One year ago today, hundreds of supporters of former President Trump attacked the US Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the results of the free and fair 2020 presidential election.

They weren’t the only ones attempting to decertify the election: After the attack had been subdued, 147 Republican members of Congress (139 members of the House and eight senators) voted to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania, Arizona, or both states.

Not wanting to be associated with the dismantling of democracy, major corporations in the US condemned the violence and affirmed the peaceful transition of power that’s stood as the hallmark of American governance. Many went further, pledging to stop donations to the election objectors or pause political giving altogether.

It’s January 6, 2022. What’s the update?

Surprise—corporations have mostly kept their commitments and significantly drawn down their giving to the objectors. An analysis by Popular Information found that corporate political action committee (PAC) contributions to those lawmakers fell by nearly two-thirds compared to the 2019 election cycle.

Another investigation by the Washington Post revealed that the share of Fortune 500 PACs that donated to the GOP objectors had dropped from 60% to 20% in the first six months of 2021, compared to the same period in 2017.

But while corporate giving to these lawmakers has slowed, it’s far from stopped altogether. 717 corporations and industry groups funneled more than $18 million to 143 members of Congress who voted to decertify the elections, according to the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). The top corporate donors to the objectors and their party committees were Boeing ($346,500), Koch Industries ($308,000), and American Crystal Sugar ($285,000).

All eyes on 2022

As political campaigns rev up for the midterm elections this fall, corporations will be under even more scrutiny to back up their “I <3 democracy” statements with their donation choices. Seven major US companies, including Airbnb, Lyft, BASF, and Microsoft, have said they won’t contribute to the GOP objectors this election cycle, per Popular Information. The rest? Well, we’ll find out.—NF

Imagine flying 14 hours from Dubai to Melbourne, being questioned by border officials overnight, then told you have to fly back home.

That’s what happened to Novak Djokovic on Thursday. While on his way to compete in the Australian Open later this month, the No. 1 ranked tennis player’s visa to enter the country was rejected by the Australian government, throwing his quest to win a record 21st major title in serious doubt.

The backstory: Djokovic, who has previously said he’s opposed to Covid vaccines, was granted a medical exemption by the tournament’s organizers so he could compete. But clearly they didn’t run that decision by government officials, who said Djokovic hadn’t provided evidence to meet Australia’s entry requirements.

Zoom out: That Djokovic was allowed to play in the first place was greeted with a torrent of criticism by lockdown-weary Australians, who accused the tennis star of receiving preferential treatment. Meanwhile, people in Djokovic’s native Serbia are also upset over the situation, but in defense of Djokovic. President Aleksandar Vucic called what was going on “harassment of the best tennis player in the world.”

Looking ahead...Djokovic will remain in a Melbourne hotel until at least Monday, when his case will be heard by a court.—NF

The USDA has only one New Year’s resolution, and it’s to make you learn new food labels. Starting Jan. 1, foods containing GMOs—ie., ones that have been subject to genetic manipulation to improve their quality, like corn that’s resistant to pests or watermelons shaped like Mount Rushmore—will now require a “bioengineered” label.

The goal: Do away with the succotash of state regulations for GMOs and standardize labels across the country.

But just like when a surprise Catan rule change is implemented after all the settlements have been placed, many players are frustrated. Food companies say the timing couldn’t be worse given ongoing supply-chain issues. And advocacy groups like the Center for Food Safety say the new labeling requirement creates too many loopholes and puts an undue burden on consumers.

But it might not make much of a difference. A recent study by Cornell researchers found that mandatory labeling doesn’t really change the rate at which consumers purchase products containing GMOs.—MM

Stat: After canceling almost 1,500 US flights yesterday, airlines have now scrapped more than 1,000 flights for 11 straight days, the worst stretch since they cut nearly 33% of all flights at the beginning of the pandemic. They’re blaming nasty winter weather plus staff shortages due to Omicron.

Quote: “The unvaccinated, I really want to piss them off.”

With new Covid cases smashing records in the country, French President Emmanuel Macron bluntly stated that, if you’re unvaccinated, he wants to make your life miserable. Those comments drew intense criticism from other French politicians at a time when the government is trying to pass a bill that would bar France’s 5 million unvaccinated people from participating in basic social events like going to a restaurant.

Read: Ethereum has a gas problem. (Morning Brew)

Covid be darned, CES is actually happening in-person this Wednesday through Friday in Las Vegas. Though some of the biggest names in tech (Amazon, Google, Meta) stayed home due to Omicron concerns, that didn’t stop companies from debuting gadgets that ranged from downright useful to unnecessary-but-fun at the annual tech trade show.

Here’s a shortlist:

The Chevy Silverado, but electric: The Ford F-150 Lightning is getting some competition from GM as the epic auto rivalry enters the EV age.

While we’re talking travel: Hyundai announced an autonomous luxury ship and plans to make a self-driving cargo ship, so we can blame robots when it gets stuck in a canal.

The microest of climates: Shiftall’s Pebble Feel device straps onto your back and, when paired with a special shirt or belt, can make the wearer feel temperatures ranging from 48- to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Perfect if you’re in a thermostat war or for playing virtual reality games.

For never getting off the couch: The Labrador Retriever is a nightstand-shaped robot that ferries items around your home, and it can slide food from the fridge straight to you. Great for lazy folks, but even more exciting for those in assisted living facilities.

The rest: Color-changing car paint from BMW, a jaw-shaped toothbrush that does the job in ten seconds, Prinker’s digital temporary tattoo printer, and a smart bird feeder for impatient birders.—JW

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Mesmerizing map: Watch trains circulate through Tokyo in real time.

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Brew Mini: Our puzzle creator Mary Tobler cooked up another great Mini for you this morning. Play it here.

Three Headlines and a Lie

Three of these news headlines are real and one is faker than a “Hope you had a good holiday!” message from your boss. Can you guess the odd one out?

1. ‘90 Day Fiance’ star who made £38,000 a week selling farts in a jar hospitalized
2. A Portland couple won a bidding war for a million-dollar home by throwing in a set of super-rare cookbooks
3. Opting for pets over children is selfish and ‘takes away our humanity,’ says Pope Francis
4. Abducted son finds family by drawing map of village he last saw aged four

The best way to start out 2022? Wearing fresh merch from the Morning Brew Store.