‘Watergate for streaming era’: how the January 6 panel created gripping hearings

The committee have put on hearings that feel more like a Hollywood prestige limited series than a congressional inquiry

There is a certain kind of ritual that has come to define a blockbuster congressional hearing in Washington.

The star witnesses take their seats facing the dias, swamped by photographers. The committee chairman gives a solemn opening statement, followed by a statement from the ranking member of the minority party. There is some bickering over the rules for the hearing, whether it is a sham, sometimes followed by a theatrical effort to postpone the session. Eventually, the star witness gets to speak, and parries questions from the committee members, each party asking either friendly or aggressive questions, depending on the politics. The whole thing often lasts hours and can get somewhat confusing to follow. At the end of the day, newscasts are filled with highlight reels of the can't miss moments.