This is the same dynamic that played out in 2021, when educated Americans, people in journalism, academia, and politics, refused to accept what January 6 implied: that someone had actively tried to overthrow democracy. So they told themselves it was just riled-up MAGA rubes, and looked away.
This is exactly what happened. The press are the most guilty, because they should know better and covered for these monsters of deceit.
Right, who brought the bear spray? Why the secret meetings Jan 5th? Why did Pence refuse to get in the car?
US elites told a comforting, false story: only Trump was guilty; he "instigated" his followers. Even though the followers had to be prodded and subsidized to get to DC. Though Trump's allies in Congress knew to delay the count. Though the doors at the Capitol were breached in eerie synchronicity.
Liz Cheney will rot in hell for essentially saying it was off limits for congress to investigate the Republican Party that made the insurrection possible and instead had to focus entirely on Trump's actions alone.
And, they're back.
Though it's standard all over the world for would-be autocrats to run astroturfed "uprisings" with useful idiots steered by organizers. And Trump's own inner circle had run those kind of events - in Ukraine. But... not in the US, the pundits said. It can't happen here! We are special! But we aren't.
Absolutely. This was a massive failure by the “serious” people. They basically all closed their eyes and pretended it was the 90’s again.