MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Argues the GOP is the Problem, Not Trump

On Jan 15, the MSNBC host used the example of former right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to explain why she believes there is a serious problem with the Republican Party as a whole — not just with Trump.

A Tale of Two Coups

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On Jan 8, 2023, a mob of Bolsonaro’s far-right supporters stormed the Brazilian Congressional complex. The thousands of violent rioters believed the election had been stolen from Bolsonaro, who lost by more than two million votes to left-wing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Detailed Comparison

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The events of Jan 8, 2023 closely mirrored those of Jan 6, 2021. A New York Times article published on Jan 15 compared the two events, concluding that “the parallel attacks have had nearly opposite aftermaths.”

Rejection

“Bolsonaro has since become totally irrelevant in politics in Brazil,” Maddow said, referencing the New York Times article. In June, a panel of Brazilian judges officially banned Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030.

End of the Line

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“This decision will end Bolsonaro’s chances of being president again,” explained Brazilian professor Carlos Melo to the Huffington Post. “After this, he will try to stay out of jail, elect some of his allies to keep his political capital, but it is very unlikely he will ever return to the presidency.”

Made a Mockery

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Bolsonaro spent the final days of his presidency in Florida. He remained there after his loss, refusing to concede defeat or attend the inauguration of his successor.

Fall From Grace

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Videos of the former president wandering around a Publix or shaking hands with Florida residents went viral, drawing widespread mockery. “Imagine leading the 12th biggest world economy and 220 million people,” one user posted on X, “and weeks later you’re meandering around an Orlando suburb directionless?”

Stark Comparison

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Meanwhile, Maddow said, “Trump is still at the head of the Republican Party in the United States and is poised to become the party’s nominee for president again.”

Polling Well

On the eve of the Republican presidential primary, Trump enjoyed support from more than 60% of the electorate. His main rivals, according to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight, barely break double digits. The former president easily won the first few primary contests, while all his opponents have dropped out, except Nikki Haley.

Potential Punishment

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The Supreme Court will decide Trump’s case against his removal from Colorado’s ballot. “I fought really hard to get three very, very good people,” Trump said, before implying he hoped they would side with him.

Justice Deserved

“It’s partly a matter of whether or not there’s a judicial penalty for effectively waging war against your own country’s democracy,” Maddow argued.

Collective Responsibility

“It’s not a Trump problem,” Maddow continued. “It’s a Republican Party problem.… It’s … a matter of how … American Republican leaders have reacted to this violence from their own leader, how they’ve reacted to this anti-democratic turn in the leadership of their party.”