Friend, 

Donald Trump claimed that today was the day he’ll be placed under arrest by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Now, it looks like we might have to wait a day or two.

But either way, justice prevails, right?

It’s complicated. At this point, if you don’t think Trump is an outrageous criminal then you either live under a rock or you belong to a cult called MAGA. 

Illegal hush money payments paid to an adult film star, attempting to steal a presidential election…

*record scratch* 

Just so we’re clear, he’s likely getting arrested for the hush money payments. Not the stealing the election part. Seriously.

Now, we can’t think of anyone that would get a bigger kick out of seeing him behind bars (Melania doesn’t count, of course). But that doesn’t take away from what Rick said yesterday: In his sick twisted cavern of a brain, Trump actually wants this. 

He wants to make it seem like it’s all part of one big witch hunt. Like his alleged crimes are “equal”. Read that again.

And in response, he’s calling the MAGA horde to the streets. The message boards are responding and if we’re not careful, we could witness January 6th level violence in cities across America. 

It’s another reminder that as depraved as the ultra-MAGA movement demonstrates itself to be on a daily basis, there’s an even darker underbelly that will violently assault our very institutions for the sake of protecting their Dear Leader. Of course, Trump’s the only one who has the key to unlocking it. 

Now here’s the worst part. When Trump pushes the boundaries of political extremism (stealing an election, calling his supporters to violently protest his arrest) and unleashes the darkest forces of his party, he benefits. 

After he lost the 2020 election, people thought he was politically dead. (We didn’t). January 6th boosted that line of thinking even more (remember when Kevin McCarthy grew the world’s tiniest spine and momentarily told his party he wanted Trump impeached?). And of course we saw through it.

But then Trump used the backlash to unite the party behind him. Now, the January 6th insurrection was a “hoax” and Donald leads every GOP primary poll for 2024. 

That’s why Trump wants this. Whenever he faces any iota of accountability, he releases the MAGA minions. The GOP establishment cowers in fear, and Trump’s party favorability goes up. 

And that’s why, as much as it pains us to say it - he’s somewhat right. The arrest will rally support behind him. Turn on Fox. See how it’s going.

But here’s where he’s downright wrong. There is a pro-democracy movement that is much bigger than his pathetic swarm of MAGA incels.

He has the inside track to win the GOP primary. But he doesn’t have it to win the general election. That’s where we beat him and that’s where we defend the rule of law and protect our country.

-Reed, Rick, Stuart, Joe, and The Lincoln Project Team