WASHINGTON — The House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight has released previously unseen video footage from January 6, 2021, recorded by filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, showing then–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi discussing responsibility for security failures at the U.S. Capitol.
The footage, obtained from HBO, was posted publicly by the subcommittee on Tuesday. According to Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), the material had been in the possession of the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6 attack but was never released or archived at the conclusion of the 117th Congress.
Loudermilk said the subcommittee sought the footage directly from HBO after it was not transferred to Republican leadership when the GOP assumed control of the House in January 2023.
The video, filmed as Pelosi was being evacuated from the Capitol during the breach, includes the former Speaker saying, “I take responsibility,” in reference to the security situation at the Capitol that day.
“As Nancy Pelosi was being evacuated from the Capitol on January 6, 2021, she admitted that, as Speaker of the House, she was responsible for the security failures and for not having the National Guard at the Capitol,” Loudermilk said in a statement accompanying the release.
Republican Criticism of the January 6 Select Committee
Republicans on the Oversight Subcommittee argue that the video contradicts the public narrative advanced by the House January 6 Select Committee, which was chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) with then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) serving as vice chair.
Loudermilk accused the select committee of selectively presenting evidence and spending approximately $20 million in taxpayer funds to place primary responsibility for the events of January 6 on former President Donald Trump.
“The Democrats’ partisan select committee went to great lengths to suppress and hide evidence that didn’t support their predetermined narrative about that day,” Loudermilk said, referring specifically to the newly released footage.
Pelosi’s Responsibility and Public Statements
Republicans contend the video shows Pelosi privately acknowledging her role in Capitol security oversight while never publicly accepting responsibility afterward. They argue the creation of the January 6 Select Committee served to redirect blame away from House leadership.
Pelosi has previously rejected claims that she was responsible for the security failures and said decisions regarding National Guard deployment rested with the Capitol Police Board and other executive branch officials.
On MSNBC earlier this week, Pelosi accused Republicans of attempting to rewrite the history of January 6. The Oversight Subcommittee says the newly released video undercuts that claim.
“This clip reinforces what Republicans have said for years,” Loudermilk said. “It is Speaker Pelosi who sought to revise history and shift responsibility for security failures at the Capitol.”
Ongoing Investigation
The subcommittee says it will continue reviewing evidence related to January 6 and plans to make additional materials public as they are obtained. A copy of the letter sent to HBO requesting the footage was also released.
Trump Touts ‘Warrior Dividend’ as Millions of Troops Receive Holiday Pay Boost 
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced an immediate cash bonus for U.S. service members in a surprise prime-time address, unveiling what he called a “Warrior Dividend” just days before Christmas.
Under the plan, roughly 1.45 million active-duty and reserve troops will receive a one-time payment of $1,776, a figure chosen to commemorate the year of America’s founding.
Payments Moving Quickly
Speaking from the White House, Trump said the payments are already being processed and are expected to reach service members’ bank accounts within days.
“In honor of our nation’s founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776,” Trump said, crediting higher-than-expected federal revenue. “Checks are already on the way.”
The total cost of the program is estimated at approximately $2.6 billion, providing a financial boost to military families just ahead of the holidays.
Where the Money Comes From
While the President attributed the funding to increased tariff revenue, administration officials later clarified that the payments are primarily being financed through previously approved legislation, including allocations within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
, signed earlier this year.
According to officials, the funds were originally designated as a supplement to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and have been redirected to deliver a direct, one-time cash bonus instead.
Regardless of the funding mechanics, the move marks a rare instance of immediate, across-the-board cash payments to military personnel outside of routine pay adjustments.
Recruitment Rebound Highlighted
Trump also used the address to emphasize what he described as a sharp turnaround in military recruitment.
“We now have record enlistment in our military,” the President said, contrasting current figures with recruitment shortfalls reported in prior years.
Pentagon data shows that the Army met its fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals months ahead of schedule, following significant challenges in 2023 and 2024. Defense officials attribute the rebound to a mix of increased incentives, policy changes, and broader economic conditions.
Political and Practical Impact
The announcement was met with widespread attention inside the Pentagon, where officials acknowledged they were given limited advance notice of the prime-time reveal. Lawmakers from both parties reacted cautiously, with supporters praising the bonus as recognition of service, while critics questioned the long-term budget implications.
For the troops receiving the payment, however, the debate is largely academic.
As one defense official put it, “For service members checking their accounts this week, it’s a tangible benefit — not a talking point.”
With the holiday season underway, the “Warrior Dividend” stands as one of the most direct financial gestures toward the armed forces in recent years — and a high-profile reminder of how military policy and politics often intersect in Washington.