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Later. Most of all, he didnt expect to be on the front lines and he didnt he didnt even expect to don a badge. He actually thought of Something Like football and more of that like he didnt to be on the front lines battling his fellow, spurred on as the congressional bipartisan and january six committee, he testified before found were inspired by former donald trump to stage a insurrection to the us capitol in a failed attempt to overturn a free and fair us president ial election. But what harry will harry dunn did in becoming a Police Officer protecting congress, which is where we first crossed past during my time covering. Officer defended the capitol on january six 2021 along with his colleagues some of whom died but but president ial citizens and the congressional gold medal later ended up paying a heavy price that hes still coping with. But he decided to turn his traumatic experience into a platform to speak out about Mental Health and democracy and write a book book called standing my ground. A capitol Police Officers fight for accountability and good trouble. After january six. So lets welcome harry dunn to the National Press. Thank you. So, harry, i just wanted to let know were going to have a bit of a conversation and then im going to turn turn it over to the folks here. Thats fine. First of all, once talk about since this is a press club, we have to talk about how the book came together. What inspired to write it . What was the writing process like . The editing process talked a bit, talked to us about how the book was actually inspired and constructed. Well, thanks for having me. Make sure i give you the answers right. My literary agent is here and my publicist like i make sure i give the right answers. No, im like i said, i didnt expect to be in this space right now where we are. I was afraid, tweeting a lot. And i was, you know, putting a lot of thoughts. And i realized i was garnering small following really small started that way. And i realized that also it was me feel better putting these tweets and these thoughts i have this on my phone a folder of audio recordings of just me venting and id just be recording in my phone, literally at work sometimes i look some of the recordings are like 17 minutes and then its profane, least. Started talking to some influence or people, people that i admire or people i respect and. I was named john bank, nbc correspondent, richard, i did an interview with him and we talked camera about 15 minutes or so and he said, harry, you need to write a book. And thats the first time i heard it. You know. Then i started actually giving it traction and, you know, reached to a couple of people and they connected me with my team and. Here we are. Thats how it. All came together. It was cathartic for me. Write the book. I had a coauthor i wrote it with and we bumped heads a lot because i didnt like some the things that were in there. Like i wouldnt say this and. Im a Big Personality and i need to make sure that always comes to the forefront and you know i dont want to say people expect me to say with this is you know my my words a memoir my life and experiences. So the toughest part about writing the book was how to end it, because the world is still on fire. And i was to use my book as like a fire extinguisher, a but jesus christ, like how . And by the way. If anybody saw me on the view, thats how thats what i got censored on the view several times i said, jesus, thats you said, thats what i said. My parents were in the audience. I wasnt going, i was looking, i thats my word. Vanity. No, i said, jesus christ, but no, i tried to use this book as a fire extinguisher, its like a sobering reality of this life. I dont want it to. Paint the picture of, you know, all you know, roses as we are in a dire state right now in this in this country. So that was one of the toughest parts were how to end. But the actual process was, you know, it was eye opening. And you have to surround yourself with good people that actually know what theyre doing. Because i have no idea what im doing. So are you sure about that . Yeah. Yeah. Far as like the actual, you know, the, you know, the technicalities and stuff but theres one you just touched on something that that struck me at the end of the book and well get to the other parts of the book later. Is that this story keeps going. And i want to sort of kind of sort of rapid fire get some of your reactions that where the book left off now were starting to see the Legal Proceedings kick in. Yeah with much larger players because you were talking about the smaller players in the book now the president s former chief of staff several of his former attorneys, i mean, its starting to move. And the president himself has been on the stand just yet. You know just yesterday in chats. What do you make of whether its sink the extinguisher, as you call it, of how the system is or not working or, you know, the things that you expressed in very passionate terms throughout the. What do you make of whats happening now with the former president and chief of staff, former lawyers. All of it. Well, the system is working. It is delayed pace. I guess it would be january six this year. But three years since. But just to touch on another look how long donald trump has been doing these things that hes being charged with and is finally paying off. So i do believe that its working. You know, with the criticism