Mar-a-Lago and the Brokenness of American Politics
Mar-a-Lago
One Big Thing
Unless you smashed all your devices with rocks, you are well aware that the FBI, warrant in hand, entered Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence on Monday. Kimberly Wehle, writing for The Bulwark, has a great article answering five big questions surrounding the raid. Wehle notes that while there is a lot we do not know about the search, including the reason for it, we should 1) not be surprised "given everything we know about Trump's maniacal lawlessness" and 2) this is a serious legal process. For Trump to be served a warrant, top brass in the FBI and the DOJ had to sign off on the search. And then an independent federal judge had to agree that there was enough reason to suspect that searching Mar-a-Lago would result in evidence of a suspected crime. The FBI does not simply walk into Mar-a-Lago without a multitude of checks and balances.
None of this seems to matter to the usual, and not so typical, suspects surrounding Trump's orbit. In his Morning Shots newsletter, Charlie Sykes provided evidence of all those in the GOP who are doing everything from crying foul to calling for the abolition of the FBI. It is no shock to see these kinds of tweets from Marjorie Taylor Green, but Marco Rubio joining the chorus demonstrates just how insidious Trump's hold is on much of the GOP. And we should be clear: Trump's influence is insidious. Not that we need more proof, but Ben Collins, Senior Reporter at NBC News, is reporting that Pro-Trump forums are as violent as he has seen them since before Jan 6th.
With all this in the air, there is a temptation to gloat or, at least, smirk at Trump's apparent misfortune. But, as David French points out in Tuesday's French Press, we would be wise to practice caution in our reactions to this FBI raid. French points out that there is still much we do not know and that information may become more important than what we currently know. However, that is not the only reason to be slow to form a judgment or take pleasure in this turn of events.
Much has been said about Trump's impact on our politics. It's true that he smashed through precedents like a bull in a china shop. Trump certainly tested and often succeeded in destroying the guardrails of our democracy. Because of Donald Trump's influence, what was once a viable Republican party is now essentially a party of sycophants who often go against what they believe in hopes their king will view them favorably. And this does not even touch Trump's preference for mocking, demeaning, and belittling anyone he views as an opponent or just a minor inconvenience to getting his way.
Knowing the former president's character, it is easy to see this raid and any potential outcome as a reason to celebrate, but we must be careful to avoid that impulse. The danger of Donald Trump has never just been for the Republican party. There has always been an invitation for those who oppose Trump to mirror his wickedness and vile methods. To delight in Donald Trump's downfall would allow him to win a different battle: the coarsening of our politics. Those who desire to stand for principled and fair politics in the United States cannot give into the desire to see "owning the libs" or "owning the deplorables" as legitimate political discourse. Trump has undoubtedly convinced those in his influence that his way is fair, but it is not and should not be treated as such.
Not to mention, to call back to mind David French's point, there is still much we do not know. We do not know everything about the raid on Trump's residence. But that is not the extent of the limits on our knowledge. Trump has caused a crisis, and the impact of that crisis is still not fully known. There is still work that needs to be done on the other side of Trump's mess to repair what is broken. There is now and will be a need for reconciliation between the main two sides of bitter political partisanship. And this does not even mention the evils of White Supremacy and political extremism that Trump has unleashed on America, all so that he may attain power. To delight in such a small action taken against Trump may feel good at the moment, but it may also make the challenge of reconciliation and repair once Trump is gone even more difficult.
Regardless of whether Trump is brought to justice, there will still be work to do, bridges to repair, and reconciliation to take place. This raid is only the beginning.