Stories from January 7, 2021

Capitol Police rejected offers of federal help to quell mob
Three days before the Capitol riot, the Pentagon asked the U.S Capitol Police if it needed National Guard manpower. And on Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The police turned them down both times, according to senior defense officials and two people familiar with the matter.
'How did it get to this?': Minnesotans react to violence, chaos at U.S. Capitol
There is a lot to process and talk about following the violent insurrection inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Here’s a look at what some Minnesotans are thinking and feeling after a dark day for U.S. democracy.
Neil Sheehan, Pentagon Papers reporter, Vietnam author, dies
Neil Sheehan, a reporter and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who broke the story of the Pentagon Papers for The New York Times and who chronicled the deception at the heart of the Vietnam War in his epic book about the war, has died. He was 84.
What to expect from NOAA under the Biden administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s focus on weather forecasting and climate science is likely to be a high priority under President-elect Joe Biden
Here are the Republicans who objected to the Electoral College count
More than a dozen Republican senators originally said they would object to at least one state's election results. After the violence that ensued Wednesday, that number was reduced by about half.
Dense fog advisories include the Twin Cities
Thick freezing fog blankets Minnesota again into Friday morning.
Judge weighs motions to delay trial in Floyd killing
At a hearing Thursday, the judge overseeing the trial of four former officers charged in the killing of George Floyd heard arguments for pushing the trial back by three months — but did not issue a decision.
4 Minnesota GOP lawmakers silent on blame for Capitol siege
The four Republicans in Minnesota’s congressional delegation split on whether to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College. But they remained silent Thursday on whether President Trump and other GOP leaders bear any blame for the violence at the U.S. Capitol that interrupted the proceedings.
Mask rules differ on each end of Minnesota’s Capitol
The Legislature is exempt from the mask mandate enacted by Gov. Tim Walz. The state House instituted its own requirement while the Senate is keeping mask-wearing optional this session.
'What happened yesterday is textbook terrorism,' D.C. mayor says
Reading from U.S. regulations, Mayor Muriel Bowser says, "It is defined as 'the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government.'"
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says the the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office should be invoked. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is part of an effort to impeach the president for his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. This is an MPR News afternoon update for Jan. 7, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.
Timeline: How one of the darkest days in American history unfolded
A mob stormed the U.S. Capitol after President Donald Trump urged supporters to march to the building to oppose the election results. Roughly 14 hours later, Congress affirmed Joe Biden's victory.
What the 25th Amendment says about removing a sitting president
Ratified in 1967, the 25th Amendment to the Constitution gives the vice president the ability to subsume the powers of the presidency if he has the support of the executive Cabinet.
Meanwhile at the White House: Resignations, golfers and (Twitter) radio silence
As Washington and the world continued to reel from the violent storming of the Capitol by pro-Trump supporters, the president honors three golfers with the nation's highest civilian award.
Star Tribune reporter gives firsthand account of D.C. chaos
We’re hearing more stories from those who were working in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday when it was stormed by pro-Trump insurrectionists. One of them was Star Tribune’s Washington correspondent Jim Spencer, who was in the House press gallery when the mob broke into the building.
Biden: Capitol attack was 'culmination' of Trump's assaults on democracy
President-elect Joe Biden delivered a blistering rebuke of President Donald Trump, a day after a pro-Trump mob breached the U.S. Capitol. Biden made the remarks before introducing his choice for U.S. attorney general, Judge Merrick Garland.
If grey is your favorite color, you’ll like the weekend weather forecast. We have details on that, plus the current dense fog advisory in central Minnesota.
What led to the storming of the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the election? 
Throngs of President Donald Trump’s supporters on Wednesday stormed the U.S. Capitol and halted the ceremonial counting of electoral votes that would confirm Democrat Joe Biden as president-elect. 
How the U.S. Capitol mob was treated differently than earlier Black protesters
The way police handled Wednesday's onslaught showed that "some people are ... given certain kinds of leeway or space, and other people are not," says African American studies professor Eddie Glaude.
