All topics

January 6th

What happened that day, and after.

“January 6th was just a peaceful tour.”

"Your relative says January 6 was a peaceful Capitol visit, rather than a violent breach."

What's actually true

On January 6, 2021, a crowd forcibly breached the Capitol, assaulted police officers, and interrupted Congress’s certification of the presidential election. Lawmakers were evacuated, and roughly 140 officers were assaulted, according to the Justice Department. Some people were peaceful, but that does not make the attack as a whole a peaceful tour.

Where they have a point

It’s fair not to lump everyone who attended the rally or was in the crowd together. Individual conduct matters, and being present is not the same as committing violence.

Say this (15 seconds)

Some people were peaceful, sure. But others broke into the Capitol and attacked police, and lawmakers had to evacuate. That wasn’t a tour—even though not everyone there was violent.

Then ask

Do you mean some people there were peaceful, or that the whole event was peaceful?

Sources

Pass the gravy (exit line)

Anyway, I’m ready to move from Capitol security to the much easier question of who wants pie.

“It was really the FBI and antifa that started January 6th.”

"Your relative is saying that the FBI and antifa, rather than Trump supporters, instigated the January 6 Capitol attack."

What's actually true

There is no credible evidence that the FBI or antifa orchestrated the attack. Court cases document violence by Trump supporters, including members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. A Justice Department inspector general report found that 26 FBI confidential sources were in Washington that day, but none was authorized to enter restricted areas, break the law, or encourage others to do so; it found no evidence of undercover FBI employees in the protest crowds.

Where they have a point

It is reasonable to scrutinize the FBI’s role and the serious security failures that day. The presence of FBI sources is real—but it is not evidence that the FBI started the attack.

Say this (15 seconds)

There were FBI informants there, so that part is real. But that’s different from starting the attack. The investigations and court cases point to Trump supporters—not an FBI or antifa operation.

Then ask

What evidence would help us distinguish between informants being present and actually directing what happened?

Sources

Pass the gravy (exit line)

We don’t have to settle the whole thing over dinner. Shall we move on to the much easier question of who gets the last slice?