An Ignoble Experiment: A year later, GOP lawmakers still won't say if Biden is really president

By Liza Hearon

Thursday, Jan. 6

A YEAR LATER, GOP LAWMAKERS STILL WON'T SAY IF BIDEN IS ACTUALLY PRESIDENT It's been a year since 147 Republican lawmakers voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, just hours after a mob of supporters of then-President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. HuffPost asked all of them if they now concede that Joe Biden was elected president, and if they regret their votes against certifying the Electoral College count. Overwhelmingly, the answers were no comment, and no. [HuffPost]

GARLAND VOWS JAN. 6 PERPETRATORS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE Attorney General Merrick Garland sought to reassure Americans that the federal investigation into the Jan. 6 attack isn't letting up, and that lawbreakers "at any level" will be brought to justice. The former judge's speech was carefully worded so as to not affect ongoing prosecutions. The feds have charged more than 700 people in connection with the assault, but that's still only about a quarter of the total number of potential defendants. [HuffPost]

BIDEN TO BLAST 'SHADOW OF LIES' THAT LED TO RIOT In a speech at the U.S. Capitol at 9 a.m. today, Biden plans to focus on the danger posed by Trump's ongoing lies about the presidential election results. "Are we going to be a nation that accepts political violence as a norm? Are we going to be a nation where we allow partisan election officials to overturn the legally expressed will of the people?" Biden will say, according to excerpts released by the White House. [HuffPost]

INSURRECTION: 1 YEAR LATER Today's commemorative events include lawmakers' testimonials about their experiences that day, a prayer vigil on the steps of the Capitol, and a panel discussion with historians. (Most Republican lawmakers plan on skipping the events.) You can find all HuffPost's coverage in one place on this page. [HuffPost]

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TENNIS SUPERSTAR DJOKOVIC DENIED ENTRY TO AUSTRALIA OVER VACCINE STATUS The 2022 Australian Open may go on without its male champion as Australia denied Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic entry after his team reportedly failed to obtain a visa that permits medical exemptions for being unvaccinated. Australians have lived with some of the world's tightest COVID-19 restrictions, which sparked plenty of outrage as news of Djokovic's exemption spread. Djokovic has said he's opposed to vaccinations. [HuffPost]

2022 GRAMMY AWARDS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY AMID COVID SURGE The 2022 Grammy Awards, originally set for Jan. 31, have been postponed due to the rapidly spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus. Trevor Noah of "The Daily Show" is still slated to host the rescheduled event. This is the second time that the Grammys have been delayed due to COVID-19. [HuffPost]

MAYO CLINIC FIRES 700 WORKERS FOR REFUSING VACCINE Nonprofit health organization Mayo Clinic said more than 700 employees, or about 1% of its workforce, have been fired for not complying with a mandate to receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by Monday. Those terminated may reapply to future job openings if they get vaccinated. Lawsuits and objections over vaccine mandates have raged in Minnesota, where the clinic's headquarters is located, just like in many other states. [HuffPost]

PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS ENDORSES SUPREME COURT EXPANSION The Congressional Progressive Caucus endorsed legislation to expand the size of the U.S. Supreme Court by four seats — a big boost for the relatively few but vocal groups demanding reforms to the high court. "The current bench was filled by a partisan, right-wing effort to entrench a radical, anti-democratic faction and erode human rights that have been won over decades," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). [HuffPost]

4-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHOT IN HOUSTON IDENTIFIED AS GEORGE FLOYD'S NIECE A 4-year-old girl recovering in a Texas hospital after being struck by a bullet on New Year's Day has been identified as George Floyd's niece. The girl, Arianna Delane, was reportedly asleep in a front room of a Houston apartment at around 3 a.m. when an unknown assailant fired several shots into the second-story unit, hitting her in the torso. [HuffPost]