Tweet thread on what happened yesterday, what the significance is, and what violence we can expect between now and inauguration (1 of 11)

2. Yesterday, Trump's children told Members of Congress to ignore their oath of office and the Constitution, and vote to overturn the election. If they did not, they were threatened with primary challengers.

3. Then, at the explicit suggestion of the President of the United States, a group moved from their initial rallying point to the Capitol.

4. The mob then violently broke into our seat of government and obstructed the certification of our election.

5. What we are now dealing with is a well-known facet of weaker democracies: a personal group of violent individuals willing to act at the behest of a political figure to intimidate opponents of whatever party.

6. Another element from weak democracies: it matters whether security forces stand on the side of democracy or with an opportunistic politician. Over the last year we have seen worrisome wavering among various forms of law enforcement who appear to back Trump's violent supporters

7. As opportunistic politicians hurt democracy, it also matters whether elites defect or stay. McConnell and his wife have finally defected - too late. But 6 Senators and 121 House Members still voiced objections after they reconvened. Numerous state parties remain with Trump.

8. Republicans can save their party from its anti-democratic slide, but they are not abandoning ship en masse. That is in part because of how Trump has changed their base.

9. A YouGov poll this morning found that 45% of Republicans believed that storming the capitol was justified, and 68% did not think it harmed democracy.

10. Meanwhile, militias, white supremacists, and Stop the Steal saw yesterday as a big win. They are using it to recruit and fundraise. DC faces a 2nd Amendment rally on Saturday, a Boogaloo Bois rally on the 17th, and a Million Militia March on Inauguration Day.

11. Yesterday, in other words, was an inflection point. By not holding the violent accountable, and by giving them constant tv coverage, they have grown bolder. The President understands he has a force he can command whether he is in power or not. We can expect more to come.