it at a snails pace. Thats its important and the theyre the narrative now that they are trying to discredit it. As you know, when facts arent on their side. They attack the system then because they cant have facts on their side. So they attack the institutions. Know the fbi is under attack. The department of justice is weaponized and all stuff. And its the institutions work. If we have these these safeguards the safeguards our american people. You know it frustrates me, though, that these institutions that have trusted tried to for centuries. Now they attacked them as being in not credible and their followers are buying in to it. Bennie thompson told me one day that the best disinfectant is truth. So we need more people to do speaking truth to power. And like i said, thats why, you know, one of the reasons i hope my book is that a lot of people, me about the congresspeople and, politicians or mayors who repeat these lies. You know, if they read my book, great. But the book isnt for them. The book is for the american people. And open some eyes and inspire to continue to speaking truth to power. Speaking the book, theres some talk in terms of the structure it seemed to be part catharsis. There was a definite Mental Health track to this piece, part democracy primer, part history primer. Was that intentional . So im this big hodgepodge of all that stuff that you just named. Yes. It was intentional especially the Mental Health aspect of it. You know, you show me somebody who says they got it together all the time, then ill show you the biggest liar, the face of this earth, because we all struggling with something. We all are. But i wanted people know where i got this forceful pride from. And that goes back to, i guess, the way i was raised that all that to my parents, to the. My upbringing i had some experiences that maybe some people cant relate to. Maybe they cant. But like what . Well, i talk specific incidents. I played sports and then i was on medicine as, a child for adhd and it made me feel weird being medicated as a kid. I felt like was wrong with me and maybe that helped shape me to be the person i am that i didnt need to be controlled medicine. Not saying theres anything wrong with it because. You know, people we need some kind of assistance. We need help. But these experiences i live in, like being cut from a football team, you know, growing up, the community that i grew up in with you, my childhood friends, having forced sisters and being the only boy maybe that molded some of the compassion that i have that, you know men are afraid to display or dont display for reasons. But i include all of that because all of these experiences that live like helped create the person that you see standing, sitting here in front of you now, which is weird because it is understanding my ground and im literally sitting on sitting, but its a great picture that as strike but well talk about your upbringing in Mental Health. Did you want to start a national about mental and and specifically theres been a lot of discussions about how Mental Health is not openly in passionately and warmly discussed in the Africanamerican Community among africanamerican men. I mean, who wants to admit that there effed up . You know, so guess thats one of the reasons why the conversation doesnt happen. Yes. I want to have a National Discussion about it, but theres nothing new that be said to encompass the importance of its nothing new. Theres no new phrases or, you know, no new hashtags. We just need more people saying it. More people need to. I guess the, you know, the phrase gets thrown around all the time, normalize this, normalize that. But, you know, more people just its literally a part of our everyday life is a part of our everyday life. So more people just need to be open and you something. But i understand why people are this world is really cruel. You know, people love to kick you while youre down or, you know, a picture of somebody struggling instead of helping that person thinks that thats the world we live in. So its easy to go with the norms that have been happening, and its hard to do the opposite. Go against it. I just dont care. Anybody else thinks thats why i maybe to do the this vulnerability, whatever and its big and vulnerability. You were pretty raw in book in terms of opening up to all the rage, all the things that were coming that you were experiencing just as a result of january six, your childhood all of it. What kind of feedback have you been getting from, not just your friends, but total strangers. And one is anyway said, hey, youve helped me. Youve helped me seek help or anything of that nature. Well, i share a funny story feedback from my father. He read the piece why you cut so. And yes the book, my didnt raise me like that. Correct. But also didnt raise me to deal with an insurrection and Everything Else that followed behind. Yeah. That wasnt in parents. Yeah. That wasnt in a. But you know, i had to share. I really feel and i, you know, pull the curtain back all the. And thats the way i feel. You know im not going to say i say jiminy cricket cricket. Thats not who thats not thats not who i am. You know, im able to articulate my people to say, well, you a lot. You have a limited vocabulary, not a pretty good vocabulary, but sometimes those words just bring home. But no, but yes, ive gotten feedback and i actually got a message from a coworker tuesday night that they saw my message on my interview