Opinion | Donald Trump 2024, Kevin McCarthy and Jan. 6: 12 Republicans Discuss - The New York Times

What comes to mind when you hear
the phrase “the Republican Party”? What comes to mind
when you hear the phrase
“the Republican Party”?

“Chickens”

Judi, 73, white, Okla.

“Strong”

Justin, 39, white, La.

“Uncontrollable”

Matt, 46, white, Tenn.

As the Jan. 6 committee was winding down its work last month, we asked ourselves a question: Did all those televised hearings, all those hours of testimony, all those chapters in the final report actually change any minds? Looking for answers, Times Opinion decided to hold an unusual focus group: We invited back several Republican voters who spoke in our first focus group a year ago. Back then, they discussed the Jan. 6 attack, democracy and President Donald Trump; this time around, we read some of their old comments back to them and talked about whether the committee’s work had affected their opinions about Jan. 6 and Mr. Trump.

Granted, this was just a handful of Republicans; there are countless other opinions out there. But these 12 Republicans, at least, were emphatic and unanimous: None of the hearings or testimonies changed how they thought about Jan. 6.

Indeed, the committee’s intense focus on Mr. Trump left some of them feeling sympathetic for him, and 10 of the 12 said they were glad he was running for president again. Several of the focus group participants argued that the committee was biased against Mr. Trump from the get-go and that the testimonies — even from former close aides like Cassidy Hutchinson — were more about currying favor with the Washington establishment than about bringing truths to light.

Still, these Republicans had frustrations with Mr. Trump and even more with the G.O.P., as well as with House Republicans after their struggle to elect Kevin McCarthy as speaker. As issues went, Covid and inflation were on the voters’ minds. But many of them were also feeling good about America, seeing it as a singular land of opportunity and taking heart in the way many Americans came together to pull and pray for the Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin after his injury last week.

“We still know when to come together when it counts,” said Justin, a 39-year-old Republican from Louisiana.

Participants

Alissa 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

Andrea 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

Andrea 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

Barney 72, white, Del., retired

Gina 54, white, Mass., library assistant

Joshua 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

Judi 73, white, Okla., retired

Justin 39, white, La., administrative assistant

Lorna 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

Matt 46, white, Tenn., account executive

Michael 65, white, Utah, retired

Sandy 48, white, Calif., property manager

Transcript

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

If historians 100 years from now were writing about the year 2022, what do you think they would write about?

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

I think the fact that Covid is still hanging on after multiple years.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

That inflation was at a 40-year high as well.

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

How everyone is coping with the economy and inflation.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

I would say problems at the border, when it comes to immigrants coming in and being able to find housing for them.

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

Prices are out of control. Fuel’s out of control. There doesn’t seem to be anybody in charge.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

The increase in gun violence in high schools and kids having access to guns.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

I’m going to read two pairs of statements for this next part. I’d like a show of hands for those who agree with each statement. Which do you agree with more? “America is a place that offers people more opportunity than anywhere else in the world.” [Eight participants raise a hand.] Or “America isn’t that much of a land of opportunity these days.” [Three participants raise a hand.] Michael, tell me why you agree more with that second statement.

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

There are other countries that definitely are as good as we are. With the way things have gone down the last couple of years, I’m not gung-ho about our country.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Lorna, you also put your hand up for that second one.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

Covid is bad again, hundreds of cases a day. Also, the flu is rising.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Sandy, which statement did you prefer?

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

Well, I think this is still a great land of opportunity. I mean, just like 100 years ago, 200 years ago, you’ve got to go out there and hustle. If you have the initiative, you can still make it really big in America.

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

OK. I think America is the land of opportunity to a degree, but every day we’re losing more and more freedoms, the freedoms to do what we want to do.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Here are two other statements: “American society has long had divisions, but our country and our democracy are resilient, and we’ll be able to overcome those divisions.” [Three participants raise a hand.] And “America has never been a more divided place, and I worry about violence and other threats to our democracy.” [Nine participants raise a hand.]

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

I’ve never in my lifetime seen anything this divided before. You can’t even tell anybody if you’re Republican anymore because if you are, they chastise you like you’re a flipping idiot. But we have the right to choose. That’s what our country is about.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Has that happened to you, Michael, where you’ve been chastised?

