With the Capitol riot the Trumpists have become a de facto third party | Mike Davis

The mayhem showed the party is splitting up but also lifted the curse of Trump from the careers of rightwing young lions

Wednesday's invasion of our temple of democracy" constituted an insurrection" only in the sense of dark comedy. What was essentially a flag-wrapped biker gang wielding staves stormed America's ultimate country club, chased senators into the Capitol's catacombs, squatted on Mike Pence's throne, trashed Nancy Pelosi's office, and shot endless selfies to send to the dudes back home in white people's country. Otherwise, they were clueless and when the serious cops finally arrived, filed out clutching souvenirs to show to Daddy Trump. Monty Python with four dead bodies.

Meanwhile, several hundred evacuated solons sweated together in their hiding place. Some of the Republicans, steadfastly loyal to their death cult, refused the face masks offered by police. One outraged Democrat described it as a super-spreader event". Hours later, Representative Jake La Turner, a Trump diehard from Kansas, punctually tested positive for the virus.