on the view and this person is no longer with the force because of january, not physically just mostly cant do the job anymore and said that they they struggle getting out of bed every morning and. Seeing me still fight even if by myself just to tell the truth inspire people or it makes it easier for them to get out of. And i respond to them because thats what its all about, you know, i, i was telling meredith the way in here that is your publicist meredith, i got a text from a coworker that at right now and people just want to say that the shooting that happened last night in maine and he just wanted to talk to me about it and how i become this person that you just want to talk about. Before all this, it was just and, you know, new music. But now, you know, just getting that message from people that want to open up about any and everything. And thats its because it lets one lsp know that im not the one that are having these feelings and i guess thats what makes them okay because theyre having these feelings and they like theyre not the only one either. So hmm. Theres part of this. You just raised about reaction in talk about a coworker. What kind of have you received in Law Enforcement community to talk about that and . Because you you talked in a previous conversation as we were prepping that you were speaking before National Organization for black Law Enforcement officers and forth. What is it been mixed, good, bad talk about it is as divide it as this country is it is as divided as this country is on six. There was actually a Police Officer active Police Officer from chicago who got charged and the fop lawyers represented him in court after january six. And obviously, we you know, we kept the Capitol Police had an individual charged with i know exact charges, but he was telling an individual that he agreed with what happened. And, you know you need to delete this off your social media. So yeah, its been but i get messages all the time from coworkers you know, keep it up bro. I dont know how. You do it. Keep going. So its definitely mixed. Has anyone ever you a traitor or betrayal or anything . No. They say im cloud seeking clout. You know, they youre seeking clout and youre doing this because of all the media appearances, every single time that ive gotten awards on tv, all of those acknowledged to my coworkers. So for anybody to say that, thats 100 disingenuous. Its wrong because all i do is uplift my coworkers. I dont speak negative about them and i, you know, try to share the spotlight, give them the opportunities that ive been blessed with. But its definitely been mixed, as divided as this country. But has that changed the relationship, say, specifically within the africanamerican, which has a very complicated relationship with the police historically historically . Yeah, i, i did a podcast. Michael, harriet, michael. Harry is unapologetically black and black. Everything, you know. Yeah, yeah. He but he said it from the jump one he would never expect to have a Police Officer on, his podcast and but thats the kind of thats thing we need to have those discussions because living in this divided world you know im not trying to be the unifier. Right. But those kind of discussions need to happen. And they also need to be received with understanding, empathy and compassion, because people talk to each other all they want and they walk away. I hate him. I hate him. And what we talk. Oh, but people need to seek actual understanding for a difference to be made. Another part of the book, you try to lay out a bunch of history nuggets out there. Yeah. What were you trying to do in in sort of planting those historic cold seeds . In short, to say the saying nothing new. This stuffs been happening for years. I mean, at a coming back from the view last night i was talking the driver and thank you for appearing my employers of course of course but we were talking about you know, life, liberty, pursuit of and, you know, life and property is what he started with that and that saying had around for a while black people when they say all men are created they were talking about people and all men are created equal. But at that time, black people were considered property, so all men are created equal. Then apply black people at that time, whether know you could splice it up how you would. Thats the actual fact of it. Or women, correct . Yeah. And i talk about that in the book, but this aint nothing new. These are in felt this entitlement. Donald trump still doesnt think he did anything wrong. The people who attacked the cab think they did they didnt do anything wrong. Its their sense of entitlement thats existed because of our history that theyve been in boat and by their history our history. Its not our its all of our history and its still rears its ugly head today. It still exists today. But thats the thats the point of bringing up those historical events that this aint nothing new but but that historical event, those historical events collectively also dip into deeply. And you talk a little bit about the michael harriot discussion into, the issue of race on a number of interviews, you have stated squarely that the january six insurrection was not a act. Im to challenge you on. Okay, why . I dont think that they got together and said, well, let me back up my white coworkers got their up to that. So thats why i dont think it was a racist fueled event. They were racist. There are a lot of them, but i dont