Trump’s numerous executive orders have already upended the status quo in Washington, D.C. How are those orders being felt on the ground based on what you’ve seen?
I started out on January 20th outside of the DC Jail, where former January 6 defendants and inmates were being held. I’ve never seen anything quite like that scene: family members of the J6ers gathered outside and hearing the news that President Trump was effectively letting everyone go. Their sense of vindication was profound, but the legal, cultural and ethical implications of Trump’s decision here… are vast.
And then the following week, I was with undocumented migrants who are living in fear of deportation raids, at any time and in any place. It was a study in contrasts: convicted criminals who believe this president has their best interests at heart, and marginalized communities who feel literally hunted under the new administration.
The Trump administration has taken a combative tone with legacy media outlets like MSNBC. Have you found that his supporters are more willing to talk with you? If not, how do you convince them to open up?
One of the great things about field reporting is that when you meet people face to face, they tend to see you as an individual, rather than a representative of a larger institution. Throughout my career, I’ve talked to folks across the political spectrum; whether I was working for The Atlantic or Showtime or CBS or MSNBC, people have been generally willing to talk to me, I think because they feel like I’m really listening—regardless whether I agree with them. The larger issue with Trump’s war against the fourth estate is that he’s poisoned so many people against a free press that he’s fundamentally rewiring the way Americans consume information.
Your interviews with relatives of Jan. 6 rioters revealed how fervently they support the president. Were there moments where you felt you had to push back or were you consciously remaining in “listening” mode? Is there anything Trump could do that might shake their faith in him?
I definitely challenged the J6ers on Trump’s decision to free them: whether it was the right one, and one that would be good for the whole country. And whether anything criminal happened on January 6th! But one thing I’ve noticed is that Trump supporters are usually pretty resolute in their beliefs. It’s not my job to try and convince them otherwise, it’s my job to understand why they think what they think.
