meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Radio Atlantic

John Bresnahan Helps Us Understand What The Hell Just Happened

Radio Atlantic

The Atlantic

Politics, News, Society & Culture

4.41.9K Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2021

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

John Bresnahan has covered Congress for decades, recently as Politico’s Capitol Hill bureau chief and now as co-founder of Punchbowl News. He describes what he saw from inside the building as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol this week — and what implications the searing event could have going forward. Support this show and all of The Atlantic's journalism by subscribing at: theatlantic.com/supportus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You're going to be. This is an attack on the government of the United States.

0:26.0

It is an extremely serious thing.

0:28.0

It did not even happen during the Civil War. war.

0:35.0

Welcome to the ticket.

0:37.0

I'm Isaac Dauver.

0:38.0

This week the President of the United States incited an attack on Congress.

0:43.8

They are telling members of Congress to shelter in place.

0:47.5

They are evacuating members of the House and Senate from doing their constitutionally prescribed duties.

0:54.0

A mob of Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol on Wednesday.

0:57.0

Look at this, these protesters are inside Statuary Hall right now.

1:02.0

You see the statues. This is a moment I never saw in my life these

1:05.4

individuals just rushed through security they are inside statutory hall as

1:10.6

members and staff were rushed to safety, Ryder smashed and vandalized or just took selfies carrying on.

1:17.0

Ultimately, at least four people were left dead.

1:20.0

I don't know about you, but this is an incredibly dangerous situation that's unfolding here in the United States

1:26.6

It's stunning Wolf it's absolutely stunning and it's quite frankly dangerous

1:34.0

We've spent so much of the past four years attempting to put into perspective what may seem unthinkable.

1:40.0

But the images from this week were truly unreal to witness.

1:44.0

I spent a lot of time over the years reporting in the halls of Congress.

1:47.1

Usually you can't even walk around in some of the rooms without a tie-in jacket on.

1:51.5

It's not just a symbol of American democracy home to so much of our history. It's

1:55.8

a place of work for hundreds of people. But with the lies about stolen elections coming

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Atlantic, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Atlantic and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.