think the premise of that, the premise of that day was entitlement and they wanted disenfranchize and say, yo, no yall. When we did yall is lying. Thats what that day was about. Now, a lot of racists believe that, but i dont believe that it was you know, and also time you bring up why are you using the race card and this is just is what it is its a part of our history part of not even its a part of our current thats going on now. So so in the democracy leg of this. Youve written this book now, youve done a bunch of speeches, had a lot of interviews. What do you make of our american democracy. Youre at the press club. You can tell it. And you said the club. Yeah, right. Weve weve been asking people to be honest with for more than 160 years, is is is on life support. I guess right now its keeper a d next the nearby is it really that precarious . I think so, man. I think so i dont see anything that gives me real hope that its not that is that its not, you know, individuals are so so. So what . I dont know. Im trying to find right word is this sucks, you know you know in a were in a bad place now and people lost hope and people just dont really care anymore. A lot of people. I mean, just look whats going on in the house of representatives right now is, you know, just elected to speaker and look how long who without one in instead of working together to fight but you put your life on the line every day when you wear that uniform and particular rally on the 6th of january 20, 21 and the insurrection ultimately, we failed. So dont you have it . Individuals, its not these institutions thats going to hold up as individ fuels that occupy these institutes since like, who would have thought you have to give a president United States an ethics briefing. I, i mean, the individuals are people and do you know that the speaker of the house can be any joe the street. Yeah. It does not have to be it you know you dont have to be a member of congress to be the speaker of the house if, if you will. I wanted to run for speaker if got 200 that you win the speakership. Its insane. So what did you what did you actually what do you think of the the the thought that was out there that that House Republicans might have the idea of bringing in former President Trump as speaker. So im saying these thats the point that im trying to make. I think im trying to make i dont know. Im not making it the institution its run by these people. Were only strong as these individuals. We are a nation of institutions that are run by the people. Which begs the question, how do you turn it around . I dont know. I know. Like, thats the thing. These ideologies that exist and how do you defeat an ideology like i said, if donald trump goes to jail. Sure ill be happy. A great but then then what his dont go away. The idea that maga doesnt disappear, its still until the next person comes up and then is the next trump. I dont know how defeat an ideology the best disinfectant is truth and we say that around here all time and i dont know what im doing. I hope it works and im not. Like i said, im not trying to be this great uniter or but if i inspire somebody, that person inspires somebody and, you know, you youve done a lot in this time, even before you wrote the book, since january six, you testified a congressional committee. You talk in the book all the harassment, all the pain, all the everything you talk about how it impacted your family, your daughter talk about that for a moment. What are you doing. All this doing out there doing . I have a full time. Yes, yes, a full time. Yeah. Full out on top of the thing. On top of your day job. I got a full time job protecting members of congress. Its so funny that they tried to. They tried. Nope. Heres got to work. Cant do it. But you talk about in the book that youre defending some of the very same members who are denying what happened. How do you deal with struggle with that . Why do you i mean all of this . Why go back . Why put the batch back on . Because the institutions collapsed. I leave other people leave, everybody leave. These institutions start collapsing. So is this moment where you have a bigger than yourself kind of moment . I can if i toughing it out, i dont like it at all. But these institutions depend on it and im not myself being this all great one individual. But you know, a group together, you know, come together and you make it strong so. It sounds a superhero ish but the country is depending on me you know right well you know there a lot of famous athletes that say they would carry their teams on their back. Then, you feel the same way. No, i, i, im not doing it alone. Its a lot of people its a lot of harry dunns out there maybe that arent you dont know my they dont know their faces but know the men and women that i work with. Im sure, they hate it but theres a part of my question you touch. Go ahead which one. I dont, i dont know the impact of the impact on your family. Daughter oh, yeah. Daphne oh, okay. So really she was she scrolling after, after my tv appearances, my launch day, she, she texted me and i told her daddy. So she talking you like my hair. She just got her hair braided as she did. Shed say nothing about tv, never. Yes, baby, you look beautiful. Know . You see, you know, i. Shes a shy, kind girl. But except for winter, like her dads around. I guess shes, you know, she warms up, but shes a little shy, so im all this stuff. Are you going into in the in the white house . We got to go to the oval office. And shes standing there like and then finally she went Vice President harris gave her the white house, eminem and, the cookies. Now we talking, now we talk. Now she was okay. We had the white house always. The good is the cool and the adults definite. I open yeah i oh well i to do one thing before we start shifting our questions i want to ask one question is was it worth it. Yeah. You know question no, absolutely it is worth it. You know, i, i received lot of pushback. I dont talk much about it, but i even professionally i suffered a little bit and ill just leave it at that public. Ill leave it at that. But without a doubt, i would do it all over again. Without a doubt. Got some questions. I think theyre coming. The people are looking for events, cecily. I think there are people are looking for pens. So so ill grab a couple of them. And see first one. I was out of the country when january six happened what would you want for people from other. I think i cant read all the writing to learn that day and how the u. S. Needed to move forward from it. Okay real quick fun fact i met the team of astronauts from. Who were the only people that on january six who were alive on january six that werent on the earth. Yeah. Because they were above they have met the astronauts. Mr. Glover. And he was like i was, i was watching you from space, dude like hes like starting out. But no, like it was cool to meet people who were alive on january six. They werent on earth. Its crazy. But i just thought that was like, oh, man. But other countries have been people from other countries have messaged me on im always call it twitter addicts. Its twitter. Its twitter what did they say . Theyre in disbelief that this is happening because. The us is looked up to this world power. Maybe thats our own arrogance that we do that we look. Were the world and. I kind of look at think about it like what your your parenting and you know you fighting with the two married couples fighting in front of their kids and . Not in front of the kids. Not for the kids. You had the differences my close to it i the us is going through this big messy divorce in front everybody when that people are supposed to be looking up to us and. Its depressing but other countries like i said, i, i wouldnt look up to us as being the world on. But look, canada last summer, the truckers that started i mean its stuff going, going and the whole thing with brexit and other countries theres this is a this isnt a u. S. Specific problem that were dealing with here. There are global issues that i can say. I know how to fix it here. So i definitely wouldnt fix it over there. But i do that people standing up for whats right and continuing to stand there, truth and stand their ground. Yeah, thats going to. Stand their ground is. Its worth it. You know, it feels good. So i encourage people, tell your truth and tell stories and dont be downed by the backlash that you get because more people actually support than, you know you know you you as i dont fly it right you can dopo yeah yeah look good so then you know what could ten people one person sit and okay but other nine said yo you fly you look great but you focused on one individual that just makes it and we forget about the other nine thats just validated what doing we beat ourselves. So im all over the place with that answer because dont know to answer it all. Answer in the best way. You knew. Yeah, but i want to go back to something from from that answer and from others. How did jan six change you . I mean and in specif your faith, trust in humanity. So is our its okay is to wait parts of that well you how that change well before january six. You know i believed in Public Service my fathers you know a military veteran and and i believe that Public Service you know serve you be good person but now that was pre january six after january six i feel like its a duty now not just like the calling right thing to do, but its like i to do it. So i guess that goes back. Yeah, i can get on my back. I have to do it now even though i dont i dont want to do it anymore. But its kind of like i have to now. So it changed. Thats the way i dont like it now. I used to like being a cop Police Officer, but now i dont like it at all because of the things were exposed that day. But that doesnt make me like run from the challenge, i guess. But also personally to answer you know, i, i, i this big old, extroverted person and people that know me and real life can attest to that. And now im like this introverted of my former self and im working way back to the like. Ill go out in, you know, events and large crowds like bother me now. Yeah ive always been, you know, vigilant watching my back and kind of things like that. But now even around friendly people, my friends like this is too, i got to get out of here isnt this isnt good that sounds like a bit of a ptsd. Mm. Talk about that. Its rough man because i hate and you know, sometimes just go out to my truck and ill just sit back on my out a deep breath of it tear me streamed down my face and then i get it all together. I get it together and i try to try to go back to my former self. And im, you know, im working on it and im oh, god, a lot better than what i was but i still struggle at times. And its not fun. Its not fun at all. It sucks. It sounds like an advertisement for therapy. I believe in my parents put me in therapy when i was a kid and thats another thing