Adam Kinzinger Wants You to Know His January 6th Story 

Adam Kinzinger is known for his unwavering stance against election misinformation. The former congressman and Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard wants you to know more about his January 6th story. He joins Mark Becker, host of Rational Revolution, to discuss the tumultuous waters of American politics as it relates to the violence on January 6th and the continuing claims about it today.  

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Listen to the complete episode here. You can also watch it at the end of this article.

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Kinzinger describes frightening moments of uncertainty in the midst of the chaos caused by the insurrectionists. He even considered defending himself in his office with a gun. 

“I literally have it out on my desk and I’m entertaining the fact I may have to defend myself,” he explains.

Kinzinger also recounts one intern’s quick thinking and a narrow escape from disaster when the ballots could have been destroyed by rioters.

The conversation turns to broader issues playing out within the Republican Party today. Kinzinger points at leaders like Kevin McCarthy for continuing to push false narratives about a stolen election four years ago. 

“These false claims are still dividing the nation,” he says. “And the party’s refusal to confront it represents a deep betrayal of the values that I once believed in.”

He also holds on to the knowledge that America was dangerously close to a constitutional crisis on January 6th. And Kinzinger warns about the consequences of undermining democratic institutions.

Through it all, there’s a constant state of reflection. He is focusing on the challenges of standing up for what is right – even if it means losing his place in his party and his community. 

“People, more than they fear death, they fear being kicked out of a tribe,” Kinzinger explains. “There is a personal cost of standing by your principles.”

Kinzinger’s openness provides insight into the moral compass of a man who refuses to turn away from his responsibility, even when the path may be the hardest.

His book, Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country, offers a powerful look at the ongoing struggle for truth and integrity in a divided political landscape. You can learn more about it here.

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Watch the entire episode of Rational Revolution:

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