Guide to this week's RNC convention - & health warning. Never before has a nominee spoken each of the four nights (or for more than one). This is the Trump show not the RNC. But the roster offers a guide to the nativists, nasty types, nincompoops and nihilists who enable him.

First, the nativists. Tom Cotton and Mike Pompeo get star billings as potential successors. They are the 2024 Republican favourites. Nikki Haley is also there and stands out as one of the few who isn't a nativist. She's just a cynic, which is high praise in this company.

Thought about including Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan among the nativists. But their nastiness stood out. Ditto for Rudy Giuliani, Donald Jnr, Eric Trump and the McCloskeys (who waved their guns at BLM protestors). Rarely has such an unpleasant gathering appeared on one platform.

Trump would not be possible without the nincompoops - also well represented. His daughter, Ivanka, Rand Paul, and Ben Carson stand out. As does Kristi Noem, South Dakota's governor, who thinks Trump's likeness should be on Mt Rushmore. Kevin McCarthy's place also well earned.

Finally, the nihilists - people who know the darkness of the man but are using him anyway. The evangelist Franklin Graham tops this list next to Mitch McConnell, the Senate leader. Tim Scott too and Kellyanne Conway. Will consider adding Haley depending on her speech.

These coming four nights will be America's Leni Reifenstahl test - the director who glamorized Hitler. A collection of thugs, idiots, sycophants and neo-fascists will try to convince that Trump is God's plan for America. It will offer a case study in how dark personality cult..

..has destroyed a party and can destroy a republic if it's allowed. Today's Republicans represent the fallen angels of America's dark side. It's not the party of Abraham Lincoln. They reject modernity & profit by a house divided that in their care would ultimately topple.

Warning: We're about to witness a comic horror show with few modern parallels. It will be tempting to mock, laugh, dismiss & discount. Just as Riefenstahl's films worked for years, Trump's enablers are capable of the same. Odds are against but he's done it once & can do it again