when i was a kid. And so i guess thats why its been normal to me. But yeah, therapy sessions are crazy because sometimes they can be fun, they can be. I hate this. Sometimes they can be very you walk of there like i feel like but you unpack stuff, you dont live, you dont. We you live with it but you dont live with it bottled up inside of you. And one thing that i would say about therapy, that going to therapy doesnt make you immune from lifes traumas and trivial issues that youll experience because you will. But what it will do is give you the tools with how to process it and to unpack everything. So lifes still going to just make it suck a little less. I guess ill speak morale. You touched about touch on. I actually didnt touch on you hit it on the head about that you dont like your gig what in the wake of all the all of your appearances and all the hearings and everything is anything being done seriously in your view to help the morale of enforcement for frontline. You just made me think of Something Else too. Another reason why i stay. Because people say. Because my message. We need people like you. We need more people like you and. That resonates with me because. Like i said. What all want to do. I want to inspire people. I want to show that that resilience. See, you know another thing when you quit when you leave, thats what they want you to do it. And i want you to leave then they win and they win. So like, no, im staying in this fight, too. Also, is does a little bit of stubbornness, but like now im im right. All wrong. You leave, you leave. But going back to the say that again, what was you asking me . I my point was more important than. Your question. No, no. There are no thats what i dont know if youre talking whether or not morale enough is being done for the morale of frontline and Law Enforcement and. Thats not a institution as far as like agencies, Police Officers. But if you look across the country finding people to do Public Service even in the military is people are given ridiculous hiring bonuses for people just to and i think i think thats the kind of whats one of the reasons why we have the issue we have with policing today because not getting the people that are doing it for the right reason you know you throw 20,000 at somebody whos struggling, should i take it . And now theyre a cop. They dont even know why theyre they signed up for it. So i think thats one of the reasons why we have. But i just think that is a National Humanitarian problem. The morale issues. Its not, you know, working long hours and everything like that. People people hate the police. Its just is what it is for right reasons . Sometimes. But thats thats nothing that can be fixed with, hey, hey, take an extra day off or nothing. I dont think that its a bigger than that. I hope they get a day off, so ill take it. But its a bigger conversation to be had about morale. Speaking of. Wow this is interesting what you guys have any have any as any member of congress who denied the election supported the insurrection and verbally in writing whatever apologize to you i didnt get any apologies right but i did get messages or same in person. Ill tell you a story is it former congressman now but on january six, trump supporter on january six in the rotunda after everything all the chaos expelled gave me this big hug and he we were embrace each other. Hes trump supporter supporter and to see him in the coming weeks afterwards with his maga hat on and that was disheartening but. I did get a little joy that he lost reelection. You know, i did get a little joy. The loss of reelection. Dude, you were you were in tears. I was too. And were to grown as men, embracing other in the rotunda with tears coming down our faces for you to backtrack know it was a that that hurt me but no answer quite no i didnt get necessarily apologize this but. Peter mayer the man from illinois my daughter he was a republican first time and went again he he never denied it but always was he supported. Officers and me personally, liz cheney also. You know, i disagree with her fundamentally on everything except for you know, standing up for what actually is right and whats wrong. So im appreciative of her and adam kinzinger. Kinzinger and i, we still keep we talk often. But no, i havent gotten any apologies. But there are people that see how bad we are and. They appreciate what im doing. Speaking of members of congress, would you consider Running Congress or any do that . This is you want you want me to go to i didnt ask for not enough. I mean, ive i have definitely thought about the idea of running for office, but and that would be a lot on your plate. And i dont i not now i, i dont know if i could handle it. You know im still struggling with this role that i have, whatever that is. I dont know. I dont, i, ive toyed with the idea and its still in the realm. I dont even know if i can handle it. I would want to be. Itd be to represent more people. I would i would want, but i dont know if i could do with everything that comes it. You sort of in that moment kind of you keep coming back to this. It seems like january 6th stole something from you joy joy of doing. I dont want to do all this. I, i was i dont even i want to cancel media appearances and do this and that but its important to do now. You know, i dont the joy of being a police or like i said, it was its a duty now like i have to do this i dont want to anymore but i have to as well. This