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The hosts of “Pod Save America” heavily criticized President Biden’s Washington Post op-ed about January 6, labeling it as ineffective and slamming Democrats for their approach to addressing the Capitol riot aftermath.
Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau expressed frustration with Democratic rhetoric, suggesting they abandon their traditional language about institutions and democracy. His criticism came after Vice President Harris certified Trump’s election victory on Monday.
“January 6 people were there because they believe in the system, and they were so shocked to see their election stolen, which it was.”
Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell, & the FBI KNEW this, so THEY ORCHESTRATED A PLAN TO TURN A PEACEFUL PROTEST INTO THEIR STAGED ‘RIOT.’ pic.twitter.com/lKZaEP4qNn
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) December 23, 2023
In his op-ed, Biden emphasized the importance of remembering January 6, cautioning against forgetting history’s lessons. “But we should not forget. We must remember the wisdom of the adage that any nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it. We cannot accept a repeat of what occurred four years ago,” Biden wrote.
Fellow podcast host Jon Lovett challenged Biden’s interpretation of the historical quote, suggesting the president had misunderstood philosopher George Santayana’s message about being stuck in the past.
“If you’re too mired in the past, if you become, this is from the original philosopher, stubborn like an old man, you also become doomed to repeat yourself,” Lovett remarked.
The hosts acknowledged that most voters were disconnected from January 6 concerns, with Favreau declaring the op-ed empty and emblematic of current Democratic ineffectiveness.
This criticism aligns with broader concerns about Democratic messaging, exemplified by James Carville’s recent advice on MSNBC to move away from what he called “idiotic NPR jargon.”
“Let’s just be authentic and to the point,” Carville stated.
Today, we remember the #January6th protestors, many of whom were standing up for what they saw as a flawed election process. Their passion for democracy, despite the controversial methods, underscores the deep divisions in our nation. It's crucial we learn from this to strengthen… pic.twitter.com/Ovo9TlQxlm
— 😇🇺🇸🇵🇷Angel🇺🇸🇵🇷😇 (@AngelReacts1979) January 6, 2025
The podcast hosts further criticized the op-ed’s lack of concrete solutions to address what they view as Trump’s attempted coup. Their frustration extended to Biden’s decision to seek re-election, with Vietor expressing renewed disappointment in this choice.
The discussion highlighted ongoing concerns about Biden’s capabilities, despite Democratic leaders’ previous defenses. Chuck Schumer had notably defended Biden’s mental state, stating, “His mental acuity is great. It’s fine. It’s as good as it’s been over the years. All this right-wing propaganda that his mental acuity has declined is wrong.”
The hosts’ criticism extended beyond Biden, with their audience also questioning Harris’s campaign leadership following a November podcast episode featuring her campaign managers.