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

My wife’s friends are Democrats. And you don’t even want to tell them who you’re voting for.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

I think freedom of speech doesn’t exist anymore. People are not allowed to talk about their beliefs without being criticized or beat up over them, no matter what side you fall on. I think the media has taken complete control and has just divided both parties and pinned them against each other.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

I kind of agree with that. And I definitely feel like it comes from both sides.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

With Jan. 6, they’re blaming Trump. Trump didn’t — he didn’t start that, but they’re putting all the blame on him and keep going on and on.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

Well, I can see both sides. We have a diverse community where I live. You’ve got a Russian part of town, a Vietnamese part of town, Filipino part of town, Mexican part of town. And they have their own little cliques, where they have their own eateries and that type of thing, but at the end of the day, we’re all Americans. People stick with each other. I mean, you look at 9/11. Everybody was united. And for the most part, at least around here, that’s what I see. Everybody is pretty much united. Is there a division? Yes, to a certain extent. As much as the media says? I don’t believe so.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Joshua, how do you see it?

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

I mean, throughout history, there has been division in the United States when it comes to things like accepting people of different races, different countries, in the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community that’s worse than what we’re seeing today.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Justin, you seemed a little uncertain.

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

I think it’s in the middle. There’s clearly division in certain areas of the country, but I think as a whole, when you look at what happened with Damar Hamlin’s injury in the football game, we still know when to come together when it counts. It kind of had a 9/11 bit to it, where everybody just came together. It didn’t matter what team it was. It didn’t matter what color it was. We’re all Americans, and we’re going to fight for our brother and hope he does well.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Why do you think that was?

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

I think inside of all of us, there’s an inherent good. We might have a difference of opinion, but we still want the best for people. We want the best for us. Sure, there’s some people that don’t, but for the most part, we still want the best for everybody.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

I’d like to shift gears slightly. I want to get one-word answers from each of you on this next question. What is the one word that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “the Republican Party”?

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

Sad.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

Courage

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

America.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

Uncontrollable.

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

Strong.

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

Profitable.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

Trust.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

Hope.

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

Chickens.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

Proud.

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

Perseverance.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

Workers.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Michael, why “sad”?

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

In my gut, I’m not really excited about any parties anymore because I think there’s too much dishonesty in them.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Sandy, why “hope”?

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

Well, I think Republicans are our only option as far as getting us out of this mess that the Democrats have started with inflation and all that. Do they have a plan at this point? Doesn’t look like it. But are they organized? Doesn’t look like it. But there is hope there.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Judi, you said “chickens.” Why?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

Well, they can’t even vote on the speaker of the House. I mean, where’s their backbone?

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Matt, tell me about “uncontrollable.”

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

They’re a little out of control. They’re not always doing what’s best for the country or even their own constituents.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

If you had to name your favorite Republican elected official, past or present, alive or not, who would you name?

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

Reagan.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

That was mine, too.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

Since Reagan’s already been taken, I’ll go with George W. Bush.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

OK. Why?

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

Because he had a country accent. I think a lot of the good things he did were overlooked.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

I would say my current governor, Chris Sununu. He has made life a lot easier. There’s a lot of opportunities right now and more job employment for youths.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

Ron DeSantis. He’s strong. He’s levelheaded. He’s a great leader, I think, for Florida.

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

I like the governor that’s just leaving in Massachusetts, Charlie Baker. He’s very levelheaded, a good figure here in Massachusetts.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Let’s talk a little bit about November’s midterm elections. How many of you voted in that election? [Ten participants raise a hand.] You’re all in this focus group because you identified yourself either as a Republican or as someone who is an independent but maybe leans toward Republicans from time to time. How many of you, on that year’s ballot, voted for any Democrats or any independent candidates? [No participants raise a hand.]

Were you basically happy with
the results of the midterms? Were you basically
happy with the results
of the midterms? 2 people raised their hands.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J.

Barney, 72, white, Del.

Gina, 54, white, Mass.

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio

Judi, 73, white, Okla.

Justin, 39, white, La.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn.

Michael, 65, white, Utah

Sandy, 48, white, Calif.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

I think we had a good win for Florida. We have DeSantis. I can’t complain.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

How did the rest of you feel about the results of that election?