sense of vulnerability, sense of opening yourself up. One question is how do you feel . How much do you feel that the the cultural on mens . I touched on it earlier foster the anger or this is different that led to the insurrection we read it again this how much do you feel first of all this questioner thanks you for your service. Welcome. How much do you feel that the cultural restriction on mens vulnerability foster the anger that led to the insurrection. On january six. Wow. Thank you, sir. Thats good question. You can take a beat yeah, im thinking im thinking about it because i never even thought about it that. Do you read it again . Im i like to think thats really man, there you go for yourself. See i, thats a good question, but i dont think that culture is thats a its a good question, man. The people that were there on january were there because of lies. But they wanted to believe those lies, though its kind of like going to a doctor. Right . And you will get. A second opinion. And if you dont like with the doubt, youll hear you get a third opinion. Fourth, until you find somebody that want you, that tells you what you want to hear and. They seek out each other like everybody there was related in some kind of in ideas go god this is a good question because its making me think now. Now im just having a, you know, having to answer questions on the spot like this. I dont really know. I dont know i dont know. But i like i like having conversations about you know if if i was in charge moderating this, i would ask you all, which i think about this and, then i would listen to answer. Then i would come back, answer it. But i dont know. But theres so the cultural restrictions thats huge there and vulnerability foster anger and lets man that is a really good question. Whoever wrote this please find me after i would to think about it. You can park and come back. I would love to yeah thats good. Well, if former President Trump is nominated again and beats current President Biden could you see another insurrection or other entitlement fueled issue happening again . Not by the left have common sense. But yeah, i mean of man like you know the my my mission to seek out accountability and accountability is to prevent people from doing things again. And until we have had which we have not yet at the top. Whats to stop it from happening again . Like i said, like i said earlier, donald trump think that he did was right. He doesnt think he did anything wrong. If you still have that mindset and absolutely it can happen again and that also. But that that sounds almost. Yes, because and i think about this because i a week ago i was back at my alma guest lecturing for the current generation of college students. Some of them are hopeful, some of them not so. What but talk about the notion of dealing. You talked about ideology of how to challenge the notion that the culture of propaganda, how do you challenge that ideology . How do you prevent i mean, its been around forever, it just has new tools. But how do you challenge it to the point where at least you can its its on right . Its on the wrong side of being the dominant thread thats running through some of those incidents that you ticked off a little while ago of whats dropping you to think about happened with covid . Yeah. Did covid you think about you talk about deniers, you talk about people who have movements that are on lies. I like to use i like to try to use. And this one just came to me. So think of this as a big game of tug of war. Right. And the collapse, the demise is right here and you got both sides pull it and no side is going to stop pulling because you stop pulling. Its over. Youre done. Once you stop pulling, youre going to fall in that hole. We need more people to keep on getting on the back of that rope, join in and keep so they lose. Thats the only way to do it. Like i said, thats the only way. So i dont i say hopeless. We just need more people doing whats right and think about it like that. This is game of tug of war and theyre getting traction right now but we thats why this election are so important. Every single election is so important weve got to get people on the back of that rope giving us help. Like on january six, there was some magic arm, a smoke bomb we threw to make people to leave the capitol. We got control. More people showed up. We got reinforcements in the capitol, was cleared when we help. It wasnt, some magical stun gun or grenade or verbal command that we used more. People showed up and the good guys won and thats the way i look at it this country. More people got to show up. The good guys will win. So. That was pretty good. Oh, yeah . Well, was the larger question. But you also tapped on a detail that you touched on in your book, the fact that you do a you and your fellow officers at some point felt deserted, felt unprotected, felt like somebody either forgot or deliberately didnt stack the helmets, didnt didnt get you guys ready. Has there been reform in your view since then, now that youve had all this testimony with you and your fellow officers, thats to basically expose the fact that, you know, you got left hanging out there. Know what . So the one of the arguments from, the the i want to say the right the extreme right is Nancy Pelosis in charge that she did the failures and ive always said that anybody any body meaning not free from being nobody everybody who had anything to do with the failures of that day needs