Today, Explained: "Happy Sixthmas" Episode Summary

Release Date: January 6, 2025
Hosts: Sean Rameswaram and Noel King
Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network

1. Certification of the 2024 Election Results

The episode opens with a significant political event: on January 6th, 2025, Congress convened at 1 PM to certify Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election. This certification echoes the controversial session four years prior when the process was derailed by the January 6th insurrection.

Noel King highlights the lingering tensions by stating:

"The president elect has said repeatedly, and he told NBC again last month that he's going to pardon at least some of the insurrectionists." ([00:00])

This declaration has stirred discussions about potential pardons for those involved in the Capitol riot, raising concerns about accountability and justice.

2. Reflections on the January 6th Insurrection

Tess Owen reflects on the long-term impacts of the January 6th events:

"Those people have suffered long and hard and they may be some exceptions to it." ([00:25])

The conversation delves into the presence of extremist groups during the insurrection. Noel King clarifies:

"Antifa was actually not there four years ago, but members of several extremist groups were at the Capitol on January 6th." ([00:42])

The hosts set the stage for an in-depth exploration of American extremism in the context of a potential second Trump administration.

3. Tess Owen’s Investigative Reporting on Extremism

Tess Owen, a freelance journalist for publications like New York Magazine, shares her investigative work on the dynamics within the D.C. jail where January 6th rioters are held. Her piece, "Patriot Inside the Jail block," provides a window into the lives of these detainees.

Key Insights from Tess Owen:

• Daily Life and Community Formation:
  Tess describes the jail environment as resembling a "sleepaway camp," with detainees establishing traditions and rituals to maintain morale. Activities include singing the national anthem nightly, which is broadcasted to their supporters ([04:30]).

• Extremist Groups Within the Jail:
  Notable figures like Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys and David Dempsey of the Oath Keepers are mentioned. Dempsey, in particular, receives a 20-year sentence for violent actions during the insurrection ([02:40]).

• Inmate Support Networks:
  The detainees benefit from a robust support system outside, including financial contributions from sympathizers, allowing them better living conditions and the ability to share their narratives ([09:26]).

• Potential Dissolution of the Patriot Wing:
  Recent developments suggest that the specialized unit housing these extremists might be dissolved, leading to their dispersal into the general population. Tess expresses uncertainty about the implications this has for ongoing prosecutions and future arrests ([09:52]).

4. Housing Extremists: Challenges and Decisions

Noel King probes into the rationale behind housing extremist defendants together in the D.C. jail. Tess Owen elaborates on the complexities:

"Officials generally have three options... dispersing defenders carries risks of violence and radicalization, solitary confinement can exacerbate these issues, and concentrating inmates can create incubators for extremist views." ([06:22])

Despite claims by detainees of poor treatment, official inspections revealed that the January 6th inmates were not subjected to the worst conditions found elsewhere in the jail. In some respects, their conditions improved over time, evidenced by the creation of the "DC Gulag" podcast recorded within the facility ([08:19]).

5. Future of Extremist Prosecutions and Pardon Implications

The episode explores the uncertain future of prosecutions against January 6th rioters, especially with the anticipation of a Trump pardon. Tess Owen indicates that the dissolution of the Patriot wing could signal a slowdown in arrests and prosecutions:

"The unit depends on a steady stream of people being arrested... We're expecting the prosecutions to dry up certainly when Trump takes office." ([10:54])

Regarding the detainees' intentions post-release, Tess notes a lack of remorse and a continuation of extremist beliefs:

"There was very little indication that they would leave the movement or that their experiences behind bars had made them change their views." ([11:09])

6. The Evolution of White Nationalism and Mainstream Adoption

Transitioning to broader extremism trends, Ellie Reeve, a CNN correspondent and author of "Black Pill," discusses the infiltration of alt-right ideologies into mainstream conservative politics.

Key Points from Ellie Reeve:

• Mainstreaming of Extremist Ideas:
  Concepts like the "great replacement" theory, initially propagated by the alt-right, have found their way into mainstream conservative rhetoric. Tess Owen elaborates:

  "The idea is that there's something about Western culture... may prevent newcomers from embodying American culture." ([17:30])

• Language and Slang Integration:
  Terms coined within extremist circles, such as "cringe," "cuck," and "incels," have permeated everyday language, indicating the deep-rooted influence of these groups ([17:31]).

• Shift from Online to Real-World Actions:
  Reeve emphasizes the blurring lines between online extremist activities and real-world actions, drawing parallels between the evolution of movements like QAnon and the January 6th insurrection ([16:12]).

• Impact of Social Media Platforms:
  With figures like Elon Musk altering the landscape of platforms like Twitter, extremist groups can now disseminate their ideologies more openly, reducing the anonymity that previously shielded their activities ([16:50]).

7. The Decline and Transformation of the Alt-Right

Ellie Reeve discusses the marginalization of the alt-right following events like the Charlottesville rally:

"Those guys get marginalized. They got kicked off financial services platforms, they kicked off social media platforms... they've just washed out of Politics, for the most part." ([19:52])

However, newer groups like Patriot Front have emerged, adopting less overtly offensive symbols by embracing national flags and Christian imagery instead of more universally condemned symbols like swastikas.

Notable Extremist Groups:

• Patriot Front:
  A white supremacist group known for organizing flash mobs dressed in red, white, and blue, aiming to "Reclaim America" without the overt use of hate symbols ([22:19]).

• Nick Fuentes and Incel Influenced White Nationalism:
  Fuentes propagates anti-feminist and anti-immigration rhetoric, representing a more insular and ideologically rigid segment of white nationalism ([23:26]).

8. The Real-World Consequences of Online Extremism

Noel King and Tess Owen discuss the tangible impacts of online extremist movements, referencing Fred Brennan's creation of 8chan and its role in facilitating platforms like QAnon and mass shootings.

"We need to stop separating the online and the real world. Like, everything that is happening online is real." ([24:12])

The conversation underscores the urgency of addressing online hate speech and extremist content to prevent its real-world manifestations.

Conclusion

"Happy Sixthmas" delves deep into the persistent issue of American extremism, drawing connections between past events like the January 6th insurrection and the evolving landscape of white nationalism. Through investigative journalism and expert insights, the episode paints a comprehensive picture of the challenges posed by extremist ideologies gaining mainstream traction, the complexities of housing and prosecuting such individuals, and the blurred lines between online rhetoric and real-world actions. As political dynamics continue to shift, the episode underscores the critical need for vigilance and proactive measures to curb the spread and impact of extremist beliefs.

Notable Quotes:

• Noel King:
  "The president elect has said repeatedly, and he told NBC again last month that he's going to pardon at least some of the insurrectionists." ([00:00])

• Tess Owen:
  "They sang the national anthem every night at 9:00 and this national anthem was broadcast to their thousands of supporters online." ([04:30])

• Ellie Reeve:
  "We need to stop separating the online and the real world. Like, everything that is happening online is real." ([24:12])

• Tess Owen:
  "There's nothing of shame attached to it." ([26:39])

Produced by Halima Shah and Peter Balanon Rosen. Edited by Matthew Collette. Additional production by Andrea Christin's daughter and Rob Byers.