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

I live, unfortunately, in a blue state. Everything’s extremely expensive here. We had Chris Christie, who, I think, did a good job, but our legislature and the people who make the laws have been Democrats for a long time. It just seems that people complain about the same things over and over again but keep electing the same people. So it just drives me crazy, because you know that old saying — the definition of insanity.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

I’m guessing most of you, if not all, have followed the votes for speaker of the House and the failure of Kevin McCarthy to win on the first ballots. This was the first time in a century that the new speaker wasn’t elected straight away. What did you think about what happened?

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

I think it’s sad that they didn’t elect somebody on the first day. The Democrats are thick as thieves. Republicans tend to be loners.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

This just shows how united the Democrats were under the Nancy Pelosi regime. It would have never even gone to a vote until she was absolutely sure it would have passed. You don’t want to air your dirty laundry out in public.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

What do you hope that Republicans will do with control of the House, in terms of policy or hearings or priorities?

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

I’d like to see them go back to strengthening our country instead of stripping things down and moving away from powering our military and things like that.

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

It would be prudent for them to take the stance of Americans matter. We’ve been doing too much in other parts of the world. I’m not saying don’t protect our neighbors. But bring the focus back to us a little bit, to help with inflation, to help with just the day to day that everybody’s fighting. We can’t put gas in our cars, or we can’t get the food we want. Put in the policies that would somehow control that or change it.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Judi, what would you like to see Republicans do with their majority?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

I think they just need to show more leadership. How can we be united if they can’t even be leaders and stand up for ideas and values?

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Is there a particular idea or value that you’d like them to stand up for?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

Honesty.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

Just start putting things back on the right track. It makes me scratch my head that the country never did better than when Trump was president — never. You know what I mean? The gas prices were low. The border was under control. Everything was just great. And he got run out of town just because he sends mean tweets and has a big mouth. They’d rather elect a nice guy and have the country in the toilet.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Let’s go ahead and turn our conversation to 2024. What have you heard, if anything, about this upcoming presidential election?

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

It’s unusually quiet. I’m waiting for it to hit now that the first of the year came. I feel like there’s not going to be any good choices.

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

I totally agree. The first time President Trump ran and won, there were, like, 10 candidates. I hear a little bit about Trump every once in a while. Maybe DeSantis could run, maybe not. Maybe Florida wants to keep him, but that’s about all I’m hearing.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Michael, how about you? What are you hearing?

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

Joe Biden is probably going to run. Trump — I just kind of shrug my shoulders and then hope that Ron DeSantis ends up being the guy, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Are you glad that Donald Trump
is running for president again? Are you glad that
Donald Trump is running
for president again? 10 people raised their hands.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J.

Barney, 72, white, Del.

Gina, 54, white, Mass.

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio

Judi, 73, white, Okla.

Justin, 39, white, La.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn.

Michael, 65, white, Utah

Sandy, 48, white, Calif.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

Just thinking back to how well we were doing as a country when he was running it, I would love to see that again. I think he’s strong. I thought he was a great president. If DeSantis decides to run, I might turn a little bit. It depends.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

We’ve got some folks in this focus group who participated in our focus group one year ago on Trump, the G.O.P. and Jan. 6. Patrick?

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Yes, I was hoping maybe to ask Judi and Lorna and Joshua, who were here a year ago — you said last year that you wanted Trump to run again for president, and now, a year later, you continue to feel that way. But I wondered, what do you think of Trump now, compared with a year ago?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

He seemed more quiet. Because when he said he’s going to run for president, I thought he’d be having more rallies and go, go, go, but nothing. He’s doing nothing.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Do you like the quiet, or do you want him —

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

Oh, no. No. [Laughs.] I think we need him to go out and rally, like he used to.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

He was also pretty prominent on Twitter, and he’s been invited back there again. Would you like to see him tweeting regularly again?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

No. I mean, I’m not really a fan of Twitter, but no, I think that’s where he got himself in trouble. He needs to stay away from that.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Is there anything about him that’s turned you off over the last year or that you sort of lost steam on?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

Well, when Covid started, I think he was swayed into the vaccine thing. He listened to the wrong people. I’ll leave it at that.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Lorna, how about you? Has your view of Trump changed or not changed over the last year?

Lorna, 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

I think it’s ridiculous people want to put him in prison. For what? And look at Biden and his son.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Joshua, how about you? Anything you’ve learned about Trump that has affected your thinking about him?

