JUSTICE MATTERS

The Last Republican

STEVE PINK
USA, 2025
90 minutes, Color

In Person: Producer Chapin Wilson

The Last Republican begins and ends with a progressive filmmaker and his conservative subject ribbing each other; obviously, no political differences were harmed during the making of this film. Adam Kinzinger was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican; as a child, he had a pretend campaign headquarters in his bedroom. Then came the January 6, 2021, insurrection against the peaceful transfer of power that the Illinois Representative, almost alone among his party, remained clear-eyed about. As one of two Republicans on the House Select Committee to investigate the attack, Kinzinger became a media idol for the left and a target for dangerous elements on the right. But if he wanted to be a hero—after 9/11, he did join the Air National Guard—this was not what he had in mind. In a wide-ranging conversation, he shares bitter insights into how, when, and why his party failed democracy.—Judy Bloch