Monday open thread: January 6th Committee public hearings, day 2, and the Senate gun control deal

The first hearings on Thursday were a blockbuster. According to Nielsen, twenty million Americans tuned in on television. This doesn't include C-SPAN or online streams. I think it's safe to say that this is just getting started. If today's daytime hearing during the workday has a decent viewership, this would be an indication the electorate is very interested in the upcoming revelations.

On Thursday I felt all the emotions everyone else did. Anger. Rage. Sadness. And that's fine. But that's not enough.

We are in a struggle for this country. These hearings are a weapon in that struggle. No, sadly, they won't get everyone to the polls. Some people just don't care, and don't want to be bothered with that whole "self-governance" thing. Which is a tragedy. But if we can get a few more people to the polls, and have them mark the ballots blue, then that will be enough to secure victory in November.

Those who come out to the polls determine the direction this country takes, for better or worse. And yesterday something happened which might dampen GOP turnout significantly. A bipartisan group of senators—significantly including ten Republicans, which guarantees a defeat of any filibuster—agreed a gun control deal in the wake of the Uvalde massacre. And this is something which is circulating on Twitter:

This deal is a very modest proposal. It moves the ball down the field by a few yards. But even such incremental steps are treason to the rabid right. If Democrats can shepherd this deal through, that might make more than a few Republicans throw their hands up in disgust and not bother to come out, or, better, vote for extreme rightwing third parties. The midterms will be close, and we need every advantage we can get. Dividing the GOP is part of that strategy. 

So strap in, kids. We have a lot of work to do. But if we are dedicated, if we are persistent, we can win. 

This is your open thread.