Do January 6 Defendants Deserve Empathy? Smerconish Asks the Question Few Will episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 7, 2026 · 14 MIN

Do January 6 Defendants Deserve Empathy? Smerconish Asks the Question Few Will

from The Smerconish Podcast · host Michael Smerconish

Five years after January 6, Michael Smerconish tackles a deeply uncomfortable question: should Americans feel any empathy for the defendants who say they believed they were defending the country? Drawing on a new New York Times report, expert analysis on political violence, and firsthand conversations with Trump attorneys, Michael explains today’s Smerconish.com poll and examines whether intent, belief, and misinformation complicate moral judgment—without excusing violence. Listen here, then vote, and please rate, review and share this podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Five years after January 6, Michael Smerconish tackles a deeply uncomfortable question: should Americans feel any empathy for the defendants who say they believed they were defending the country? Drawing on a new New York Times report, expert analysis on political violence, and firsthand conversations with Trump attorneys, Michael explains today’s Smerconish.com poll and examines whether intent, belief, and misinformation complicate moral judgment—without excusing violence. Listen here, then vote, and please rate, review and share this podcast.

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Do January 6 Defendants Deserve Empathy? Smerconish Asks the Question Few Will

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This episode was published on January 7, 2026.

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Five years after January 6, Michael Smerconish tackles a deeply uncomfortable question: should Americans feel any empathy for the defendants who say they believed they were defending the country? Drawing on a new New York Times report, expert...

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