Question

1) How was the meeting of Congress to officially affirm the election of Joe Biden different than in past years?

Answer 1

Congress affirms Biden’s presidential win following riot at U.S. Capitol

Vice President Pence reopened the Senate on Jan. 6 to continue the count of state electors after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier in the day. (The Washington Post)

Members of Congress, shaken and angry following a violent assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of President Trump’s supporters, put a final stamp on President-elect Joe Biden’s victory early Thursday morning and brought an end to a historically turbulent post-election period.

Republicans had at one point planned to object to the electoral college votes in a series of states won by Biden, but after the storming of the Capitol, several GOP senators changed course, disputing only Arizona and Pennsylvania. Both challenges failed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The President at the time (Donald Trump) order his supporters to inserect the Capitol building as the election had been 'stolen' from him. This resulted in multiple arrests and 5 deaths.