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

I feel mostly the same about him. He was a bit weird, saying he’s got this big announcement, but it just ends up being some NFTs. But besides that, I don’t think anything’s really changed with him.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Barney, I know when we talked a year or so ago, you had some tough words about Trump but also felt like, in some ways, he was treated unfairly. How do you see him now?

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

That he’s still being treated unfairly every day. I mean, like that Jan. 6 committee, they could have had their conclusion five minutes after they started. They knew what they were going to do before they started. So they’re still putting it to the guy whenever they can. That’s the Democrats. I thought Trump had changed a little bit, but right before the midterms, he teased his presidential announcement. And I think that cost some people seats. I think some guys would have been elected had he waited a day or two.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

My view remains the same. I still have great respect for him.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

What, most of all, do you respect?

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

His courage, the ability to stand and keep on talking about what he wants, even when everyone seems to be against him.

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

That was a refreshing part of him. He wasn’t a politician.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

There have been some mentions of President Biden and some discussions of the last election. So right now, all indications are that President Biden intends to seek re-election. How would you feel if the 2024 election winds up being a rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden?

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

That would scare me. Even though I still think people know where the country stands right now and how tough things are, I do believe that with the hatred of Trump, they would elect anyone. I think if Bozo the Clown ran against Trump, a Democrat would vote for Bozo because it’s anybody but him. He’s an outsider, and people are terrified of that.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

I’ve heard the word “outsider” used a couple of different times in our discussion tonight. Having been president, does it make Donald Trump less of an outsider this time around?

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

I mean, he’s not less of an outsider because all they ever did from Day One was try to get him back out of the building. And I think that’s why people would continue to vote for him. Would he be my first choice? Probably not, but if there’s 10 candidates, I’d like to see him up there and get some of the other people out there being honest about what they’re actually going to do once they get into office.

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

I think Trump would lose. I was so surprised that the red wave didn’t happen. He already lost to him before. It would probably not be good. We’d have him in the office for another four years but a little more brain-dead.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Is there anyone else that you all hope runs for president in 2024?

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

Mike Pence. He’s a Republican and has also done a lot of charitable works.

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

I’d like to see Greg Abbott from Texas. I like the way he’s running the state, with the immigration and what he’s just doing to try to help keep them out of Texas.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

I want DeSantis to run. He’s just like Trump. He’s just as cantankerous, but I think he’s a little bit more refined. For example, you have Jack Daniels, or you have Gentleman Jack. Gentleman Jack is a lot smoother, but it’s still whiskey.

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

I’d go with DeSantis, too. Nobody’s going to vote for Trump, and we’re wasting our time with the election. I think DeSantis has a chance. I’d also go with my governor who just left, Charlie Baker. He would be a nice, quiet Republican. I think people would like his personality. And I think he could straighten out the economy.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Let’s spend some time talking about elections themselves as well as the state of our democracy. One of the issues that Donald Trump has focused on a lot is his view that the election was stolen from him. So I want to get a show of hands.

Do you agree with Donald Trump that the
2020 election was stolen from him? Do you agree with Donald Trump that the 2020 election was stolen from him? 7 people raised their hands.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J.

Barney, 72, white, Del.

Gina, 54, white, Mass.

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio

Judi, 73, white, Okla.

Justin, 39, white, La.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn.

Michael, 65, white, Utah

Sandy, 48, white, Calif.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

When you say “stolen,” what does that mean to you?

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

Because I do honestly believe that certain states cheated.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

In what way?

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

Cheated as in ballots — truckloads of ballots showing up in the middle of the night. There’s videos of it. There is proof. A lot of Democrats think Republicans are just sore losers and making things up. And I hate to say this, but I don’t really trust the election process, going forward. I believe they got away with stealing that election in 2020. And if you get away with something, I believe you’ll keep doing it until you get caught.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

Yeah, I agree with her completely. I just think that across the board, there were so many things that didn’t add up, didn’t make sense.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Sandy, I want to hear from you because I have down that we asked you this question about a year ago. And I believe last year you said, “Look, I think Trump probably really won the election.” But I noticed you didn’t raise your hand right now.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

I know the videos that Andrea is talking about. It’s well documented, but the media doesn’t want to cover that type of stuff. I think in the long run, it’s just a matter that if that’s history, put it behind you and carry on. Let’s think about the future, not dwell on the past.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Is there anybody who takes the other view, who says, “Even if I don’t like the result, Joe Biden was the rightful winner”? Gina, tell me a little about that.

