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Welcome to the briefing room with me, David Aronovich.

You, me, top experts, a virtual meeting room and 28 minutes.

This week, the 6th of January in America.

What just happened?

January the 6th, 2021, an extraordinary day in the history of modern America.

Three things happened.

First, the count for the Senate seats in the state of Georgia

showed that the Democrats had won both from the Republicans.

This gives the party an effective majority in both houses of Congress.

Second, the formality of Congress accepting the results from November's presidential election

and thus Joe Biden's victory became a long, drawn-out process.

Almost without precedent, many Republicans challenged the votes of some states.

Third, while the debates were underway, ending eventually in the inevitable

confirmation of Joe Biden, they were interrupted when pro-Trump supporters stormed the capital

building itself. If you're on Mars, you may have missed the scenes. Today in the briefing

room, I want to know what this day, 6th of January, might mean for America,

for its institutions and its politics. Step inside the briefing room and together we'll find out.

The first thing I want to know is where January 6th sits in terms of American history.

Joining me from Boston in the United States is Gary

Gersel, who is professor of American history at the University of Cambridge. Gary Gersel, where

would you put yesterday's events in the context of American history? I think it's an unprecedented

...