Michael Fanone, a former DC Metropolitan Police officer who was severely injured while defending the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, attack, attended the televised congressional hearing on January 22, 2026, where former special counsel Jack Smith testified publicly for the first time about his investigations into Donald Trump (including election interference and classified documents matters). Fanone was seated prominently in the front row alongside other Jan. 6 responding officers like Harry Dunn, Aquilino Gonell, and Daniel Hodges, there to show support for Smith and emphasize the ongoing significance of the events.
The significance of Fanone wearing a Dropkick Murphys T-shirt stems from the specific design visible during the hearing: it read "Fighting Nazis since 1996" (referencing the year the band formed). This was widely noted and celebrated on social media and in coverage as a pointed, symbolic statement. In the context of the hearing—focused on Trump's actions, the 2020 election subversion efforts, and the Jan. 6 riot (often described by critics as an insurrection with far-right/extremist elements)—the shirt served as a subtle but visibleanti-fascistor anti-authoritarian message. It aligned with Fanone's outspoken criticism of Trump and MAGA-aligned politics, framing the broader political moment as a fight against extremism or authoritarianism.
Dropkick Murphys, a Boston-based Celtic punk band formed in 1996, are known for their working-class roots, pro-union stance, and blue-collar ethos. Their political positions lean left-leaning and pro-labor but don't fit neatly into partisan boxes:
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Strongly pro-union and pro-working class, often highlighting labor rights, solidarity, and opposition to corporate exploitation.
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Anti-racist andanti-fascist, with lyrics and statements rejecting bigotry and division.
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Critical of Donald Trump and MAGA/"fake populism," viewing it as a con on working people that delivers benefits to the ultra-wealthy while dividing the working class along cultural lines (e.g., identity politics, "woke" grievances). Frontman Ken Casey has called it a "class war" disguised as a culture war, accused Trump of authoritarian tendencies, and emphasized that punk rock and Trump/MAGA don't mix.
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They've taken concrete actions like cutting ties with promoters who supported Trump financially and publicly pushing back against MAGA fans at shows.
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They support police and military in some contexts (unorthodox for punk), but this stems from their working-class Boston background rather than broad right-wing alignment.
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They've endorsed some Republicans (e.g., moderate former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018) but are vocally anti-Trump, especially during his second term, framing resistance as defending democracy and working people.
Overall, the shirt choice amplified the hearing's optics for those viewing Smith's work and Jan. 6 accountability through an anti-extremism lens, with Dropkick Murphys' brand adding a layer of punk defiance and working-class anti-fascist messaging. It went viral quickly among viewers and commentators as a bold, on-brand statement from Fanone.
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