“The point of the “retribution” tour against the likes of Cheney and Romney is to punish them for right-doing: They offended populist Republicans not by trying to overthrow the government or absconding with classified information or cheating on their taxes but simply by insisting on holding Trump accountable to the Constitution for his authoritarian lousiness.”

“If most voters cared about Trump’s illiberalism, America wouldn’t have reelected a coup-plotter on the off chance that he’ll bring the price of eggs down by a quarter. And right-wing propagandists have worked energetically and successfully for years, following Trump’s “DARVO” playbook, to try to convince the public that he’s forever being victimized by corrupt accusers who have conspired against Real America. If Cheney or Romney ends up indicted, plenty of Americans who’ve absorbed MAGA’s attacks on them will regard the criminal charges credulously. And among those who are skeptical, most ultimately won’t care that they’re being railroaded. Are egg prices down or aren’t they?”

“The goal won’t be to obtain criminal convictions; the goal will be to render the targets broke and miserable by forcing them to fight for their freedom in court.”

“The point of the “retribution” tour isn’t to uncover and punish actual criminal malfeasance, it’s to soothe Trump’s grievances and delight the MAGA base by taking scalps from political enemies. And there are too many enemies out there to immunize all of them. If Biden places Cheney and Romney beyond the reach of Patel’s FBI, the agency could simply reach out and touch someone else.”

“Is it likely that Donald Trump’s administration will abuse federal power to harass antagonists like Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney?

You betcha. Romney has been candid about his anxiety at the prospect. The whole reason grifting children’s-book author Kash Patel has been tapped to lead the FBI, in fact, is his obsequious zeal for Trump’s “retribution” project.”