Biden says not all Republicans are Trumpists. But that position has limits | Jan-Werner Mueller

The president wants to separate extremist Maga Republicans" from the decent folks on the right. Can he?

In recent high-profile speeches, Joe Biden has been performing a high-wire rhetorical act. He is not shying away from the f-word (fascism) - the ultimate condemnation in humanity's political vocabulary - even if he qualifies that condemnation by calling some on the American right semi-fascists."

At the same time, he is putting a lot of effort to separate extremist Maga Republicans" from the decent folks on the right, be it your next-door conservative neighbor or Biden's old chums across the aisle in the US Senate. No matter the level of polarization, the president appears to suggest, you can have a barbecue with the former, and with some senators you might still be able to have a beer and discover a shared humanity (unless it's Mitch McConnell).

Jan-Werner Mueller teaches at Princeton and is a Guardian US columnist. His most recent book is Democracy Rules