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Just hours after he took office, Donald Trump issued pardons for over 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. One of those pardoned was one of the subjects of a gripping documentary: Homegrown, from Storyline Media. Alongside two other members of the extremist group, the Proud Boys, filmmaker Michael Premo followed convicted felon, Christopher Quaglin, at home, on the road, and up the steps of the Capitol that day. In this conversation with Flanders, recorded just prior to Trump’s inauguration, Premo describes how the film came to be and what he found, including the surprising diversity within the Right-wing groups he followed. How do political ideas turn to political violence? What is the path forward? Join us for a timely, gripping conversation and, as always, Laura’s commentary.
“I think what we’re going to see is an escalation of the potential for violence . . . Project 2025 is a great example of the sort of broader consensus among the conservative movement around what to do once they regained power . . . People feel increasingly emboldened in a way that I think is somewhat similar to 2016, but there’s a different sense of urgency.” – Michael Premo
“We’re in an era now where one political party, primarily the Republican party, no longer sees the Democrats as a legitimate partner in governance . . . That’s the era that we’re entering now, that is really be signaled by these pardons because that’s sending the message that January 6th was peaceful, sort of an inconsequential protest, just like any other protest. I think there needs to be accountability for some of these people, particularly people who committed acts of violence against law enforcement.” – Michael Premo
Guest
- Michael Premo: Journalist & Filmmaker; Director & Producer, Homegrown
Portions of this interview are featured in our episode, “Inside the MAGA Movement: What Happens Now?“
