Former U.S. House Democrat Mondaire Jones

Today marks the second anniversary of the attack on the Capitol on January 6th 2021. It’s a solemn occasion that President Biden is marking by awarding the Presidential Citizens Medal to 12 individuals who have defended U.S. democracy – many of them are Capitol police who faced the rioters two years ago. Meantime Congress faces a new crisis, not seen in 164 years: after three days, the House of Representatives remains speaker-less as the Republican majority struggles to overcome bitter divides. Their leader Kevin McCarthy is trading away more and more power to garner the support of some stubborn holdouts – but even if this strategy pays off, what he’s giving away could make Congress almost unmanageable. To discuss, we’re joined by Robert Draper, who has been reporting from the Capitol all week and is author of Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind, as well as former Democratic congressman Mondaire Jones, who was at the Capitol during the attack two years ago.

Also on today's program: Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar and contributing writer for The New Yorker Luke Mogelson.

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