Fascism has been clearly on the rise in the United States for a decade, if not longer. It's been undeniably here for years. It's been seeping into the Supreme Court for years. It's had a solid foothold in Congress for months.
There have yet to be any real consequences for the leaders of fascism in the United States. Some foot soldiers have been charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced; there are many more ready to fill that vacuum and continue the dirty work. They are being actively recruited by the same people who organized the Jan 6 insurrection.
Its leader, who is out on bail pending four trials, totalling ninety-one charges, many of which are in relation to an attempted fascist coup. He continues to marshall his followers through stochastic terrorism every day, openly threatening people and institutions which comprise the very foundations of our democracy. This man remains far and away the presumptive nominee for the office of President for the Republican party, and very many of his "challengers" for that nomination are cut from the same fascist cloth.
The fascist coup is not over. Jan 6 was the right wing's Beer Hall Putsch. Right wing militias are the Sturmabteilung (SA). We know what happens next. This does not get better before it gets a lot worse.
At this point, it's going to get worse no matter how these fascists are dealt with. The only question is how much worse? If real, binding, and impactful consequences are put in place promptly against all these fascists, including and especially their leaders, there will still be violence. Kicking that can down the road and trying to avoid conflict is only going to make the ultimate conflict worse.
Judge Chutkan, Judge McAfee: if by some miracle this comment gains your attention, you must know that you two people are in the only position right now to start the prompt application of those consequences. The repercussions of doing so will be violence. This nation can and will recover from that. The repercussions of not doing so promptly will be absolutely dire, and change the trajectory of world history for the worse, severely, and for a very long time.
Judge Chutkan, Judge McAfee: Do the right thing, and do it for the safety and security of the entire world.