Will the January 6th Hearings Help U.S. Democracy?

FEATURING JOHN NICHOLS - The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol has been holding public, televised hearings since last week, presenting damning evidence, never-before-seen footage, previously recorded testimony from former White House insiders, as well as live testimony.

The Select Committee is comprised of 3 Republicans and 6 Democrats, chaired by Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi and vice chaired by GOP Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

Some of the highlights from Days 1 and 2 of the hearings on the January 6th attack featured former Attorney General William Barr’s taped testimony.

Although the committee members appear to be building a strong case for an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland has so far made no moves to do so. Media commentators have been speculating that airing these hearings are going to do little to change the minds of the public, and Republicans are accusing Democrats of trying to distract from their party’s supposed failures.

John Nichols' just published article in The Nation is entitled Trump’s Coup Plot Relied on Giuliani’s Inebriated Lies.