The Daily

The Saga of Congress’s Jan. 6 Investigation

Jul 28, 2021

Luke Broadwater, a Congressional reporter for The New York Times, delves into the emotional first hearing of the special committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot. He discusses the powerful testimonies from law enforcement officers recounting their harrowing experiences, juxtaposed with the stark partisan tensions hampering a truly nonpartisan investigation. The conversation also covers the Senate's decision against forming an independent commission, and how political dynamics have shaped the accountability process in the wake of this tumultuous event.

30:08

Creator website

Episode guests

Luke Broadwater

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Voices of Valor: Law Enforcement at the Capitol

12min

The Senate's Filibuster Against January 6th Investigation

3min

Unpacking the January 6th Investigation

11min

Political Investigations and Cultural Reflection

2min

New Mask Guidelines Amid Delta Variant Concerns

3min

This episode contains strong language.

The first hearing of the special congressional committee on the Jan. 6 riots was an emotional affair, but it was not quite the investigation that was originally envisaged.

In January, lawmakers on both sides spoke of putting aside partisanship and organizing an investigation akin to the 9/11 commission, considered the gold standard of nonpartisan fact-finding.

Why did the commission fail and what is taking place instead?

Guest: Luke Broadwater, a congressional reporter for The New York Times.

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Background reading:

“A hit man sent them.” Police officers at the Capitol recounted the horrors of Jan. 6 on the first day of the House committee investigation into the event.
In remarks before the hearing, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, said Republicans wanted the focus of the inquiry to be on the lack of preparation for the violence and ways to prevent future attacks.

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