At minimum, GA losses were the only way to substantially affect political perception of Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, which could deter future attempts. “We tried that and it cost us the Senate,” is going to be hardened conventional wisdom among many R’s now.

Whereas it seemed quite possible yesterday — even likely, to some — that the opposite would happen: R’s would win thanks to fired up base turnout among Trump supporters, thus encouraging others to pursue even more anti-democratic tactics and rhetoric.

None of this is going to change the immediate situation or people’s minds who are deep in the Trump universe. But there’s an enormous difference between shaming elected R’s and partisan commentators into not doing something and demonstrating they’ll lose votes if they do it.

People were still routinely citing political backlash to FDR’s court packing attempt 80+ years later (!) to oppose current efforts because it was their first association with the idea. Sweaty autogolpe attempt = party civil war, D turnout through roof, is now going to have a run.