Donald Trump’s call to supporters to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6th in 2021 ended in a way that most of us who live in the United States, and perhaps around the world, will never forget. Our guest, Jason Riddle, was in the midst of that crowd, a loyal MAGA supporter and what many would call an “insurrectionist.” Riddle is one of a handful of convicted rioters from January 6th who refused Trump’s blanket pardon early this year.
Questions we asked Riddle: Why did people join that rally and riot? What were other people like in that crowd? Does Riddle believe that–as Trump has recently implied–FBI agents were acting as agent provocateurs in the crowd? (A charge that FBI head Kash Patel denies.)
In this episode, Riddle talks about the long road back from MAGA-land and why he went there … to voting for and donating to Kamala Harris in 2024. Riddle is also part of the non-profit organization, Leaving MAGA and we talk about how other MAGA folks leave, and, if we are trying to bridge divides with our own family and friends, how we might do that now.
[Post-interview note: Riddle mostly blames himself in this interview and feels that die-hard MAGA followers like himself are in mental and emotional distress, reverting to blaming others, and mostly need to take responsibility and “help themselves” out of their situation.]
Resources:
Jason Riddle BIO at Leaving MAGA
