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Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s recent spin on unseen footage of the January 6 insurrection highlights a Trumpist narrative that aims to portray the event as a triumph to be celebrated, rather than a disaster or a minor event.
Although Carlson can't change the widely-known chaotic and destructive images of the Capitol attack, he recontextualizes them by downplaying the actions of the insurrectionists, arguing that they were “peaceful, orderly, and meek” and “sightseers”.
This fits in with former President Donald Trump’s strategy of demanding that his supporters adhere to his version of events, rather than what they can see with their own eyes.
Carlson’s portrayal has been enabled by the reluctance of Trump's rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination, who have mostly declined to criticize Trump over January 6, or even talk about it.
The implementation of this narrative intersects with the potential indictments relating to Trump's attempt to overturn the election, which shows an urgency to reframe the riot as anything but a negative event.
Credit: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/tucker-carlson-and-new-narrative-january-6/673303/
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Kari Lake, a former newscaster and current gubernatorial candidate in Arizona, has reportedly made it onto former President Donald Trump's short list of women for potential running mates in the 2024 presidential election.
Axios reports that Trump is considering a female running mate who can help him win back suburban women voters, and he sees Lake as a model for his vice presidential pick.
Lake has been called a "camera-ready rage machine" who could "continue and amplify Trump’s campaign of grievance."
However, some traditional Republicans in Arizona are not interested in Lake as their nominee, as they hope to move on from the extremist candidates who have lost the party multiple Senate seats and statewide offices in recent years.
Other women reportedly on Trump's short list include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Credit: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2023/03/07/kari-lake-trump-vice-president-great-for-arizona/69981574007/
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Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger condemned both Fox News and host Tucker Carlson for airing an "offensive and misleading" depiction of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Manger criticized Carlson's portrayal of the event as a peaceful protest, saying the show ignored "the chaos and violence that happened before or during these less tense moments."
A number of Republican senators, including Senators John Kennedy, Kevin Cramer, and Mitt Romney, criticized Carlson's depiction of the events as a violent attack.
Fox News has not commented on the matter.
Capitol Police had previously turned over approximately 14,000 hours of footage to the FBI as part of ongoing criminal proceedings, but the bulk of the footage has remained sealed.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's decision to grant Carlson's show access to the footage has garnered criticism from several Senate Republicans.
The footage has become controversial and may interfere with the ongoing prosecutions of certain Jan. 6 defendants.
Credit: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/07/capitol-police-jan-6-carlson-00085904
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Fox News host Tucker Carlson has released security footage of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S.
Capitol, provided to him exclusively by Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Carlson used the footage to claim that the riot was a peaceful gathering and promote former President Donald Trump's narrative.
The security video, which Carlson obtained as part of McCarthy's push to win the speaker's gavel, showed footage of Trump's supporters walking calmly around the Capitol.
It did not show any insurrection or riot in progress, in Carlson's view.
However, video not shown by Carlson revealed the violent combat between police and rioters.
Of the nearly 1,000 people charged in connection with the attack, around 140 officers were assaulted, and about 326 people were charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees.
Carlson also claimed on the show that Democrats lied about the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, with video allegedly showing Sicknick walking calmly inside the Capitol after the crowd had attacked him.
Sicknick died of natural causes on Jan. 7.
Carlson announced that he would air additional video on his show on Tuesday night.
The footage’s release on Fox News in prime time after two years emphasizes the network's influence and the far-right's influence over the new House majority.
Credit: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/tucker-carlson-new-video-provided-speaker-mccarthy-falsely-depicts-jan-rcna73673
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Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering at least four women for his 2024 running mate, and Kari Lake is among them.
Lake gained fame during her gubernatorial campaign in Arizona by closely aligning herself with Trump and defending his claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
She has been a strong supporter of Trump, and her candidacy could appeal to white suburban female voters.
However, some sources suggest that Trump does not want someone who could steal the spotlight, which could be a potential flaw for Lake. Another strong contender for the spot is former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, but Trump has not yet made a decision and his spokesperson warns against those trying to anticipate his moves.
Credit: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/kari-lake-on-shortlist-trump-running-mates
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Four U.S.
Four Americans were kidnapped by armed men in the Mexican city of Matamoros while buying medication.
The city is located in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which is one of the most crime-ridden states in Mexico, and one of the six Mexican states to which the State Department advises Americans against traveling.
Although Mexican authorities reportedly have made solid progress in improving security in recent years, criminal groups and drug gangs still routinely conduct turf wars, terrorize communities, and run kidnapping rackets.
Additionally, Tamaulipas is known for its long history of crime and lawlessness, and it is a main route for migrants headed to the United States, as well as for the bustling and integrated border life shared by Mexicans and Americans on both sides of the border.