to be held accountable. And if that was nancy pelosi, i dont think it was ever seen anything that said that her if it was her, she needs be held accountable period. Thats what they said. But. This is some made up about being their head. It makes me so angry because the people that were there on january six, the reason feel so comfortable attacking donald trump in the manner that i do. I heard what he said and the people that were there told, us, they were there because donald trump told them to come there. I heard that. They said that donald trump said it so i dont mind attack, you know, im not going to be mad at 80 because joe broke in my and im let joe get a pass joe youre the one who did it rant over to answer your question. Yes i like i said, i just the regular front line every day officer ive seen you know, im not privy to the conversations about, you know, future planning. And but there have been. Yes, we we do take more precautions and and yeah, were yeah, weve made improvements and like said, i dont know if theyre insurrection ready. I dont know. But we have evolved. Theyve and what another question what havent you been asked during all of your public to talk about all of this that you want everyone to know whats been left unsaid . I say i want to i say what i think is that i say all these questions, not ask, but what did i. You didnt ask me stuff and im still out here talking about. No, i im my truth in my story and i dont theres anything that i maybe i havent thought of it yet, but everything that ive ever wanted to say. I have that i could say like i said im still a employed member of the federal government and im told that line carefully. But we can talk offline about a couple of things all dont seem to hold back much. See, thats being imagine if i wasnt like as im in this fight with like one armed type behind my back, you. Well the clock is ticking down so part of the format is before we get to last question were going to talk about some Upcoming Events since we have a captive audience, all here at the National Press club on friday, november 3rd, we invite you to join Associated Press videographer and director mr. Love chernof and frontline producer renee aronson. Path forward for a screening of the documentary 20 days and miracle followed by a discussion and also we have coming up on monday, november six, veteran Affairs Secretary denis mcdonough, who will speak at a National Press club headliner luncheon. You can look at the complete calendar at press dot org now in a bit of tradition. Oh right we have we usually to our headliners and you walk through the halls youve seen the president s and the prime ministers and your pitchers up there with the rest of them. Thats cool. And theyre going, oh, thats awesome. So yes, before we came out here, he signed just like the rest of them. So he up there with the astronauts and, everybody else we do you. However, the National Press club mug. So this this is been this mug as simple as it seems is hopefully reminder of the time you experienced here the fellowship you experience here knowing that you got the same mug is lonnie bunch mystique copeland, former President Trump. I want it now. No, no, no, no. Thank you. But, you know, we we we consider ourselves the great convener. Yeah. And so we bring all points of view here and we thank you for for coming here. But, but before we do that, we have one last question in in terms of the road not taken. Okay. If you did manage to become that nfl player that you talk about in the book, what team would you play for . Thats a good one i am living vicarious to my cousin now who was drafted by the cleveland browns. And you would say that to a pittsburgh and their backup quarterback. So hey, you can now everybody another hero from that day its good to see you he has a book coming out November November seven that november 7th. Good to see you, buddy. No, good to see you, man. A city is boring and keep me out of trouble. I recommend they go. They tend to go they go no i i am a i dont like the commanders because good i like them theyre the hometown team. Yeah not good. Yeah. So but i represent i would say itll be a team play for them. So magic make that call. Oh good. Theyll be there in a heartbeat, you know know. I dont know. Ive always like the raiders. That was the first. That was the first jacket that i had as a kid was a raiders starter jacket. And like the black and silver about this, like because just did their colors. Thats it. Thats the only reason i would say if i had a team well have to give you a Terrible Towel anyway. I wont. But id love to know. Anyway, we like to thank our head once again. Thank our Headliners Team led by past president on the line with jay lawyer russo team and their Club Team Members who helped this together. Tremendous staff help from our events and Program Membership events and Program Coordinator cecily scott martin. Hes all getting all of your questions. Culinary, technical and building staff led by our executive director didier. So here and our current elected Club President , Eileen Oreilly of axios and all of our almost 3000 members of the National Press club worldwide, harry dunn, you for joining us. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen. We are adjourned. Thanks forhat you silence your cell phones and it is my pleasure to introduce luke russert on his book. Look for me there. Grieving my father,

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