Scrawf - well said. I totally get partisanship, tribalism, confirmation bias - human nature, nothing new, we are all susceptible to a degree.

But this is something altogether different - irrational and toxic and dangerous - and hard to wrap my brain around.

From “he’s kind of an asshole, but let’s give a businessman a chance as POTUS” in 2016 to today: “he is infallible, no criticism is tolerated, the entire justice system is out to set him up, the electoral system is corrupt, anyone who doesn’t support him is stupid or evil, only he can save the country by burning the government down, bring on the retribution and civil war”.

I exchanged texts with an old childhood friend yesterday who is in this camp. I can’t say anything about Trump without an automatic, often conspiracy-oriented defense. In his 60s, college educated (history major!), successful investment advisor. It’s madness. How do you continue to be friends with someone you have so much respect for? So sad, and so unnecessary.