1/ Catching up but: If McConnell made clear that he'd hold up Covid relief and nominations and all Senate business if Dems called witnesses—after he'd announced his and other votes to acquit were forgone conclusion—their decision not to is clear.

2/ The House managers have made a compelling case. Nobody is moving to acquit in good faith. The fact-patterns for Trump and his enablers will only get worse. And their cravenness will stand against that backdrop, as hearings and court cases proceed.

3/ McConnell, while Leader, had already maneuvered to delay the trial until after inauguration given the Republicans their fig leaf of an out—claiming (falsely) that the process couldn't proceed once Trump was out of office.

He'll stop at nothing. He's announced his vote.

4/ Both politically and morally, Covid relief is paramount. A process morass when the outcome was preordained would not accomplish much, legally or politically imho.

The legal fights will continue. In courts where the jury is not nullified.

5/ A lot of responses to this are presuming the Ds have tools that they do not. 67 votes in this case, for starters. The only slim chance at that would be if McConnell had whipped votes. He considered, or pretended to, but did not. The outcome was clear.

6/ The GOP is also on trial. Because is will acquit itself of its crimes does not diminish the damning case put forth. Indeed, like other miscarriages of justice, it only amplifies it.

The country is not fighting one snake, but a hydra, one born long before 2015.