Despite the violence, tens of thousands of people still go to Matamoros and Tamaulipas daily for doctor’s appointments, commerce, groceries or mundane activities such as having lunch.
The Americans were kidnapped while crossing the border from Brownsville in a white minivan, and the Mexican President suggested their kidnapping occurred when they were caught in a crossfire between groups.
The FBI and Mexican law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident, while also offering a $50,000 reward for information that can lead to the return of the victims or the arrest of the gunmen.
Although the most common reason for Americans to cross the border is to visit the dentist, some cross the border to access prescription medicines and affordable medical procedures.
Mexican pharmacies offer some advantages over those in the US, such as on-site medical doctors who can offer an inexpensive medical intervention in Spanish.
Other prescribed medications such as those for high blood pressure, diabetes, and antibiotics are also commonly available over the counter in Mexican pharmacies.
Additionally, the availability and the cost of qualified health care in northern Mexico are less expensive than in the US, which makes it an attractive destination for Americans looking for surgical procedures.
Although the cartel violence in Mexico has grown in recent years, many Americans still travel to Matamoros for all kinds of reasons.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, almost 948,895 people entered the US through the Brownsville border in January 2023.
Credit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/06/americans-medicine-kidnapped-mexico/
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Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington dies aged 71} Gary Rossington, the last surviving founding member of rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died at 71 years old.
Rossington appeared on all of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s albums and co-wrote one of their biggest hits, “Sweet Home Alabama”.
He was also a survivor of a 1977 plane crash that killed several of his bandmates.
Although he had suffered heart problems in recent years, Rossington had been playing shows as recently as February.
No cause of death was given, but Rossington had heart surgery in 2021 according to a band statement at the time.
Rossington co-wrote several other of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s most-loved songs, before inspiring the band’s singer to write “That Smell”- a warning about the group's lifestyle.
Following the tragic plane crash, Rossington formed a new group, The Rossington Collins Band, before Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny on lead vocals.
The band kept going and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Musicians paid tribute to Rossington on social media platforms following the news of his death.
Credit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64860924
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Gary Rossington, the last original member of the American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, has passed away at the age of 71.
He co-wrote the 1974 hit "Sweet Home Alabama" and appeared on all the group's albums.
Lynyrd Skynyrd earned a reputation for their rebellious blues-rock music in America's southern states.
Rossington's distinctive slide guitar work featured in the nine-minute epic "Free Bird." He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed several of his bandmates.
The surviving members decided not to continue after the tragedy, but Rossington formed a new group called The Rossington Collins Band with several former bandmates.
Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the crash with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny on lead vocals.
The band recorded nine studio albums and churned through almost 25 members, as well as being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Musicians, including Metallica's James Hetfield and country star Travis Tritt, paid tribute to Rossington.
Credit: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64860924
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Gary Rossington, the last remaining original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away at the age of 71.
Rossington was born in Florida in 1951, and in 1964, he founded the first iteration of Lynyrd Skynyrd called Me, You, and Him, alongside drummer Bob Burns and bassist Larry Junstrom.
After adding singer Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s rebellious blues-rock sound earned them a fearsome live reputation in America's southern states.
The band's debut album, titled Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, included the nine-minute epic Free Bird, which featured Rossington's distinctive slide guitar work.
An edited version of the track became a top 20 hit in the US, and in 1974, Sweet Home Alabama gave the band their only UK hit, charting at number 31.
Rossington co-wrote several more of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s most-loved songs, including I Ain't The One, Things Goin' On, Don't Ask Me No Questions and Gimme Back My Bullets.
Rossington was also one of the survivors of a 1977 plane crash that killed several of his bandmates.
After the tragedy, the surviving members decided not to continue, and Rossington, who was severely injured, had to learn to play again with steel rods in his arm.
He formed a new group, The Rossington Collins Band, with several former bandmates in the 1980s, before Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the crash, with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny on lead vocals.
The band kept going, recording nine studio albums and being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame nine years ago.
Fellow musicians paid tribute to Rossington, including Metallica frontman James Hetfield and country star Travis Tritt.
Credit: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64860924
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Senior presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway and her husband, attorney George Conway, have announced their divorce.
The announcement was made in a joint statement posted on their Twitter accounts.
The Conways stated that they are in the final stages of an amicable divorce, and although they experienced many happy years, their marriage has come to an end after more than 20 years.
The couple requested that their privacy be respected, but thanked those who knew them, cared for them, and supported them.
The news comes after George Conway began to criticize former President Donald Trump fervently, in contrast to Kellyanne Conway's consistent support for Trump.
The couple has four children together and has asked for the public to respect their privacy during this time.
Credit: https://nationalpost.com/news/kellyanne-conway-anti-trump-husband-george-divorcing
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