| Joe Biden's Electoral College win is finally certified; the US continues to set new daily highs in Covid-19 deaths. Tonight's Sentences was written by Benjamin Rosenberg. | | | | | | | Congress certifies Biden's win after pro-Trump rioters storm Capitol | | | | | Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images | | - On Wednesday, shortly after debate began over certifying Joe Biden's presidential win, a pro-Trump mob infiltrated the Capitol, causing a several-hour delay in the proceedings. The rioters used metal bars and tear gas to breach the building, with Capitol Police offering little resistance. Lawmakers were evacuated. [Vox / Anna North and Ella Nilsen]
- One of the rioters, a 35-year-old woman from San Diego and an Air Force veteran, was killed, and three other people died during the chaotic events. Despite the violence, Washington, DC, and Capitol Hill police made very few arrests. [Vox / Nicole Narea]
- Law enforcement was severely overwhelmed, and eventually National Guard troops from DC, Maryland, and Virginia were deployed. The police response drew a stark contrast to last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, which were often quickly met with police violence. [Vox / Ella Nilsen and Alex Ward]
- Former President Barack Obama suggested the events were predictable — President Trump had been calling on his supporters to not accept the election results, and he told the far-right militant group the Proud Boys at the first presidential debate to "stand back and stand by." [The Guardian / Ed Pilkington]
- After the Capitol was cleared of intruders, debate resumed over the election results, and while an objection to Arizona's results ultimately failed, more than half of House Republicans voted to sustain it, as did six GOP senators. Another objection led to a vote with similar results regarding Pennsylvania. [Vox / Jerusalem Demsas and Emily Stewart]
- Biden was finally certified as the Electoral College winner in the early hours of Thursday morning. The outcome was never in doubt, despite the baseless objections of Congress members such as Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who was a main orchestrator of the debate. [Vox / Andrew Prokop]
- While Trump still has not formally conceded or admitted he lost the election, he all but acknowledged that it had been decided in a statement via White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, saying there will be an "orderly transition" of power on January 20. [Vox / Ella Nilsen]
- With the end of his presidency near, social media companies are cracking down on Trump. Twitter temporarily disabled his account beginning Wednesday evening, and Facebook and Instagram are banning him through at least Inauguration Day. [AP / David Klepper and Matt O'Brien]
- Talk is also escalating over removing Trump from office before January 20 to avoid the damage he could inflict in the meantime. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who will soon become the majority leader, expressed support for Trump's removal. [CNN / Clare Foran]
| | | The US set another high in daily Covid-19 deaths Wednesday | | - Lost in the chaos of Wednesday's events at the Capitol was the fact that 3,964 Americans died from Covid-19, the country's deadliest day since the pandemic began. The total US death toll has surpassed 360,000. [Vox / Dylan Scott]
- Governors are scrambling to acquire more vaccine doses and make sure the existing doses in their states are being used as the number of available ICU beds continues to dwindle. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to fine hospitals if they are too slow to roll out vaccines. [AP / Michelle R. Smith]
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the US could reach 430,000 deaths by the end of January, which would mean more than 2,700 deaths per day for the rest of the month. More than 132,000 patients were being treated for the virus on Wednesday. [CNN / Madeline Holcombe]
- The latest spike in deaths comes after many Americans ignored advice from health experts and held gatherings during the holiday season. The DC health department said it was halting vaccinations Wednesday after the insurrection at the Capitol and the resulting citywide curfew. [CNBC / Will Feuer]
- Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the US, has become the latest epicenter of the outbreak. The surge there has created a shortage of oxygen, and someone in the county is dying of Covid-19 every eight minutes. [The Guardian / Helen Sullivan]
| | | | | | | Following the chaos at the Capitol on Wednesday, several Trump advisers are resigning, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. | | | | | | | "What happened at the US Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. This president should not hold office one day longer." | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences, or unsubscribe to stop receiving all emails from Vox. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
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