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

At the end of the day, yeah, I could go either way. There are some votes that maybe slipped by, but I think that our process works. I think the media stole the election a little, but not the process.

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

I think President Trump has made it more personal — the election was stolen from him. Do I think he would have won outright if it hadn’t been stolen? I don’t know. But I think that we had issues with technical stuff that made things happen that might have had it go another way.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Judi, in our focus group a year ago, you said that for people like yourself, you really believed Trump should have won the election, that he did win the election. Has your thinking changed at all?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

No, I still think he won the election and that he should still be our president. He should be our president right now.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

And would you call Biden a legitimate president?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

No, I don’t think he’s legit at all.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Lorna, what about you? A year ago, you also said Trump won.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

Yes. I mean, look at the rallies. So many people showed up at the rallies, and so you know they all voted for him. Look how many people Biden had at his rallies — hardly anybody.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Two years ago, looking at the events of Jan. 6 at the Capitol, supporters of President Trump went to protest the certification of the Electoral College. And later that day, protesters breached the Capitol building. What do you remember most from that day?

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

I feel like it was a long time ago. I was at work, so I really didn’t have access to my phone or anything. I was just going on what people were telling me. All I can remember is people telling me, “Trump told them to do this” and “Trump told them to do that.” And I was like, “Does anybody there have a mind of their own?” So I mean, it was just kind of odd. I work in a public library, so people are coming in, telling me this. And I work in a very, very Democratic area. I felt like I was hearing one side of the story.

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

I just remember the chaos. I can understand that when you’re frustrated and you feel like things are not going right, you want to protest. And my own gut was like, “This isn’t right,” but I have the same feeling as “We’ve got to do something.”

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H., I.T. support

The internet was just ablaze. I made a post in support of it, and a lot of people came to attack me in the comment section. That day was really crazy.

Justin, 39, white, La., administrative assistant

I think some of it, on the media side, was probably blown out of proportion. Do I think someone should have died? Do I think they should have went to the Capitol? No. I think the rally itself made enough of a point. But I really don’t think it was planned or anything. I don’t think they were incited, either. I think a lot of people just got all their emotions all up in an uproar and there were consequences to that.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

When I saw videos of everything that happened, I was pretty embarrassed. I was like, “Oh, no. We’re going to hear about this forever.” It did look very chaotic and violent. I knew it was going to come down to blaming Trump somehow, saying that he was a ringleader and he’s responsible, he riled everybody up.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

For the folks in the group who were in our focus group a year ago, I’d love to hear if you’ve read or seen or heard anything in the last year that has changed your view of what happened that day.

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

No, not at all, especially this Jan. 6 commission. Like I said, they could have started at 8 on a Monday. They would have had their conclusion at five after 8. They knew what they were going to do.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Did any of the testimony or anything you heard during the Jan. 6 committee hearings change how you thought about what happened that day?

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

No. They brought in all people that were going to say yes. All the witnesses, they had them say yes.

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

If anything, I think my views have become more solidified. If you look, they made a big thing out of it in the media. They didn’t cover Black Lives Matter, antifa. I mean, you talk about Jan. 6 being planned. Antifa, throughout the whole summer of 2020, I mean, those things were planned, organized. The media didn’t cover it.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

And Sandy, in terms of the Jan. 6 hearings, was there anything about those hearings or any of the testimony that you heard that made you pause?

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

Not at all. I mean, I think a lot of that stuff is fabricated in the first place, blown out of proportion, twisted and turned so many different ways. Turn it into a pretzel.

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

My perspective on Jan. 6 is the same.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Did you pay attention or watch any of the Jan. 6 committee hearings or read about them?

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

No.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

No. OK. Is there a reason why you didn’t follow it?

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio, looking for work

I’m just not interested anymore.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

DId you see any of the footage or news coverage of the committee hearings or the testimony, either live or recorded, in terms of watching any of it or hearing any of it?

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

I didn’t see anything live. It was a waste of $3 million.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Alissa, you watched some of it. What do you recall seeing? What stood out to you?

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

I just remember everything being just so pinpointed in the same direction of “It’s Trump’s fault.” It was just a waste.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Did you think any of what happened on Jan. 6 was Trump’s fault or none of it was? How did you see it?