Facebook bans Trump through Biden inauguration, maybe longer
Facebook will bar President Donald Trump from posting on its system at least until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. In a post Thursday morning, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the risk of allowing Trump to use the platform is too great, following his incitement of a mob that later touched off a deadly riot in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
'Persephone Station' aims for the stars — and almost makes it
Stina Leicht's new sci-fi novel has a lot of moving parts: Space opera, rough-and-tumble mercenaries, corporate intrigue, alien first contact — and to her credit, she almost pulls it all off.
A persistent weather pattern keeps Minnesota shrouded in morning fog, with mostly cloudy skies and mild temperatures into the weekend. 
Mulvaney says he's quitting after Capitol riot
“I can’t do it. I can’t stay,” Mick Mulvaney told CNBC, which was first to report the resignation. “Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because they’re worried the president might put someone worse in.”
'Disgraceful': World leaders react to pro-Trump extremists storming U.S. Capitol
Historians in Italy compare Wednesday's events to the rise of fascism. "Violence is incompatible with the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms," Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said.
Police confirm death of officer injured during attack on Capitol
U.S. Capitol Police announced late Thursday that an officer hurt during this week's violent assault on the chambers of Congress by protesters loyal to President Trump has died from his injuries.
Areas of fog are making for a slow start again Thursday, while cloud cover keeps temperatures from warming much during the day.
Congress certified President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' victory early on Thursday, the end of a long day and night marked by chaos and violence in Washington, in which extremists emboldened by President Donald Trump sought to thwart the peaceful transfer of power that has been a hallmark of modern American history by staging a violent insurrection inside the U.S. Capitol. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Capitol rioters planned for weeks in plain sight. The police weren’t ready
The question of how law enforcement and the national security establishment failed so spectacularly will likely be the subject of intense focus in coming days.
Capitol violence sparks a social media reckoning with Trump
In an unprecedented step, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump after he repeatedly posted false accusations about the integrity of the election.
Fact check: Trump's false claims, fuel on a day of chaos
Several people have also suggested without evidence that antifa demonstrators may have disguised themselves as Trump supporters for the siege on the Capitol. The mob that overran Congress and clashed with police was made up of Trump supporters, not left-wing groups, and the conspiracy theories the president has been promoting about the election are from far-right corners of the internet.
Jan. 7 update on COVID-19 in MN: Next few weeks 'critical' regarding rollbacks
State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said there are “encouraging trends” with fewer hospital beds occupied by patients with COVID-19, but warns that the next weeks will be “critical” to see if relaxing restrictions will have an impact on the virus spread in Minnesota.
Where is it safe to reopen schools? New research offers answers
A new study suggests reopening schools may be safer than previously thought, at least in communities where the virus is not already spreading out of control.
Minnesota's restaurants prepare for reopening, again
Starting Monday, Minnesota restaurants may reopen, but only at 50 percent capacity. Gov. Tim Walz also is easing up on restrictions at bars, movie theaters, gyms and sporting events.
Chaos, violence, mockery as pro-Trump mob occupies Congress
Guns were drawn. A woman was fatally shot by police, and three others died in apparent medical emergencies. A Trump flag hung on the Capitol. The graceful Rotunda reeked of tear gas. Glass shattered. On Wednesday, hallowed spaces of American democracy, one after another, yielded to the occupation of Congress.
Protesters swarm statehouses across U.S.; some evacuated
Protesters who back President Donald Trump have massed at statehouses from Georgia to New Mexico. The demonstrations Wednesday led some officials to evacuate, while cheers rang out at several demonstrations as a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Amid violence, Trump says, 'Remember this day forever'
President Donald Trump appears to be excusing the violent occupation of the U.S. Capitol by supporters who disrupted the formalization of his electoral defeat. Facebook and Twitter have removed a short video of Trump where he is urging his supporters at the Capitol to “go home” while at the same time keeping up false attacks about the presidential election.