Two documentaries on HBO Max highlight “interesting” insurrectionists
I watched two documentaries last night — "Four Hours at the Capitol" and "Insurrectionist Next Door", the latter filmed by Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra, in which she very candidly interviews six people charged and jailed for their roles in Jan. 6.
It’s incredibly enlightening if you want to understand the mindset of "Jan Sixers" and the Proud Boys. I was blown away to glimpse the reality of their lives. Some are crazy, many are sad, all had serious education hurdles — but they’re not entirely morons. Their decisions were moronic, but they’re just people.
All are angry — about something, politics or personal, but they're Average Joes caught up in a lie, victim of Trump's influence, or made really poor decisions. Some even admit they're brainwashed. All are "eccentric" or fringed, definitely highlighting our cultural divide.
Many still, after arrests, after serving time, still back Trump and don’t blame him. Strange, but you have to watch it to comprehend it. Alexandra gives them no excuses. She calls them terrorists to their faces, but somehow she’s able to have kind human-to-human, long-form interviews with them.
It's pretty impressive.
Granted, these are lower level criminals. She doesn’t interview anyone like the so-called "Shaman", people assaulting officers, or pushing down the tunnel, just several people who made it inside the building.
The most heartbreaking storyline is of an apolitical teenager, who attended the "Trump Speech" as encouraged by her uncle. It highlights the severe consequences of social media backlash. The stress induced by her sudden online infamy led to alcoholism, which tragically resulted in a fatal drunk driving accident involving a family.
It’s really sad, actually. She didn’t even know who Nancy Pelosi was, and was charged for stealing a broken sign above the Speaker’s door.
"Did you go to Washington to assisinate my mother?" Pelosi asks. 😶
"Four Hours at the Capitol" is probably a more comprehensive look at the mob mentality during the riot. It interviews a few Proud Boys, but mainly police officers who fought and nearly died defending the Capitol.
It also interviews staffers and Representatives — three Dems, one Republican — how scared they were for their lives, and how stupid and dangerous the assault was.
I highly recommend both films. I think I understand how terrible that day was, who was involved, and why. Our leaders are not innocent in what led these people there, especially Trump, which is crystal clear in "Four Hours at the Capitol".
Check them out on HBO Max.
