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Culture War Roundup for the week of February 6, 2023

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Am I missing something? Weren't the J6 protesters also let in by the Capitol police? Didn't we also have media takes about how the police is in on it?

I think quite a few people (some of whom are probably being charged) did just walk in well after this (sometime after 2:15, by @netstack's timeline) -- the barricades had all been removed and the police inside the building were interacting with people in a mostly-friendly manner so long as they stayed out of secured areas and didn't trash anything.

Uh…no?

12:53 p.m.: Rioters overwhelm police along the outer perimeter west of the Capitol building, pushing aside temporary fencing. Some protesters immediately follow, while others, at least initially, remain behind and admonish the others: "Don't do it. You're breaking the law." By 1:03 p.m., a vanguard of rioters have overrun three layers of barricades and have forced police officers to the base of the west Capitol steps.

1:50 p.m.: D.C. Metropolitan Police on-scene incident commander Robert Glover declares a riot.

2:00 p.m.: The mob removes the last barrier protecting the east side of the Capitol.

2:12 p.m.: The first rioter enters the Capitol through the broken window in the Senate wing of the building, opening a door for others.

2:14 p.m.: Rioters chase a lone Capitol Police officer up northwest stairs, where there are doors to the Senate chamber in both directions, as police inside the chamber attempt to lock doors.

2:15 p.m.: Rioters use a hammer to break and open a door.

From wikipedia. Do these sound like police cooperation to you?

I do remember accusations that heavier responses were withheld for political reasons. Mostly about the National Guard, not the Capitol or DC police. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were claims that the police sandbagged, too. They don’t look well supported.