The Saga of Congress’s Jan. 6 Investigation

<p><i>This episode contains strong language.</i></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Why did the commission fail and what is taking place instead?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/luke-broadwater?smid=pc-thedaily">Luke Broadwater</a>, a congressional reporter for The New York Times. </p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>“A hit man sent them.” Police officers at the Capitol <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/27/us/jan-6-inquiry.html?smid=pc-thedaily">recounted the horrors of Jan. 6</a> on the first day of the House committee investigation into the event.</li><li>In remarks before the hearing, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, said Republicans wanted the focus of the inquiry to be on <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007888362/kevin-mccarthy-jan-6-commission-trump-capitol-attack.html?smid=pc-thedaily">the lack of preparation for the violence and ways to prevent future attacks</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>