Today’s Big Story

Special Counsel Report Released

Jack Smith pens biting defense of Jan. 6 probe, says jury would have convicted Trump

If Donald Trump hadn’t won the presidential election in November, the Justice Department would have had ample evidence to convict him at trial of trying to obstruct the 2020 election results, special counsel Jack Smith said in a report released early Tuesday morning.

For 137 pages, Smith detailed all the incriminating evidence he says he collected against Trump over his detailed two-year investigation—portraying the former and now incoming president as a man who allegedly wielded his power to deceive state lawmakers, Republican Party activists and presidential electors to claim victory in an election he knew he lost.

“The throughline of all of Mr. Trump’s criminal efforts was deceit—knowingly false claims of election fraud—and the evidence shows that Mr. Trump used these lies as a weapon to defeat a federal government function foundational to the United States’ democratic process,” the report states.

The Justice Department posted the report on its website shortly before 1 a.m.—less than an hour after a court order barring its release expired. The report serves as the final public record of a historic Justice Department prosecution that never made it to trial, with the federal government abandoning the case in November after its criminal defendant became the president-elect.

With the prosecution foreclosed thanks to Trump’s election victory, the Associated Press says the document is “expected to be the final Justice Department chronicle of a dark chapter in American history that threatened to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, a bedrock of democracy for centuries,” and complements already released indictments and reports.

Smith laid the attack on the Capitol squarely at Trump’s feet, quoting from the evidence in several criminal cases of people charged with taking part in the riot who made clear that they believed they were acting on Trump’s behalf. The report’s description of the violence was all the more remarkable given that Trump has repeatedly vowed to pardon many Jan. 6 defendants—possibly including ones who assaulted police officers on that day. Meanwhile, Trump responded early Tuesday with a post on his Truth Social platform, claiming he was “totally innocent” and calling Smith “a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election.” He added, “THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN!!!”

IRS Is Sending Out Automatic Stimulus Payments

Taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns will get up to $1,400

The IRS is distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who didn't receive their COVID stimulus payments. By the end of the month, approximately 1 million taxpayers will receive special payment of up to $1,400 from the IRS. Do you qualify?

The IRS said it’s distributing these payments to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. The Recovery Rebate Credit is a refundable credit for individuals who did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments (EIP), also known as stimulus payments. “Looking at our internal data, we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement.

To get the payment, you have to meet two key requirements: First, there are income caps. You won’t get any money if your 2021 adjusted gross income was above $80,000 for single filers, $120,000 for heads of household, and $160,000 if married and filing jointly. Second, the IRS will subtract whatever money you got from the third stimulus payment from the spring of 2021.

L.A. Fires: Authorities Warn of Price Gouging

Experts say Los Angeles rental prices will ‘inevitably’ spike post-wildfires

As if these damn fires weren’t bad enough, rental housing prices in L.A. are currently spiking as the historic blazes continue to burn—forcing thousands of residents who’ve lost homes to scramble to find a new place to live. And according to recent forecasts, the fires won’t be dying down anytime soon. Meaning more and more people will be losing their homes and in need of new apartments and houses.

The city already had a dire shortage of affordable housing before the disaster, but now the stampede of those looking has resulted in some homeowners and property managers jacking up prices on short-term rentals—including dozens that appear to violate a California law against increasing prices by more than 10% during a state of emergency, according to a review of Zillow listings and interviews with real estate agents, housing advocates and home-seekers.

“The L.A. housing market was already tight and undersupplied prior to the fires, so this will inevitably lead to increased rental housing costs in the immediate term,” Sean Roberts, CEO of California-based offsite homebuilder Villa, told Fortune. And LAist spotted one Zillow listing for a furnished home in Bel Air that was posted Saturday morning at $29,500 per month. That’s a nearly 86% price hike from a few months ago according to the listing’s price history, which shows the home previously listed for $15,900 per month.

It Costs to Hang at Starbucks Now

The company reverses its recent open-door policy

This isn’t all that surprising, really. I feel like it’s the unwritten rule for most establishments. But if you’re walking into a Starbucks, you now need to be prepared to buy something if you want to stick around.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Starbucks this month is rolling out a new code of conduct at its cafes across North America, aiming to improve guests’ and staff’s safety and experience. Included in the shift is a reversal of a nearly seven-year policy of allowing the general public to linger or use the bathroom, regardless of whether they buy a latte or a croissant. That followed an embarrassing situation where two Black men were arrested at a Philadelphia store where they had gone for a business meeting.

Among the changes will be the posting of signs banning discrimination and harassment, violence or abusive language, outside alcohol, panhandling, drug use, and other disruptive behavior. “We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores,” a spokesperson told the Associated Press. “By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone.” The code of conduct warns that violators will be asked to leave, and says the store may call law enforcement, if necessary. Starbucks said employees would receive training on enforcing the new policy.

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