As the COVID-19 crisis has deepened, the American political landscape has changed. Donald Trump and his enablers look at the crisis solely through the lens of politics: How does it affect prospects for Trump’s reelection and further entrenchment of their racist, reactionary, minority rule? After an initial crisis bump, Trump’s approval rating has gone back down. GOP strategists are reported to be gripped by “mounting concern . . . about the threat the economic meltdown triggered by the lockdowns poses to the president’s re-election prospects.” Even the Wall Street Journal writes that the crisis “could complicate his path” in key battleground states.

As a result, the president and his team are moving in ever more extreme ways to energize their base, try to pull more people onto their side, and suppress and intimidate the opposition.

In mid-April, Trump went from winking at to egging on armed militias in anti-lockdown protests funded and organized by top GOP donors and lawyers. On May 7, the Justice Department, now led by Trump’s top consigliere, dropped all charges against Michael Flynn. These two moves sent an unmistakable message: acts of violence and lies in defense of Trump get the green light — and if you are caught, the White House has your back.