Trump’s final days put the country at a dangerous crossroad

Donald Trump’s presidency is in its final, chaotic spiral. But even with the end so near, each hour seems to carry a new threat to America’s fragile democracy.With less than two weeks until President-elect Joe Biden takes office, the nation is on edge — unsure whether Trump will incite another round of violence or just carry on, petulantly, seeking outlets to whine about Twitter’s decision to ban him. Recognizing the instability, Vice President Mike Pence has not ruled out an effort to invoke the 25th Amendment, a source close to the vice president told CNN Saturday night. The relationship between Trump and Pence is fractured — they haven’t spoken since Wednesday, when a violent mob stormed the Capitol, and the President never bothered to check on Pence’s safety.The insurrection put the country at a crossroads. House Democrats could bring a new round of impeachment proceedings this week, this time over Trump’s role in inciting the deadly riot. If they go forward, Republicans could again be faced with a public test of their loyalty. That so few seem prepared to forcefully speak out, let alone pledge to take action against the President, suggests the Capitol siege is less likely to have marked the bloody end of Trumpism than the opening of a more dangerous chapter.