People have been bandying about the word “coup,” and yes, I’m listening. Yes, I’m concerned. But I think there is one thing none of us have considered. It’s a wild variable, but it could affect the calculus of Trump and his minions thinking they could overthrow the democratic order.

That thing is COVID-19. If people go out like idiots next week, it’s entirely likely that by the second week in December, we will have so many people sick, so many hospitals full, so… you get what I mean.

I do not know what this means for settling the legitimate succession. But COVID-19 has put a monkey wrench into so much this year. Who knows what kind of effect it might have on getting things moving for the next presidency? (Yes, I am being optimistic. I have to be.)