Crash Course: Longtime GOP insider Cheri Jacobus: America is "not going to recover from Donald Trump"

Former Republican strategist says her party can't be salvaged — and if Trump isn't punished, America is "done for." [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci80NjI5VwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Donald-Trump] Seth Herald/Getty Images Longtime GOP insider Cheri Jacobus: America is "not going to recover from Donald Trump" Cheri Jacobus was one of the first Republican "Never Trumpers." A former spokeswoman for the RNC, Jacobus works as a political strategist and frequently serves as an analyst in news media. Jacobus spoke with Salon's Chauncey DeVega about why so many leading Republicans and right-wing elites ultimately supported Trump even when they knew that he and his followers represented an extreme danger to the country. Jacobus reflects on questions of accountability and penance for conservatives who betrayed their supposed principles and enabled Trumpism, and argues that many of the Republicans who have testified before the Jan. 6 committee — and are now being celebrated as patriotic heroes — are actually self-interested actors who should not be trusted. At the end of this conversation, Jacobus cautions that the Republican Party cannot be redeemed or rehabilitated and that Democrats and the public must act accordingly if American democracy is to survive. [Read Chauncey DeVega's full interview with Cheri Jacobus.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvbG9uZ3RpbWUtaW5zaWRlci1jaGVyaS1qYWNvYnVzLWFtZXJpY2EtaXMtbm90LWdvaW5nLXRvLXJlY292ZXItZnJvbS1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAvVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) [Donald-Trump] Scott Olson/Getty Images Promotion from Beam [Buy the Dream Powder Here!] Functional wellness products made for you Hone in on taste/bedtime sugar cravings, satisfying your sweet tooth (delicious chocolate cinnamon taste). Zero added sugar, only 5 calories [Buy the Dream Powder Here!](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNmNjZjhuMmsxaFcDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Trump claims Truth Social post is official legal request for FBI to “return” seized Mar-a-Lago docs The FBI last week seized 11 sets of classified documents, including some that were marked as "top secret," from Trump's home. Fox News [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZm94bmV3cy5jb20vcG9saXRpY3MvZmJpLXNlaXplcy1wcml2aWxlZ2VkLXRydW1wLXJlY29yZHMtZHVyaW5nLXJhaWQtZG9qLW9wcG9zZXMtcmVxdWVzdC1pbmRlcGVuZGVudC1yZXZpZXctc291cmNlc1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) on Saturday that the documents seized in the raid may have included "records covered by attorney-client privilege and potentially executive privilege." Trump seized on the report on his Twitter knockoff Truth Social, "respectfully" requesting the return of the documents and claiming that his post qualified as a formal legal request. "Oh great! It has just been learned that the FBI, in its now famous raid of Mar-a-Lago, took boxes of privileged 'attorney-client' material, and also 'executive' privileged material, which they knowingly should not have taken," Trump [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly90cnV0aHNvY2lhbC5jb20vQHJlYWxEb25hbGRUcnVtcC9wb3N0cy8xMDg4MjEyMDEwNjYyODc1NzdXA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). "By copy of this TRUTH, I respectfully request that these documents be immediately returned to the location from which they were taken." [Read more from Igor Derysh.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvY2xhaW1zLXRydXRoLXNvY2lhbC1wb3N0LWlzLW9mZmljaWFsLWxlZ2FsLXJlcXVlc3QtZm9yLWZiaS10by1yZXR1cm4tc2VpemVkLW1hci1hLWxhZ28tZG9jcy9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - S'all done: ["Better Call Saul" closes](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvYmV0dGVyLWNhbGwtc2F1bC1lbmRpbmctZmluYWxlLXNhdWwtZ29uZS9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) with a journey through time and regret - Is ["Disney Princess Culture"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTQvaXMtZGlzbmV5LXByaW5jZXNzLWN1bHR1cmUtbWVzc2luZy11cC1vdXItZGF1Z2h0ZXJzL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) messing with our daughters? - What condiments would you take on a [cross-country move](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTQvd2hhdC1jb25kaW1lbnRzLXdvdWxkLXlvdS10YWtlLW9uLWEtY3Jvc3MtY291bnRyeS1tb3ZlL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)? - A [newly-discovered dog-size dinosaur](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvZG9nLXNpemUtZGlub3NhdXItamFrYXBpbC1rYW5pdWt1cmEvVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) was covered in armor and had tiny arms - Sweet white vinegar and parsley are the keys to these [lemony grilled chicken skewers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTQvc3dlZXQtdmluZWdhci1hbmQtcGFyc2xleS1hcmUtdGhlLWtleXMtdG8tdGhlc2UtbGVtb255LWdyaWxsZWQtY2hpY2tlbi1za2V3ZXJzL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - The creamiest, most [decadent fettuccine Alfredo](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvdGhlLWNyZWFtaWVzdC1tb3N0LWRlY2FkZW50LWZldHR1Y2NpbmUtYWxmcmVkby1pcy1vbmx5LTE1LXNob3J0LW1pbnV0ZXMtYXdheS9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) is only 15 short minutes away - The best way to start your day? A flavor-packed [breakfast salad with garlicky yogurt dressing](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvdGhlLWJlc3Qtd2F5LXRvLXN0YXJ0LXlvdXItZGF5LWEtZmxhdm9yLXBhY2tlZC1icmVha2Zhc3Qtc2FsYWQtd2l0aC1nYXJsaWNreS15b2d1cnQtZHJlc3NpbmcvVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. [Brian-Kilmeade,-Ron-Johnson,-Ted-Cruz] Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images "87,000 IRS agents": New conspiracy theory proves Trump's encouragement of violence is GOP standard While Donald Trump spins out [ever more brazen lies](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvY2xhaW1zLXRydXRoLXNvY2lhbC1wb3N0LWlzLW9mZmljaWFsLWxlZ2FsLXJlcXVlc3QtZm9yLWZiaS10by1yZXR1cm4tc2VpemVkLW1hci1hLWxhZ28tZG9jcy9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) and nonsense to sow confusion over the seizure of stolen classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, Republicans have seized on a particularly gross conspiracy theory [to justify their ridiculous claim](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTAvdGhlLWZ1cm9yLW92ZXItdGhlLWZiaXMtc2VhcmNoLW9mLW1hci1hLWxhZ28tZXhwbGFpbmVkLWJhc2UtbG92ZXMtaGlzLW5hcmNpc3Npc20vVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) that all of this somehow impacts the personal freedoms of every day Trump voters: "87,000 new IRS agents." A reference to new federal funding in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, this latest talking point appears to have been crafted originally as some anti-tax propaganda to get the base to defend the ability of the wealthy to cheat on their taxes. But it almost immediately morphed into something far more threatening. It is now an unhinged conspiracy theory that's spreading rapidly through social media, as armed right-wing nuts are riling each other up to commit more acts of political violence. The entire situation shows that [Trump's tactic of winking at right-wing extremists](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTIvcHV0cy1hLXRhcmdldC1vbi10aGUtZmJpLWNpbmNpbm5hdGktZ3VubWFuLXNob3dzLWRhbmdlci1wb3NlZC1ieS1hbi1lbmRsZXNzLXN1cHBseS1vZi1kdXBlcy9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), in hopes [they will commit violence on his behalf](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDcvMTIvamFudWFyeS02LWhlYXJpbmctbWFrZXMtaXQtY2xlYXItbWFnYS1pcy1hL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), has spread throughout the Republican Party. With this new lie about the IRS, both Republican leaders and Fox News have made it clear that they will not hesitate to stir up the most violent elements in their base, inflaming serious tensions for no other reason than the belief it helps them score political points during a midterm election. [Read more from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvODcwMDAtaXJzLWFnZW50cy1uZXctY29uc3BpcmFjeS10aGVvcnktcHJvdmVzLWVuY291cmFnZW1lbnQtb2YtdmlvbGVuY2UtaXMtc3RhbmRhcmQvVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "The Arizona Republican Party’s Anti-Democracy Experiment," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0ROaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNS9tYWdhemluZS9hcml6b25hLXJlcHVibGljYW5zLWRlbW9jcmFjeS5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Most abortions are done at home. Antiabortion groups are taking aim," [The Washington Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzLzIwMjIvMDgvMTQvbWVkaWNhdGVkLWFib3J0aW9ucy1kcnVncy1zdHVkZW50cy1mb3ItbGlmZS9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "'Ring Nation' Is Amazon's Reality Show for Our Surveillance Dystopia," [Motherboard](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudmljZS5jb20vZW4vYXJ0aWNsZS83azh4NDkvcmluZy1uYXRpb24taXMtYW1hem9ucy1yZWFsaXR5LXNob3ctZm9yLW91ci1zdXJ2ZWlsbGFuY2UtZHlzdG9waWFXA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Golf carts—golf carts!