Greg Sargent: Trump is forcing Rs to repeatedly vote on protecting him from the law. That's bad for Rs, full stop. GOP pretending his criming is a winner is psyops. As I try to show, Dems now get this. (h/t @brianbeutler.bsky.social for making a version of this point) 7/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

An important development: Trump's criminality is becoming a genuine wedge issue against Republicans. Don't be fooled by outward shows of unity behind Dear Leader. The cracks in the facade are very clear. Let me present some evidence. 1/ (Link to piece) newrepublic.com/article/1827...

Top GOPer Accidentally Wrecks Trump’s Biggest Lie About Jack Smithnewrepublic.com As Trump presses Mike Johnson to defund the special counsel, a leading House Republican dissents. Is Trump’s criminality becoming a wedge issue against the GOP?

People overlooked this. But when Rep Mike Simpson, a very senior GOPer, told Playbook that he opposes defunding Jack Smith, he also directly undermined the entire Trump/GOP argument that the prosecutions are the illegitimate work of the Deep State. 2/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

This is a big deal. A top GOPer essentially admitted Jack Smith is operating within his legit institutional role. As Jamie Raskin told me: "Mike Simpson just destroyed MAGA-world’s argument that Trump’s prosecution...is fraudulent or in bad faith." 3/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

More from Jamie Raskin on Rep Mike Simpson opposing the defunding of Jack Smith: “Other Republicans should follow Simpson and stop demonizing the justice system and the rule of law." This is how Trump’s criming is becoming a wedge against the GOP. 4/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

More evidence that Trump's criminality is becoming a wedge: Vulnerable House Republicans are balking at voting for all the craven things Mike Johnson is offering to shield Trump from the law. This has happened numerous times now. Evidence below. 5/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

Trump's ritual humiliation of Rs like McConnell on the Hill is all about forcing them to *act as if* the politics of Trump's criming favors the GOP/isn't an issue. This is spin. The real tell is vulnerable Rs not wanting to vote for shielding Trump. 6/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

Trump is forcing Rs to repeatedly vote on protecting him from the law. That's bad for Rs, full stop. GOP pretending his criming is a winner is psyops. As I try to show, Dems now get this. (h/t @brianbeutler.bsky.social for making a version of this point) 7/ newrepublic.com/article/1827...

A link to the full argument at @tnr.bsky.social is below. 8/8 newrepublic.com/article/1827...

Top GOPer Accidentally Wrecks Trump’s Biggest Lie About Jack Smithnewrepublic.com As Trump presses Mike Johnson to defund the special counsel, a leading House Republican dissents. Is Trump’s criminality becoming a wedge issue against the GOP?

Call them out. Democrats have been doing this for years, but only other Republicans can do this if y’all want to save your party. We can kiss and make up later.

Well...... maybe. 😉

Here's hoping Dems finally, truly get it and stick with it. I'm amazed it took them this long and even more amazed that top Dem strategists still believe "going high" leads anywhere.

Spot on! The fetish with norms and a hard-on for decorum in the face of the reckless GOP has led to many a snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory for Democrats. They do not seem to learn.

So Biden's team might actually be punching Trump in the nuts?

Post