• More well reasoned takes.

    I’m lumping the sycophants in with the leader. He is the leader. He susceptible to influence, and easy to manipulate, but give him credit. There is no way he hasn’t already had people killed. He’s had the kgb looking out for him for decades, and a lot of the people around him, too. Some of the sycophants are so shamelessly devout because they are ideological allies, some, it’s because they’re compromised. Someone, maybe, got to their families. Too loose of an end for my tastes, and I think those around Biden would see it similarly. I hope you’re right for everyone’s sake. I think you understate Trump’s role in the criminal enterprise and his willingness to use violence.