The Political Causes of the January 6 Assault: American Impasse 2 of 4

On April 8, 2021, a panel convened by the School of Arts and Sciences looked at the ideological and political backdrop of the January 6 assault, its impact on American politics, and the overall stability of the two-party system.

Panelists

• Thomas Edsall, political columnist for The New York Times
• Dan McCarthy, director of the Novak Journalism Program at The Fund for American Studies, editor of Modern Age, and visiting fellow at the Center for the Study of Statesmanship at The Catholic University of America
• Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution

Moderator

Maryann Cusimano Love, associate professor of politics in the School of Arts and Sciences at The Catholic University of America

About this speaker series

The assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was an unprecedented moment of violence and self-destruction. Its shadow will fall across American politics for a long time to come. In this speaker series, "American Impasse: Politics, Citizenship, and Democracy in 2021," The Catholic University of America has gathered leading voices from across the political spectrum and from journalism, academia, politics, and think tanks to discuss the origins and the greater meaning of this event. They address — in turn — the social causes of the January 6 assault, the political causes, the Civil War resonance, and the implications for citizenship and the future of American democracy.

This speaker series is sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences through the generosity of its Board of Visitors. It is co-sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement.