Washington insiders role-played a second Trump presidency. Can it save democracy?

[erronis]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/30/washington-dc-role-play-second-trump-term

It is the afternoon of 20 January 2025 and Donald Trump is in his White House dining room, glued to the same TV where he sat transfixed as the January 6 attack on the US Capitol unfolded four years ago. This morning, he completed one of the most spectacular political comebacks in US history, reciting the oath of office at the inauguration ceremony that returned him to the most powerful job on Earth.

His political resurrection has caused turmoil in the transition period, and massive anti-Trump demonstrations have erupted in several big cities. In his inaugural address, the 47th president makes clear his intention to deal with his detractors: “They are rioting in the streets. We are not safe. Make our cities safe again!” he commands.

The peaceful marches are portrayed on Fox News, the channel he is watching, as anarchic disorder. Trump grows increasingly incensed, and that evening calls his top team into the situation room with one purpose in mind: to end the demonstrations by any means necessary.

“I need to make sure that our streets are safe from those who are running amok trying to overthrow our administration,” he tells the group of top law enforcement, national security and military officials. A flicker of alarm ripples through the room as the president cites the Insurrection Act, saying it allows him to call up the national guard in key states to suppress what he calls the “rebellion”.

Discerning the concern among his top officials, Trump gives them an ultimatum. He is in no mood to compromise or stand down – he did that in his first term in the face of “deep state” opposition. “I have been charged by the American people to make this country great again,” he states, “and I need to know right now that everybody in this room is on board.”

The scenario was imaginary, but the discussion around it was very real.

Keisler, the former acting US attorney general, said that the wargame he attended shook him more than he had expected: “Do I think there’s a genuine jeopardy to our democracy? Absolutely. Do I think the country is ready for it? No. Do I think it’s guaranteed to end well? No.”

He added: “And this was just a game. Then there’s real life, and that’s ahead of us.”

[Kid Berwyn]

1. We need to take action now.

We the People must have fully briefed and well-informed state and federal election officials, field armies of election and civil rights attorneys, poll monitors and vote tabulation watchers, election data specialists, trained writers and reporters, etc etc etc….

Don’t give the cheaters and traitors from SCrOTUS We the Donald on down to the lowly and crooked MAGA slate for the local school board even a slice of wiggle room in which to cheat. Democracy depends on us — We the People.