Biden called the Capitol insurrectionists "domestic terrorists" and condemned the wrecker as the enemy of the Constitution.

This suggests he has dropped the idea of letting the wrecker off the hook. I am very glad.

Democratic politicians and progressive groups are calling for Pence and the cabinet to declare the wrecker unfit and remove him from office, which they have the power to do. I would support this call, except for one thing: Pence would become president and might pardon the wrecker straightaway.

If Pence were committed not to pardon him, then I would support it.

Impeaching the wrecker now would run into similar problems. Appropriate though it would be in principle, prosecuting him later is more important than whatever we do to him for the next 12 days.

Reporting on the insurrectionist mob at the Capitol.

Some of the insurrectionists attacked journalists.

The heat of the eastern Mediterranean is quickly wiping out the molluscs that live there.

As global heating proceeds, the extinction of molluscs will spread to more areas of the sea.

The wrecker spoke to crowd of his supporters in DC and sent them to attack the Capitol. They broke in by force and interrupted Congress, and tried to take over the building.

Violence against the US under a Confederate flags declares treason as well as racism.

Rebecca Solnit: * I call it a coup attempt because, though I assume that it will not prevent the Biden presidency, it certainly intended to.*

I agree.

Using rioters in the streets alongside action by insiders is common practice in coup attempts. That worked, temporarily, in Bolivia in 2018. I think it was employed in Czechoslovakia in 1948. I am sure there are other examples that don't come to my mind now.

I criticize Solnit on one point. She repeatedly describes the actions of the coup supporters as "white male rage." That is an unjust racist/sexist generalization: it falsely imputes that attitude to all white males. Bernie Sanders is a white male; so are various other progressive leaders. So is Biden. They do not participate in that "white male rage". I am not of Sanders's stature, but I too have rejected that attitude all my life.

This stereotype is just as wrong as the hostile stereotypes about blacks and about women, which I am sure Solnit would call out.

Since the violent insurrection at the Capitol was overcome, a number of Republican officials have denounced the wrecker and his coup attempt. Some have, it seems, dropped their support for their part in it.

Ilhan Omar is preparing to impeach the wrecker again. I share her disgust for him, but would this do any good?

The first impeachment was ineffective because the Republicans in the Senate protected him. Is it worth trying again? Perhaps now enough Republican senators are ready to remove him from office. If not, some Republican support for impeachment — if there is any — might educate Republicans.

However, bad results are also possible. Firstly, it would not affect any of the sabotage that Republicans will continue doing until Jan 20. Pence would continue those efforts.

Secondly, if Pence becomes president he might pardon the wrecker.

Indeed, I've seen speculation that the wrecker might resign so that Pence can pardon him. But I don't know if he could bear the humiliation of leaving office early.