We’re Allowed to Be Here

There are a few names closely associated with the aftermath of January 6. Donald Trump, of course. The “QAnon Shaman,” for obvious reasons. And Ashli Babbitt. She was the only person shot by a Capitol Police officer that day, after she climbed through a broken glass panel. Almost immediately, rioters who witnessed her shooting recognized its symbolism. Myths began to spring up about her life. Trump began to mention her at rallies, and raised suspicion around the circumstances of her death. Two years later, this mythologizing crashed into our mundane domestic reality when we, two journalists who are also partners, went on a dog walk and got into a verbal altercation with some neighbors. We soon realized that one of these neighbors was Babbitt’s mother. Her name is Micki Witthoeft, and she moved to Washington, D.C., in an attempt to restore her daughter’s reputation, and to help rewrite the history of January 6. In this new six-part podcast series, we get to know Witthoeft and her mission. She is many things to many people—“Mama Micki” to the January 6 perpetrators, mother of a dead domestic terrorist to others. But to us, she’s something else; she’s our neighbor. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices