What A Day — "Did The J6ers Win?"
Podcast: What A Day (Crooked Media)
Host: Jane Coaston
Guest: Will Sommer (Senior Reporter, The Bulwark)
Date: January 6, 2026
[Episode covers: The current status of far-right groups and figures five years after January 6th, including what’s become of the insurrectionists and their movement during Trump’s second term, as well as major news updates.]

Episode Overview

Jane Coaston guides listeners through a retrospective on the January 6th insurrection, reflecting on its five-year anniversary and the current state of the far-right in American politics under President Trump’s second term. The episode’s central question: Did the January 6 rioters get what they wanted? Jane turns to Will Sommer, a specialist in far-right media, to break down how the insurrection’s key players, groups, and mindset have evolved—or fizzled—since 2021.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looking Back: January 6th and Its Immediate Aftermath

• Jane Coaston recalls living in D.C. during the insurrection and its surreal aftermath, describing National Guard patrols, barricades, and an omnipresent smell of pizza from local shops feeding soldiers ([01:11–02:30]).
• Notably, Donald Trump is president again, and around 1,500 January 6th participants received pardons on his first day back, but that hasn't led to universal satisfaction among the far-right.

2. Did the Insurrectionists Win?

• Initial appearances may suggest victory: Trump’s return, mass pardons, and symbolic restoration for those who stormed the Capitol.
• Deeper reality: The movement and individuals are fractured and disappointed. Many key groups (Proud Boys, Oath Keepers) have lost momentum, and violence has neither ceased nor turned them into heroes.

3. Will Sommer’s On-the-Ground Perspective ([03:08–05:12])

• Sommer was present at the 2021 rally, noting he underestimated the potential for violence despite online chatter about occupying federal buildings and bringing weapons.
• Atmosphere: "A car would roll up and they would think it was Mike Pence, and they would just be like, just calling for his death. They were going crazy." — Will Sommer ([04:23])
• "In retrospect, it felt like, oh, of course it led up to this riot. But then obviously, when it started happening, I mean, it was totally crazy." — Will Sommer ([04:05])

4. The Fate of Far-Right Groups After January 6

A. Proud Boys

• Enrique Tarrio's trajectory: Exposed as a federal informant, damaging his reputation, but attempting a resurgence via podcasting ([05:44]).
• Group activity: Once known for street clashes, now mostly relegated to online spaces and less visible activism, with the biggest recent moment being in Portland, but "they're a shadow of what they once were" ([07:28]).

B. Oath Keepers

• Stewart Rhodes’ attempted comeback: His divisive leadership and questions over financial improprieties have stymied efforts to revive the group. The lack of a unifying enemy (i.e., a Democratic president) weakens their appeal ([08:09]).
• "These figures… float around in the background until they have something like, for example, maybe another Democratic administration that will really galvanize them." — Will Sommer ([08:36])

5. The Disillusionment of the Far Right with Trump’s Second Term ([09:00–10:18])

• Major disappointments: Most notably, failure to release "Epstein files" and lack of material rewards.
• Pardoned January 6 figures often ended up back in legal trouble ("for threatening officials, for child sex crimes" – Will Sommer [10:18]).
• Quote: "Rather than being really celebrated, they find themselves back where they were, except, you know, they went to prison for a year or two. And so their lives, I think, are in many ways worse." — Will Sommer ([10:06])

6. Changing Attitudes on Foreign Policy ([10:34–11:52])

• Far-right and MAGA influencers (Alex Jones, Nick Fuentes, Gavin McInnes) have pivoted from isolationism to supporting aggressive U.S. intervention, particularly regarding Venezuela.
• Sommer’s analysis: America First has morphed from non-interventionism to a philosophy of U.S. conquest and resource domination:

  "They're recasting America first as… America is a warlord country and we take whatever we want… Why shouldn't we dominate them?" — Will Sommer ([11:27])

7. The Future: Post-Trump Right-Wing Power Struggles ([11:52–12:40])

• As Trump’s presidency looks increasingly lame-duck, right-wing media and activists are jockeying for new leadership and future power.
• The assassination of Charlie Kirk created a "real power vacuum"—and the struggle is intensifying ahead of 2028.
• Conference tension: Turning Point USA event saw prominent figures like Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro "tearing into each other," reflecting deepening divisions.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "It feels like the people who stormed the Capitol got everything they could have wanted. But did they?" — Jane Coaston ([02:47])
• "A lot of these groups… really felt that sort of big in-person gatherings or protests were… a federal provocation or that they had somehow been entrapped." — Will Sommer ([06:22])
• "I do think there have to be consequences for abject war crimes… that's why the military said it won't follow unlawful orders from their commander in chief. There's a standard, there's an ethos." — Pete Hegseth (2016, replayed at [19:11])
• "So when Pete Hegseth says service members should refuse illegal orders, that's ethos. But when Mark Kelly says it, that's sedition. Cool, cool, cool." — Jane Coaston ([19:29])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:20] — Lindsey Graham lauds Trump and hints at future military action against Cuba
• [01:11–02:30] — Jane’s recollection of January 6th and its aftermath in D.C.
• [03:08]–[05:12] — Will Sommer's first-hand account from the Capitol on January 6
• [05:44–07:28] — Where are the Proud Boys and their leader now?
• [07:50–09:00] — The Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes’ attempted comeback, and loss of momentum
• [09:00–10:18] — The growing disillusionment of pardoned J6ers and the far-right
• [10:34–11:52] — Far-right reversal on foreign wars, especially regarding Venezuela
• [11:52–12:40] — Predictions for right-wing infighting and the search for Trump’s successor

Additional News Headlines (Briefly Noted)

• [15:27–17:29] — Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy criticizes lack of oversight and constitutional disregard regarding U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
• [17:34–19:29] — Ongoing conflict between AZ Sen. Mark Kelly and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on service members’ obligation to refuse illegal orders.
• [19:41–20:13] — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz bows out of re-election amid scandal; Amy Klobuchar may run.
• [20:13–21:20] — Trump’s overhaul of CDC vaccine schedule.
• [22:30] — Announcement of a special episode of Pod Save the World, covering the raid in Venezuela.

Tone & Language

Jane maintains her signature dry wit and informed skepticism throughout the episode.
Will Sommer adopts a matter-of-fact, clear reporting style, occasionally offering sardonic commentary on far-right spectacle and infighting.

Summary Takeaway

Five years after the Capitol riot, most insurrectionists received pardons, Trump regained the presidency, but the far-right remains fragmented and disillusioned. Key groups have faded, not flourished. The MAGA movement has lost both its sense of insurrectionary purpose and much of its faith in its greatest champion, with new power struggles emerging as Trump’s influence wanes.

This summary delivers a clear, comprehensive account of the episode’s major insights, key moments, and the evolving landscape of the far right post-January 6.