Podcast Summary
IHIP News – “Trump Does Not Want People Seeing Bombshell Testimony”
Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Date: January 6, 2026
Main Theme and Purpose
In this episode, Jennifer and Angie dig into newly released testimony from DOJ special counsel Jack Smith regarding Donald Trump’s direct involvement in the January 6th Capitol attack and discuss how delayed justice, failed institutions, and media whitewashing have contributed to disillusionment and distrust in American democracy. The hosts' signature blend of humor and raw frustration is on full display as they lambaste both Democratic and Republican failures, with a cathartic deep dive into the chilling details revealed by Jack Smith’s deposition.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The DOJ’s Failure and Delayed Response
- Delay in Special Counsel: Jennifer harshly critiques the Biden administration for not appointing Jack Smith as special counsel immediately upon taking office, waiting instead until 2022.
- “Jack Smith was not appointed for two years. Two years after all of these cops were beat up, after Congress was completely ransacked, people took a shit in there.” (A, 00:48)
- Immediate Evidence: Both hosts repeatedly insist that what happened on January 6 was obvious in real time, needing no “bombshell” testimony to be clear.
- “We all knew this. We all saw it. This isn’t new information.” (A, 01:53)
2. The Human Cost of January 6
- Police Injuries: They discuss reporting on the horrific injuries sustained by law enforcement during the riot, quoting Smith’s awareness and condemnation of any pardons for the perpetrators.
- “Do you believe that pardoning individuals like this who committed crimes against law enforcement that day makes our country safe? Jack Smith responds, it does not, in my view.” (A quoting Smith, 02:56)
3. Institutional and Elite Complicity
- Tech Billionaires and Oligarchs: The hosts indict both tech leaders and political “industry titans” as complicit for enabling Trump’s ambitions and attempts to stay in power.
- “What an indictment this is on all of these billionaire tech leaders … that they all colluded to make sure that this man, this criminal, who could not accept that he lost ... that these people who have made so much money off a rigged economic system … wanted him to get elected again.” (A, 04:45)
4. Party Cynicism and Political Decay
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Erosion of Republican Principles: Reflection on how “law and order” Republicans have twisted accountability into a “woke” issue rather than a value.
- “Just 10 years ago, this type of, of litigator in the DOJ, that is fact driven, law driven, procedural driven, that was kind of a default setting... and now it’s just a complete mockery of what it once was.” (A, 06:47)
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Democratic Party’s Failure as Opposition: Both hosts direct disappointment at Democrats for failing to be a true opposition, even calling out Democrats who voted for Trump’s cabinet members after January 6.
- “There has to be an opposition party, and time and time again, the Democrats have not proven to be that.” (A, 13:38)
5. Direct Testimony and Accountability
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Trump’s Refusal to Help: A clip of Jack Smith emphasizes Trump's indifference towards violence at the Capitol, and his refusal to intervene even when urged by allies.
- "The president refused to stop it. He endangered the life of his vice president ... that's very important and evidence for criminal intent." (C, 05:52)
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Trump as Central Conspirator: Another Smith clip points directly to Trump as the main architect of the attack, explicitly rejecting the idea the prosecution was political.
- “The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy ... The attack ... does not happen without him.” (C, 08:42)
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Smith Believed He Could Convict: In a final testimony segment, Jack Smith confirms unequivocally that he believed he had enough evidence for a conviction.
- “Did you believe that you had sufficient evidence to prove these charges beyond reasonable doubt?”
“Yes.” (D & C, 14:56)
- “Did you believe that you had sufficient evidence to prove these charges beyond reasonable doubt?”
6. Consequences and National Malaise
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Broken Trust and Nihilism: The hosts express a sense of nihilism and loss of faith in not just the Justice Department but all major American institutions.
- “It broke the country ... if you're a Republican and you’ve triple trumped, it broke you … and if you're a progressive like we are, it broke us.” (A, 13:01)
- “No faith, none whatsoever in any institution.” (A, 13:12)
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Rise of the ‘New’ Deep State: Jennifer notes the irony that, in replacing experienced, independent officials with Trump loyalists, there is now a real “swamp” taking root in government.
- “And now they are putting all Trump loyalists in. And now we really have a swamp and we really have a deep state.” (A, 16:17)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Jennifer on DOJ Delays:
"Jack Smith was not appointed for two years ... Jack Smith should have been appointed January 22, 2020, whatever the date is after Joe Biden got into office." (00:24) -
On Cop Injuries and Pardons:
“They asked Jack Smith this, 'Do you believe that pardoning individuals like this who committed crimes against law enforcement that day makes our country safe?' Jack Smith responds, 'It does not, in my view.'” (02:50) -
Angie on Institutional Failure:
"My blood was boiling. I was so fucking mad at Merrick Garland, Donald Trump. I'm sorry. And Joe Biden because I was like, you fucking could have stopped this on a dime, but you didn't..." (03:52) -
Jack Smith on Trump’s Role:
“The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy.” (08:42) -
Jennifer’s Reflection on the Country’s Descent:
“It broke the country ... and if you're a progressive like we are, it broke us. And we're descending into nihilism and fear and absolutely no faith, none whatsoever in any institution.” (13:01-13:10)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- [00:06-02:34] — DOJ inaction, Jack Smith appointment delay, overview of Capitol police injuries
- [03:48-05:29] — Angie's anger at Garland/Biden, complicity of elites, indictment of both parties
- [05:52-06:17] — (Jack Smith clip) Trump refused to intervene & endangered officials
- [06:41-08:42] — Decline of “law and order” conservatism, Smith says Trump knew he lost
- [08:42-09:35] — (Jack Smith clip) Trump “most responsible” for the Capitol attack
- [12:34-13:38] — Malaise, broken trust, Democratic and Republican failures
- [14:18-14:57] — (Smith testimony) Sufficient evidence for conviction
- [15:25-17:42] — Final reflections: decline of decorum, deep state irony
Tone and Speaker Attribution
The hosts are sardonic, passionate, and emotionally raw throughout, mixing gallows humor with fierce critique. Jennifer’s language is especially direct and at times caustic; Angie echoes the frustration with expletive-laden outbursts and rueful disbelief at institutional inertia. Both use pointed anecdotes and sarcasm to underscore what they see as democracy’s slow-motion collapse at the hands of both parties and a media environment prone to revisionism and denial.
Conclusion
This episode of IHIP News delivers a cathartic, unvarnished breakdown of the failures surrounding the January 6th attack and the revelations in Jack Smith’s testimony. The hosts expose how both Democratic and Republican actors, as well as societal elites, failed to uphold accountability, allowing misinformation and decay to fester. The episode is a bracing indictment of institutional failure and a commentary on America’s broken political culture, as seen through progressive, irreverent, and deeply disappointed eyes.
[End of summary]
