The Topline: Democracy's Daily Digest
There's a thread running through some of today's stories that bears attention: so many of our current problems trace back to Russia, but not necessarily in the way you might think. Sure, we know Russia has interfered in our elections and takes every chance it can to thwart democracy at home and abroad. But even worse, Russia has successfully exported its tactics on disinformation, corruption, and the politics of division to the U.S. And it's been wildly successful, with generous help from our own leaders in government, certain members of the media, and, often unwittingly, the American people. It's time for us to acknowledge this more broadly, and to take back our country—not from each other, but from foreign adversaries who seek to do us harm. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor
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'Somebody please do something'
As the nation mourns two mass shootings in less than a week, the White House is privately considering taking executive action on gun control, including strengthening background checks and increasing community anti-violence funding. In a public address yesterday, President Biden proposed a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and an expansion of background checks during gun sales, imploring Congress to take action. "We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again," he said. "I got that done when I was a senator. It passed. It was the law for the longest time. And it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again." —National Review
— A deadly year. While the pandemic decreased the number of high-profile mass shootings in 2020, Americans were still dying by gunfire at a record rate. In 2020, gun violence killed nearly 20,000 Americans, according to the Gun Violence Archive, more than any other year in at least two decades. An additional 24,000 people died by suicide with a gun. —The Washington Post
— "A public health crisis." At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence yesterday, Republicans and Democrats agreed that prevention is the best way to stop mass shootings, but disagreed on how to do so and how far to go. Democrats called for expanded background checks for firearms purchases. Some also called for banning assault rifles. Republicans said expanded background checks would not have prevented the recent shootings and would infringe on 2nd Amendment rights. —USA Today
— The Veep weighs in. Vice President Kamala Harris, a former Senate Judiciary Committee member, stressed the need for congressional action on gun laws yesterday. "If we really want something that is going to be lasting, we need to pass legislation," she said. Harris also called it a "false choice" to suggest that enacting stronger gun laws means the administration is looking to take away Americans' guns. —The Hill
MORE: Jeneé Osterheldt: We need more than thoughts, prayers, and gestures. We need gun reform —The Boston Globe
Gerson: The GOP has shirked its duty
"Politics does not directly determine the morality of citizens. But it helps shape the system of social cues and stigmas in which citizens operate. It matters whether leaders delegitimize hatred or fertilize it; if they isolate prejudice or mainstream it. If political figures base their appeal on the cultivation of resentment for some group or groups, they are releasing deadly toxins into our society without any idea who might be harmed or killed. Such elected leaders might not have blood on their hands directly, but they are creating a society with more bloody hands." —Michael Gerson in The Washington Post
Full speed ahead for USPS plans
Donald Trump may be gone, but his postmaster general isn't going anywhere, and he's proceeding with his controversial changes at the U.S. Postal Service. Louis DeJoy released his proposal yesterday—a sweeping 10-year plan entitled "Delivering for America"—that includes investments in upgraded equipment, vehicles, and training. The plan also cuts first-class mail delivery times and post office hours, which several Democrats have deemed "unacceptable," as it could hurt those who rely on the USPS for prescription drugs and other vital deliveries. —CNN
The 51st state?
Once consigned to the political fringe, the movement to grant Washington, D.C., statehood is gaining traction on Capitol Hill. At a key House panel this week, local officials argued that the deadly Capitol riot on Jan. 6–during which the mayor was powerless to quickly call in the National Guard—provided new evidence that the District's 700,000 tax-paying residents deserve federal representation. The panel is considering a bill that would make the District a state, with two senators and a representative in the House. Republicans argue that the bill is unconstitutional, and the District should instead dissolve and become part of Maryland. —The New York Times
MORE: D.C. statehood group looks to Klobuchar for help —Star Tribune
Daragahi: Russia's disinfo war started in Syria
"[Millions] of Syrians fleeing Russian and regime airstrikes and death squads were trying to make their way abroad. But even then they were trashed through a series of lies and bigotry aggressively propagated by the Kremlin and some far-right and far-left corners of the internet, depicting traumatized refugees fleeing a horrific near-genocidal onslaught by a mass murderer as vampires descending on Europe. The anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim lies propagated by Russia and regurgitated by its allies fueled far-right movements across the world." —Borzou Daragahi in Independent
Borzou Daragahi is an international correspondent at the Independent, covering the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Europe.
MORE: Brian Klaas: He worked in Russian media. He recognizes the same tactics at Fox News —The Washington Post
Focus on government accountability
— Federal watchdogs oversee roughly 14,000 auditors and investigators across government, with a broad mandate that ranges from routine audits of operations and spending to probes of possible criminal activity.
— Trump Administration lawyers used various maneuvers to hinder oversight. They invoked the power of the president and top agency officials to withhold confidential communications. They insisted on a seat at the witness table, or blocked employee interviews altogether. They released documents at a slow pace, or not at all.
— Among the investigations hindered during the Trump Administration were probes into hurricane relief to Puerto Rico, the decision to add a question to the U.S. Census about citizenship, a controversial contract to build a wall at the southern border, and how federal offices handled the coronavirus last year. —The Washington Post
MORE: DOJ refers former Capitol riot prosecutor for internal investigation after '60 Minutes' interview —CNN
Wicker & Cardin: Fighting corruption is a national security imperative
"Fighting corruption is an imperative for the United States. As a beacon of liberty and the rule of law, it is our duty and the purest expression of our values. It is also a highly practical form of soft power that advances our national security. Allocating the right resources for this fight is a small price to pay for advancing good governance abroad and creating a more stable world. Passing the CROOK Act would be decisive step in the right direction." —Roger Wicker & Ben Cardin in Just Security
Roger Wicker represents Mississippi in the U.S. Senate. Ben Cardin represents Maryland in the U.S. Senate. They are co-chairs of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.
MORE: Countering Russian and Other Overseas Kleptocracy (CROOK) Act fact sheet —Transparency International
I'd like to see Stand Up Republic push for a national voting day, which would be a paid day off so people can vote. Most other countries do it on a Sunday, but I'm not sure how that would fly here. At least it would eliminate the problem for shift workers and others who have a hard time getting to the polls. —Read G., Utah
The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Stand Up Republic Foundation.
Got feedback about THE TOPLINE? Send it to Melissa Amour, Managing Editor, at editor@thetopline.com.
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