Episode 262: The January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• On January 6, armed rioters interrupted the joint session of Congress convened to certify the vote count of the Electoral College. Natalia referred to this Axios article rounding up conservative media response to the insurrection. Niki mentioned David Blight’s book, Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory. Neil discussed Eric Foner’s piece in The Nation and Karen L. Cox’s New York Times piece, both about the Civil War antecedents for the armed insurrection. Natalia drew on this Washington Post article about Ashli Babbitt, and Niki referenced her own writing on this topic at Vox and at CNN. Natalia also commented on Caitlin Flanagan’s Atlantic article. And Neil mentioned his piece for The Week about the Congressional Republicans’ inaction regarding the president. Historian Megan Kate Nelson is assembling essays about the Capitol riot by historians here.

• Here are a list of Twitter handles of disinformation experts:
  • Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam)
  • Cristina López G. (@crislopezg)
  • Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew)
  • Tess Owen (@misstessowen)
  • Jane Lytvynenko (@JaneLytv)
  • Joan Donovan (@BostonJoan)
  • Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny)

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia discussed a funny social media gaffe at a popular home decor Instagram account.
• Neil recommended the new Netflix documentary series, Challenger: The Final Flight.
• Niki discussed the Netflix comedy series Derry Girls, and Patrick Radden Keefe’s book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland.