1/ This is not a coup. Coups are military actions; what’s happening now is part of a semi-normal political process. But it is now clear much of the US power structure - especially the media - hates this president so much they are committed to destroying him at any cost.

2/ Keep schools closed next fall while THE REST OF THE WORLD opens them? So be it. Foment panic over a virus that has killed a total of 9,000 Americans under 55 in four months? Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Ignore a huge rise in crime this spring? No worries...

3/ Openly attack the handful of media outlets that won’t follow the narrative? Check check. Pressure big tech/social media companies to impose their own censorship? Done and done. Ignore a generation of scientific advice to justify draconian lockdowns? Absolutely!

4/ The best analogy I can think of here is the 1996 Russian presidential election, when the Russian power structure decided that Yeltsin HAD to win, that a Communist couldn’t be allowed to be elected.

5/ And ultimately Yeltsin did win. And maybe that was the right choice; I don’t know enough about Russia to guess either way. But the lies and propaganda destroyed whatever chance Russia’s democracy had and set the stage for Vladimir Putin. Be careful what you wish for.