Exclusive: Panetta On Algeria 'terrorism,' Syria

Charlie Warzel and Mike Caulfield note that misinformation “is powerful, not because it changes minds, but because it allows people to maintain their beliefs in light of growing evidence to the contrary. The internet may function not so much as a brainwashing engine but as a justification machine.” It means that “a rationale is always just a scroll or a click away.”

Senate Democrats are forcing a delay in Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation hearing next week, claiming she hasn’t provided required vetting materials — while Republicans accuse them of playing games, Axios reports.

Walter Mead: “Europe needs the U. S. more than ever but is less well situated to influence American policy—or to help the U. S. meet our many global challenges—than at any time in decades. This is why the leaders of once-great European powers tremble at every tweet from Mar-a-Lago and why Mr.

“Ten years ago if someone had told us the owner of one of the world’s biggest social-media companies would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany, who would have imagined that?” — French President Emmanuel Macron, quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

Ron Brownstein: “The Republican Congress that began its first full week of work on Monday is already operating on borrowed time – unless the GOP can defy one of the most powerful patterns of recent US politics.” “Republicans begin the year in Washington at high tide, with unified control, after Donald Trump takes office on January 20, of the White House, the House and the Senate.

ProPublica: “Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias. He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was a ProPublica reporter.”