First Thing: Primetime January 6 Congressional hearings to begin | First Thing

Democrats hope movie-length episodes will really blow the roof off the House'. Plus, the brutal impact of the Salvadoran government's crackdown on gangs

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Good morning.

When the US House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection opens its hearings on Thursday evening, it will do so in prime time and with primetime production values. The seven Democrats and two Republicans - shunned by their own party - who sit on the panel are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to seize the public's attention.

A former president of ABC News, James Goldston, a veteran of Good Morning America, will tightly choreograph the six public hearings into movie-length episodes. Democratic committee members have said they want a story that will really blow the roof off the House".

What about the Republicans? The party's leadership is counting on the American people being so bored by January 6 and distracted by Ukraine, inflation and other worries that millions will avoid tuning in. But opinion poll research suggests they should not be too confident.

Is the date for the testimonies fixed? The Trumps have until 13 June to submit a request for the court of appeals to postpone their testimony.

What has Trump said about the probe? The former president, who is not accused of criminal wrongdoing, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has called it a witch-hunt".