There are many things that came out of the first Jan 6th hearing. We’ll talk more about them going forward and we’ll see these points unfolded, I assume, in subsequent hearings. But one point already came through pretty clearly and well and that is the integral role of the two fascist paramilitaries, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

Earlier today, TPM’s Matt Shuham and Josh Kovensky unpacked the Jan. 6 committee’s first hearing. They’ve been covering Donald Trump and his allies’ calculated attacks on democracy and conspiracy to subvert the 2020 election since well before the defining moment of the Jan. 6 insurrection. In case you missed the LIVE conversation, here is a recording: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1zqKVBlwVjmKB

Follow us on Twitter @TPM to be notified of the next one.

From TPM Reader SC …

I don’t write in often (20 years and three emails, IIRC), but I feel a need to add some balance to the letter from MB that you just posted. MB complains of the lack of discussion of “incompetence” — and I agree on the philosophical issue presented that incompetence demands removal — but the problem is that Chesa, while not great, has not shown incompetence in his position as DA. Is he great? No. Is he a smooth politician? God, no. But in the context of SF DAs going back to Arlo Smith, he is…OK. Disruptive, but relatively effective overall.

From TPM Reader MB …

I’ve heard a lot of pundits discussing the recall in SF as a repudiation of the progressive movement. Honestly I think it’s dead wrong. I voted for Chesa and I wanted the recall. It’s progressive to expect competent and effective government.