The Big Story: History Will Judge Trump’s Enablers Harshly

What would it take for Republican senators to admit that Trump’s “loyalty cult” is a stain on the nation?

In her cover story for The Atlantic, staff writer Anne Applebaum draws upon history to assess why conservative leaders have supported President Trump even as his lies are exposed.

“First Trump’s enablers accepted lies about the inauguration; now they accept terrible tragedy and the loss of American leadership in the world. Worse could follow. Come November, will they tolerate—even abet—an assault on the electoral system: open efforts to prevent postal voting, to shut polling stations, to scare people away from voting?” Applebaum writes. “Each violation of our Constitution and our civic peace gets absorbed, rationalized, and accepted by people who once upon a time knew better.”

Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum joined editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg for a conversation about what it would take for Republican senators to admit that Trump’s “loyalty cult” is a stain on the nation.