Verb phrases are no longer necessary to describe the damage Trump has done to America. Nouns suffice. Standing alone like blocks of stone from a collapsed monument, they jaggedly declare that democracy in America is falling apart.

Trump has broken so many things this past year that he fears Republicans will lose the upcoming midterms. Worried that he will be impeached as a consequence, he has begun hinting that the elections might not be necessary. Having already attempted to overthrow one election, why wouldn’t he try again? This time with greater force and preparation?

His frequent deployments of untrained ICE agents in majority Democratic cities might reasonably be interpreted as rehearsals for their deployment during the upcoming elections, perhaps to intimidate voters; perhaps to upset voting procedures; perhaps to seize the ballot boxes, and conduct selective recounts. Or perhaps to declare the elections null and void — by fiat.

Trump seems comfortable making self-serving decisions regardless of the rules, regulations, or repercussions. Who among the sniveling arse-kissers purring in his cabinet will challenge him? Who among the gutless bottom feeders of the Republican House or Senate? Furthermore, who among the newly replaced military and JAG command, and Inspectors General, will risk their rank and retirement to engage in “constitutional combat” against their draft dodger boss?

Trump has defied Congress; he has defied the courts and ignored laws he finds obstructive to his will. Is it a stretch to imagine he might soon ignore the laws and the courts altogether? He controls a pathetic Republican party. He owns the majority of the Supreme Court. He controls the Attorney General’s office, the FBI, The Federal Judiciary. He has made an SS-like paramilitary force out of ICE and is using the National Guard and is prepared to train the U.S. military in American cities. He is prosecuting his political enemies. He is invading foreign countries. He cowers elite law firms and communications giants, reduces self-styled masters of the universe to nervous delivery boys. As Trump the predator smells the fear wafting off his groveling prey, he demands ever more. Then he mocks them.

Appalled by the magnitude of damage that Trump has inflicted on our country in one year, many Americans wonder how much more damage his fragmenting mind, narcissistic will, and rotten soul will lay at our feet. How long before he executes the next stage of his authoritarian plan? Total control of the media, the elections, the courts, the economy, the citizenry.

Trump and his army of fascist politicians and storm troopers are doing everything possible to make peaceful resistance impossible. Preposterously well-armed, they are equipped for violent confrontations with the Russian army, not suburban families. Can a Kent State style killing of protestors, be far off, followed naturally then by increasingly more violent anti-government protests? Followed, then again, by more deployments, more protests, and more killings?

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At this fragile moment, how do citizens safely protest Trump’s increasingly tyrannical behavior and still defend against his manifold efforts to hurt people and destroy our Republic? Trump’s demented pugnacity sees every challenge as a target to destroy. Trump will predictably shout “domestic terrorism” or “antifa violence” or “disrespect,” to justify increased military presence throughout Democratic states until he dominates or until he can be stopped.

On the other hand, victims of ICE harassment and brutality may eventually weary of the beatings and persistent injustice by retaliating violently themselves — angry mass riots, sniper shootings, guerilla-style attacks, reminiscent of the ‘60s.

Trump himself would welcome such escalation as an invitation to inflict even greater pain on larger numbers of people; he would not be averse to inflicting the kind of mayhem and death inflicted by Iran, China, Russia, or other totalitarian states on their citizens. Recall the pleasure with which he sat before his TV, reveling in the death and destruction on January 6th — performed for his benefit.

Political outcomes? The worst, of course is that fascist Trump might win, do away with elections, scrap the Constitution, imprison his enemies and dissidents; then, certify his dictatorship.

Or, a different outcome. Trump might be removed from his Presidency. Given the chaos of the moment, those possibilities range from enactment of the 25th Amendment, or an Impeachment, or a Stroke/Heart Attack, or an Assassination, or a 2028 Election loss.

No matter what happens within the next three years, however, America will never be the same. It will demand major reconstruction and renovation to clear the rubble left by Trump the destroyer.