"The partisan animus and uncompromising, ruthless tactics that define our politics today make this a delicate moment for American democracy. Norms that have long shaped the governing process have been shunted aside in the Trump era. In this polarized environment, even the proper use of impeachment could lead to the future weaponizing of the process, particularly by Republicans. Impeachment could prove both necessary to safeguard the Republic, as Pelosi asserted, and profoundly dangerous for its future.If what appears to be the most likely outcome occurs—Trump is impeached by Democrats in the House but not removed from office by the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority—the crucial question will be how both parties respond, and whether this episode gets normalized in the politics of the future. "
At www.newyorker.com
