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Public Safety

Roundtable: Trump Supporters Storm US Capitol

People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
Andrew Harnik / AP
People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
Calls grow for President Donald Trump's removal from office after deadly protest by supporters at the U.S. Capitol, the role social media played in organizing this week's chaos in Washington, and the worsening COVID-19 situation in San Diego County.

Chaos At The U.S. Capitol

What is usually a mundane, ceremonial counting of the electoral college vote descended into chaos Wednesday when supporters of President Donald Trump overpowered police and raided the U.S. Capitol. Several people died in the related violence, including a woman from San Diego. KPBS reporter Amita Sharma joins us to talk about the sad spectacle and the renewed calls for President Trump to be removed from office in his final weeks on the job.

RELATED: Reps. Jacobs, Vargas Describe A ‘Horrifying Wednesday,’ Call For Consequences For Trump

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How Social Media Fuels Extremism

Much of the cult of personality that made Wednesday’s chaos possible is grown on social media platforms, both mainstream and fringe. Many companies are now limiting President Trump’s preferred mode of communication, seemingly drawing a line after years of whipping up lies and misleading his followers. The Union-Tribune’s Andrew Dyer has covered local online extremism and how it's often tethered to our fractured political climate.

RELATED: Former DHS Official: Trump Pouring ‘Fuel On The Fire’ Of Domestic Extremism

San Diego's Local COVID Situation Worsens

Case numbers are surging, deaths are up, the vaccine rollout is slow, and the city is stepping up enforcement. San Diego’s COVID-19 situation is escalating in the early days of 2021, making it unlikely that we’ll see a return to normal anytime soon. KPBS health reporter Tarryn Mento joins us to discuss the struggle in getting the virus under control.

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RELATED: San Diego County Opening Regional COVID-19 ‘Vaccination Pods’

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.