—are a transportation mode of the future," [Slate](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly9zbGF0ZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvMjAyMi8wOC9nb2xmLWNhcnRzLXRyYW5zcG9ydGF0aW9uLWZ1dHVyZS1wZWFjaHRyZWUtY2l0eS5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "The Crypto Geniuses Who Vaporized a Trillion Dollars," [Intelligencer](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RaaHR0cHM6Ly9ueW1hZy5jb20vaW50ZWxsaWdlbmNlci9hcnRpY2xlL3RocmVlLWFycm93cy1jYXBpdGFsLWt5bGUtZGF2aWVzLXN1LXpodS1jcmFzaC5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Have we all been duped by the serotonin myth?" [Vice](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RWaHR0cHM6Ly9pLWQudmljZS5jb20vZW5fdWsvYXJ0aWNsZS9ha2Uzdmovc2Vyb3RvbmluLWRlcHJlc3Npb24tbXl0aD9jdXJhdG9yPU1lZGlhUkVERUZXA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Salman-Rushdie] David Levenson/Getty Images The long controversy around Salman Rushdie, and his refusal to stop speaking up Author [Salman Rushdie](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTUvMDEvMDcvcmVsaWdpb25faXNfYV9tZWRpZXZhbF9mb3JtX29mX3VucmVhc29uX3NhbG1hbl9ydXNoZGllX3Jlc3BvbmRzX3RvX3BhcmlzX2F0dGFja3MvVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) has often sparked controversy and even incited anger, but the latest protest to his work has left him recovering after sustaining severe injuries during an attack in western New York. [Rushdie](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTMvamstcm93bGluZy1vZmZlcnMtY29uZG9sZW5jZXMtYWZ0ZXItc2FsbWFuLXJ1c2hkaWUtYW5kLWlzLXRvbGQteW91LWFyZS1uZXh0L1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), who won the Booker Prize for his second novel "[Midnight's Children](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTMvMDQvMjMvZXhjbHVzaXZlX21pZG5pZ2h0c19jaGlsZHJlbl9jbGlwX3NhbGVlbV9sb3Nlc19oaXNfaW5ub2NlbmNlL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)," was scheduled to appear Friday in a public lecture at the [Chautauqua Institute](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hxLm9yZy9ldmVudC9zYWxtYW4tcnVzaGRpZS1oZW5yeS1yZWVzZS9XA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), along with Henry Reese, co-founder and president of [City of Asylum](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0QZaHR0cHM6Ly9jaXR5b2Zhc3lsdW0ub3JnL1cDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) in Pittsburgh, which provides sanctuary to exiled writers. At the event, a 24-year-old man rushed the stage and stabbed the 75-year-old Rushdie multiple times, including in the neck and stomach. Rushdie also received puncture wounds in his right eye, chest and thigh. Reese was also injured. Rushdie's son Zafar Rushdie said in statement released Sunday that the writer's injuries are "[life changing](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25uLmNvbS8yMDIyLzA4LzE1L3VzL3NhbG1hbi1ydXNoZGllLWF0dGFjay1tb25kYXkvaW5kZXguaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpi6914-2L7G1eWUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)." According to Rushdie's agent, [Andrew Wylie](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25iYy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xMy9zYWxtYW4tcnVzaGRpZS1vbi12ZW50aWxhdG9yLWFmdGVyLXN0YWJiaW5nLW1heS1sb3NlLWFuLWV5ZS5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), Rushdie was on a ventilator for a time and will likely lose his eye.  Rushdie has done few events over the years, canceling a [planned appearance](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWxqYXplZXJhLmNvbS9uZXdzLzIwMjIvOC8xMi9rZXktZGF0ZXMtaW4tdGhlLWxpZmUtb2YtYnJpdGlzaC1hdXRob3Itc2FsbWFuLXJ1c2hkaWVXA3NwY0IKYuvdePti-xtXllIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) at a literature festival in India, where he was born, a decade ago after protests. The celebrated author has lived under a cloud of controversy and threats on his life for a long time yet has never relinquished his support of free speech. [Read more from Alison Stine.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMTUvc2FsbWFuLXJ1c2hkaWUtc2F0YW5pYy12ZXJzZXMtZnJlZS1zcGVlY2gvVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk3f3bP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmLr3Xj7YvsbV5ZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. 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