Australian PM Albanese Heckled at Sydney Mosque During Eid al-Fitr Prayers 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks in Florida Target Ceasefire Framework and Defense Cooperation 
Israel Defies Trump's Warning, Launches New Strikes on Iran Amid Growing Global Energy Crisis 
Federal Reserve Crisis: DOJ Standoff Threatens Powell's Succession and Rate Stability 
Robert Mueller, Former FBI Director and Special Counsel, Dies at 81 
U.S. Officials Express Optimism Over New CDC Director Selection Amid Vaccine Policy Turmoil 
TSA Absences Surge During Government Shutdown as ICE Agents Prepare Airport Deployment 
Trump Presses Japan to Support Iran War Effort, Cites Pearl Harbor in Surprise Defense 
Trump White House Unveils National AI Policy Framework for Congress 
Trump Links DHS Funding to Voter ID Legislation 
Cuba-U.S. Military Tensions: Havana Warns It Is Ready to Defend Itself Against Potential American Aggression 
Taiwan Strengthens Deterrence Amid Ongoing Chinese Military Threat 
U.S.-Iran War Escalates: Marines Deploy, Strait of Hormuz Closure Drives Global Oil Crisis 
Palestinian Activist Leqaa Kordia Released from U.S. Immigration Detention After Judge's Order 
Iran-Israel War Escalates: Long-Range Missiles, Nuclear Site Strikes, and Global Energy Crisis 
Brazil's Haddad Leaves Finance Ministry to Run for São Paulo Governor 
Trump Signals U.S. Nearing End of Military Goals in Iran War, Shifts Hormuz Responsibility to Regional Nations 
Republicans in the House and the Senate have sought to downplay the January 6 Capitol insurrection following its one-year anniversary last week. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego recently criticized the recent incident involving Republican Senator Ted Cruz and also took aim at the House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Speaking on MSNBC last week, Gallego weighed in on the backlash Cruz received from Fox News personality Tucker Carlson following the Texas lawmaker’s comparison of the insurrection to a terrorist attack. Cruz later apologized for describing the insurrection as such following the backlash from Carlson.
Gallego said that Cruz’s recent comments were another sign that the Republican Party revolves around twice-impeached former President Donald Trump. Gallego went on to say that Republican lawmakers can no longer criticize the violence that occurred on January 6, 2021, as they would be implying that Trump incited the insurrection and they cannot attack Trump.
When host Chris Hayes made the comparison that McCarthy was somehow similar to Cruz, Gallego agreed but said that the House Minority Leader is “not as smart” as the Texas Republican. Gallego cited that McCarthy was willing to align himself with the pro-Trump Republican faction if it meant he could become House Speaker.
“He’s the dumber version of Ted Cruz, still an empty shell of a human being, just as craven of a politician, but not as smart,” said Gallego. “He’ll do anything to become speaker of the House. He’ll align himself with QAnon crazies, Matt Gaetz — who is pretty close at some point to hopefully being indicted for being a pedophile. This is the type of person that he is, and he’ll do it because he wants that title of speaker of the House.”
McCarthy has also become a key witness regarding the Capitol insurrection. According to former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, the House Republican Leader’s attempt to pander to both sides regarding his public statements about Trump and the insurrection would make him a “marquee witness.”
Citing the clip of McCarthy saying that Trump “bears some responsibility” for the insurrection that now contrasts with his recent comments, Kirschner said that McCarthy must be subpoenaed by the House Committee to testify.
