QAnon, and attempts to undermine the 2020 presidential election. A spokesperson for CrossFit told us in a statement that the company “strongly opposes the loathsome and dangerous lies attributed to Ms. Greene.”
CrossFit’s disavowal comes as the company struggles to publicly account for its own accusations of racism, bigotry, and ignoring science during a lethal pandemic in its community of affiliates.
When asked for comment, Greene’s communications director said, “What is wrong with you? Seriously, do you not have anything better to do?” A still from a campaign video put out by Greene titled “Save America, Stop Socialism!,” where the candidate is seen working out at CrossFit Passion. Marjorie Taylor Greene via YouTube IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA
This woman is getting her massive Q tattoo removed and you can guess why
Last week, we brought you the story of Leah Holland, who went viral on TikTok for sharing a meaningful tattoo she got before the pandemic that said “Courageously & radically refuse to wear a mask.”
Holland is not the only one who got a tattoo that ended up backfiring. Caitlin Kennific from Toronto says she’s wrestling with a similar issue: Seven years ago, she got a big Q tattooed on her upper back.
She got the tattoo in 2013 — it was a matching tattoo with a friend, as a symbol of their bond. But after the ascendance of the QAnon mass delusion, Kennific is looking into getting it removed. “It’s actually a huge anxiety that someone can look at me and think that I’m signaling something to them that I’m not,” she told us. I hope you get to surprise yourself with your strength today, Elamin 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.
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