The Weekly List

Host Amy Siskind discusses the last few weeks in US politics.

Host Amy Siskind talks about the progress of the Biden administration and the continuing attacks on democracy.

Host Amy Siskind discusses the political events of the last few weeks.

Host Amy Siskind discusses the vaccine rollout, improving economy, and the latest instances of police brutality.

Host Amy Siskind talks about the wave of attacks against Asian Americans during the last year and the Biden administration's work toward coronavirus relief.

Host Amy Siskind discuss additional facts about the attack on the Capitol that have come to light in the last few weeks.

Host Amy Siskind talks about Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.

Host Amy Siskind talks about the shift to "normalcy" after the end of the Trump administration.

January 2021

I am grateful, with all your input, to have continued this project through inauguration. Since I started tracking Donald Trump in November 2016, I have posited that he cared about two things: making money and staying in power; admittedly, events in this final list caught even me by surprise.

The pace of broken norms had slowed considerably in our AFTER lists for November and December. My biggest concern over those two months was Michigan, and the potential for Republicans in that state to overturn the results in a county with majority Black voters — and therefore the implications for the future our democracy. It was close — too close — but in the end we passed the safe harbor deadline for every state, and I falsely assumed we would cruise through inauguration.

As I complete this project on January 20 at noon, with Joe Biden assuming the presidency, along with our first Black and South Asian woman vice president, Kamala Harris, we are still learning of Trump’s schemes to overturn the election. The reporting will undoubtedly continue for months and years, as the truth finds its way to open light. History will record how close we came to teetering on the brink of becoming an authoritarian state.

Trump propagated, starting months before the election, what historian Timothy Snyder described as the “big lie,” that our election was rigged and stolen, and he had actually won. Trump was aided and enabled throughout his time in office, but also in the big lie, by Republican lawmakers too cowardly and cloaked in self-interest to uphold their oath, and a far-right media ecosystem willing to spin his lies for ratings. As we finish this project, three-quarters of Republicans believe the big lie, and have “little or no confidence” that the election results reflected the will of the people. This legacy of Trump’s disinformation will be with us for years as we try to trace our way back to the truth.

January was a shocking month. We learned that Trump had pressured and threatened state officials in Georgia to overturn election results. Days later, Trump supporters, emboldened into rioters by his big lie, stormed our nation’s Capitol. It was the first time our Capitol was under siege since the War of 1812, and the first time ever by American citizens. What ensued was a near massacre of our members of Congress and Vice President, which Trump joyfully watched unfold on television from the White House, refusing to call off the mob he had unleashed or call in troops to help over hours. Documentarian Ken Burns noted, “Our founders feared two things above all else, the mob and an autocrat,” and here we were.

Our system of government held up, but barely, and as this project comes to an end, it is still doubtful that Senate Republicans — themselves mere minutes away from slaughter — will finally hold Trump accountable for the insurrection and sedition at the upcoming impeachment trial. Over four years of the endless stream of broken norms, their enabling Trump has not only desecrated our democracy, but also exposed the cracks in its armor for future wannabe autocrats.

As we leave this project, Biden is inheriting three major crises — a surging pandemic, a struggling economy, and the threat of white supremacist violence. And on top of these crises, a battle for the truth. The steps we take in the coming years to restore the truth — there can only be one — will determine our ability to not only find common ground, but also to continue the American experiment with democracy and forming a more equitable union.

Read the full list here: https://theweeklylist.org/weekly-list/after-january/

In December, Trump continued to push lies and  conspiracy theories about the election, not only failing to concede, but  pushing efforts to overthrow the election results. During this month,  Trump became increasingly isolated as even loyalists pushed back on his  false allegations or resigned, leaving an inner circle composed almost  entirely of his family members and conspiracy theorists. Trump continued  to avoid the press and the American people, seeming to hide in the  White House, other than a brief holiday trip to Mar-a-Lago.

This month the Supreme Court, which Trump had  viewed as loyalists who would act at his behest, rejected his election  challenges. Other setbacks came on December 8 when the safe harbor  deadline passed, and then on December 14 when the Electoral Colleges in  each state cast their votes, and ratified Biden’s victory — a typically  mundane process that goes unnoticed, which was for first time was  broadcast live and closely watched. After the results were ratified,  Senate Republican leadership recognized Biden as president-elect, while  House leadership continued to demure. Trump raged against all those who  refused to go along with his despot coup, while his supporters took to  threatening election officials and other subjects of his ire.

This month, a major Russian hacking — perhaps  the most significant of modern times — of federal agencies and  corporations was revealed. As has been a familiar pattern, Trump refused  to acknowledge Russia’s involvement or condemn the attack, which some  lawmakers likened to an act of war. December also marked the most deadly  month of the worsening pandemic, which Trump almost completely ignored,  along with any and all other presidential responsibilities.

Although Trump had yet to admit defeat, he did  grant several controversial pardons, including four figures that were  subjects of the Mueller probe, as well as Jared Kushner’s father, and  employees of a company run by loyalist Erik Prince who were found guilty  of murdering Iraqi civilians. As the month came to a close, Trump  continued to push for allies to overturn the election and hence  America’s still young experiment in democracy. And tragically, many  Republicans appeared all too happy to comply with his antics, despite  the damage to our democracy and world standing, in order to benefit  their own political futures.

Read the full list here:  https://theweeklylist.org/weekly-list/after-december/