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

No, I don’t think it was. I’ve personally been to Trump rallies. They’re very peaceful. So I don’t think what happened that day had anything to do with Trump. I think it was planned.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Lorna, you said that you maybe saw some of the news coverage or some of the footage. What do you recall seeing or that stuck with you from the hearings?

Lorna, 60, white, Mo., customer service representative

Well, a couple of people locally here were arrested. So of course, they’d show them every news clip, on every channel. It just got old. It was just a waste of taxpayers’ money, in my opinion.

Did any of the testimony change how you
thought about what happened on Jan. 6? Did any of the testimony
change how you thought
about what happened
on Jan. 6? 0 people raised their hands.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla.

Andrea, 34, biracial, N.H.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J.

Barney, 72, white, Del.

Gina, 54, white, Mass.

Joshua, 19, Black, Ohio

Judi, 73, white, Okla.

Justin, 39, white, La.

Lorna, 60, white, Mo.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn.

Michael, 65, white, Utah

Sandy, 48, white, Calif.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Many of the witnesses who testified to the committee had been loyal staff members of Donald Trump’s in the White House. Some of them talked about how much they believed in his presidency, in his policy ideas. Some of them, like Cassidy Hutchinson, a young aide in the chief of staff’s office, were working in the White House on those final days. Hutchinson testified that President Trump allegedly got into a physical altercation with the Secret Service because he wanted to go to the Capitol after that initial rally. And I wanted to ask, what do you think about those eyewitness accounts from President Trump’s own staff? These were people who were loyal to him, who believed in him and who were giving eyewitness testimony about him.

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

Well, that statement of him getting in a physical altercation with Secret Service is pure bull. The guy’s 70-some years old. He got in a physical altercation with a Secret Service agent? Please.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

How do you square that with why a former aide would testify that in public about him?

Barney, 72, white, Del., retired

I’d be willing to bet you that former aide works for a Democrat right now. That’s how Washington works. I lived there my whole life. I know how the game is played.

Matt, 46, white, Tenn., account executive

I’m going to follow what Barney said and say they had to look out for their own career. They’re all lifelong politicians or political advisers, aides, helpers. And that’s their job. That’s what they want to do. And in order to stay in the business and not be drummed out, sent out of town, you really have to cover yourself more than you have to cover the person you’re working for.

Andrea, 49, white, N.J., executive assistant

I 100 percent agree with what Barney said. I think they testified because they weren’t part of the cool kids anymore or bribes. I’m not really sure what it is, but to make up blatant stories like that, there’s got to be some kind of underlying “What’s in it for me?” kind of thing, I think.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

But some of these people were still saying they thought President Trump was a great president who got a lot of things done. So they weren’t quite kicked out of the cool kids group.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

That’s their way of playing the game in politics. They can testify but still continue to keep their jobs in Washington.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Following what happened on Jan. 6, there was a lot of talk about the question of whether American democracy is at risk. So I want to wrap up by asking, what would be a sign to you that our democracy is healthy? What, in your view, would be a sign that American democracy is healthy?

Gina, 54, white, Mass., library assistant

When true crises happen, like the Boston Marathon bombing, 9/11 and the Hamlin football incident just now, everybody still comes together. So when there’s a crisis involving human life, we come together.

Alissa, 29, Latina, Fla., procurement

Yeah. I would agree with unity, just having everybody come together and agreeing on when things are bad, we’re all in it together. I would just like to see more unity.

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

I’d like to see our voting system change. That would give me a lot of confidence in our democracy.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

What changes would you like to see?

Judi, 73, white, Okla., retired

Well, like last time, I was saying, you can register to vote on the same day. That’s ridiculous. That’s crazy. We need to get a better plan for voting.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Sandy, what would be a sign that our democracy is healthy?

Sandy, 48, white, Calif., property manager

I would say getting back to the basics, sticking with the Constitution. There’s just too much government interference in everything. We’ve got so many regulations, taxes and controls and spending and everything. Get back to the fundamentals. Less government involvement. We should have an army, a military. That’s about it. Otherwise, just stay out of the way.

Michael, 65, white, Utah, retired

I tend to agree with Sandy, just hoping that we could start letting the Constitution be the Constitution and let us have our rights with freedom of speech and just start living the way that they did hundreds of years ago, when they believed in our country.