Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.

The chaos unfolded slowly, but jolted like an earthquake. At first it was hard to believe it was actually happening, even if it seemed obvious it could happen. First we watched an indignant mob of Trump supporters, high on the president’s speech, overtake barricades surrounding the Capitol building. Then they were closer to the Capitol doors. Then inside. Then in the House and Senate chambers and congressional offices.

For several hours on Wednesday afternoon, the day Congress met to ratify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, the United States Capitol was overrun by rioters, insurrectionists, seditionists, Trumpists. The photographers covering the melee—both from inside the building and among the crowd outside—faced a chaotic, hostile situation, but made incredible, important photos throughout it all. Here are just a few. 

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they gather at the US Capitol.

Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty

Members of the mob clash with police and security forces.

Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty

People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber.

Andrew Harnik/AP

Trump supporters remove a barricade separating them from police officers.

Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty

A man calls on Trump supporters to raid the building as they try to storm the US Capitol.

Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty

Police and security forces release teargas to try and disperse the mob.

Samuel Corum/Getty

Police try to hold off Trump supporters at a barricade in front of the Capitol.

Julio Cortez/AP

A Trump supporter wears a gas mask inside the US Capitol.

Brendan Smialowski/AFT/Getty

Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty
Jose Luis Magana/AP

Rioters attempt to enter the Capitol at the House steps during a joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty

Trump supporters in the scaffolding outside the Capitol.

Jose Luis Magana/AP

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and other members take cover as protesters attempt to disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty

Rioters break into the US Capitol.

Win McNamee/Getty

A rioter is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber.

Win McNamee/Getty

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty

A Trump supporter sits inside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after breaking into the US Capitol.

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty

US Capitol Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

A rioter who broke into the Capitol howls inside the Senate Chamber.

Win McNamee/Getty

A flag hangs between windows shattered by Trump supporters who streamed into the Capitol building.

John Minchillo/AP

 

WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

Wow.

And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

About that: It’s unfathomably hard in the news business right now, and we came up about $28,000 short during our recent fall fundraising campaign. We simply have to make that up soon to avoid falling further behind than can be made up for, or needing to somehow trim $1 million from our budget, like happened last year.

If you can, please support the reporting you get from Mother Jones—that exists to make a difference, not a profit—with a donation of any amount today. We need more donations than normal to come in from this specific blurb to help close our funding gap before it gets any bigger.

payment methods

WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

Wow.

And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

About that: It’s unfathomably hard in the news business right now, and we came up about $28,000 short during our recent fall fundraising campaign. We simply have to make that up soon to avoid falling further behind than can be made up for, or needing to somehow trim $1 million from our budget, like happened last year.

If you can, please support the reporting you get from Mother Jones—that exists to make a difference, not a profit—with a donation of any amount today. We need more donations than normal to come in from this specific blurb to help close our funding gap before it gets any bigger.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate