Sending a message
I try not to be in the business of scaring people, but there are moments when it feels warranted. President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon or commute the sentences of around 1,500 people involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection, including the more than 600 people convicted of assaulting or resisting police officers, is one of those moments.
I can’t stop thinking about what Enrique Tarrio, the Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, had to say to “Infowars” host Alex Jones after he was released: “I’m happy that the president’s focusing not on retribution and focusing on success, but I will tell you that I’m not gonna play by those rules.” Tarrio and others like Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes (who was also convicted of sedition) seem to view themselves as martyrs with a mission, and that mission includes revenge. “Now it’s our turn,” as Tarrio told Jones.
Trump finalized his decision to pardon almost all of the insurrectionists at the last minute. But in the process, he may have created something of a Frankenstein’s monster.
The hundreds of violent Jan. 6 offenders who have now been granted unearned clemency have been sent a clear message: There are no consequences for their crimes.
The police officers who put their safety and lives on the line defending the Capitol have also been sent a message: Their sacrifices don’t matter.
So while I know it can feel like a firehose of alarming information, I think this particular story deserves our attention.
Because for many of these insurrectionists, a pardon isn’t the end of their story. It’s a signal to keep going.
Announcement: ‘Inside with Jen Psaki’ nominated for a GLAAD award
I’m so excited to share that “Inside with Jen Psaki” has received a GLAAD Media Awards nomination in the category of outstanding live TV journalism.
Our nominated segment, “Democrats are learning the wrong message on trans youth,” tackled the election’s alarming surge in bad-faith attacks on the trans community, and the Democrats who have ceded ground to Republicans on this issue. You can watch it here.
In 2024, the Trump campaign poured hundreds of millions of dollars into an ad campaign designed to stoke fears over transgender rights. While it’s important for Democrats to reflect after tough losses, it’s equally important not to accept the false premises of GOP fearmongering or yield to manufactured anti-trans panic. Standing up for truth, fairness and dignity isn’t just good politics — it’s the right thing to do.
A huge thanks to our incredible segment producer, Seamus O’Toole, who brought this segment to life, and to GLAAD for this honor.
An event to watch: A key DNC chair forum
This Thursday, I’m excited to join Jonathan Capehart, Symone Sanders-Townsend and Luke Russert as we co-host a forum for candidates running to chair the Democratic National Committee. The event, in partnership with Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, will stream live on MSNBC’s YouTube channel on Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. ET.
The DNC candidates include Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party; Martin O’Malley, former governor of Maryland; Faiz Shakir, campaign manager for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign; and Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
I’ve had the privilege to interview several of these candidates already on the show, and I look forward to asking them about what comes next for Democrats next week.
