Capitol insurrection
UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 24: FBI Director Christopher Wray, testifies during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing titled “Threats to the Homeland,” in Dirksen Senate Office Building on Thursday, September 24, 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Pool) UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 24: FBI Director Christopher Wray, testifies during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing titled “Threats to the Homeland,” in Dirksen Senate Office Building on Thursday, September 24, 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Pool)
Where Things Stand: The Problem With Just Asking Questions Prime Badge
This is your TPM afternoon briefing.
03.01.21 | 12:49 pm

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) chose to use his time during a Senate hearing on the Capitol riot last week to read a Federalist column that made unsubstantiated claims about antifa being involved in the insurrection — giving a national megaphone to conspiracy theories about the deadly attack that have been floated by Republicans since Jan. 6.

But now he claims he’s just asking questions ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 18: Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) questions Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz during a Senate Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs hearing at the US Capitol on December 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Last week the Inspector General released a report on the origins of the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's possible ties with Russia during the 2016 Presidential elections. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Johnson WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 18: Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) questions Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz during a Senate Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs hearing at the US Capitol on December 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Last week the Inspector General released a report on the origins of the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's possible ties with Russia during the 2016 Presidential elections. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Johnson
Where Things Stand: The Value Of Playing The Antifa Card Prime Badge
This is your TPM afternoon briefing.
02.25.21 | 1:02 pm

The antifa card has been dealt repeatedly this week. And it’s only picking up more steam among the GOP as a vague but ready excuse for all manner of things.

Tucked into a recent Politico report on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to push back on the House’s bid to conduct a bipartisan review of the Jan. 6 insurrection was a clue as to the staying power the actually-it-was-antifa lie will have.

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UNITED STATES - JANUARY 4: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is seen during a group photo with freshmen members of the House Republican Conference on the House steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 4, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) UNITED STATES - JANUARY 4: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is seen during a group photo with freshmen members of the House Republican Conference on the House steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 4, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)