“Chaos theory,” at least in the popular version, is the study of unstable systems that can rapidly reach a tipping point where massive and radical change occurs—the point at which a seemingly stable equilibrium careens toward dangerous extremes.

Both major political parties experienced a chaos theory moment over the weekend, in which the balance we have historically looked to as a steady state suddenly degraded, and we were reminded how fast a veneer of reasonable “moderation” can break down into dangerous fanaticism.

In the Democratic party, a simmering insurgency by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her “squad” of young socialist “progressives” broke out into open insurrection when Ocasio-Cortez deployed the ultimate weapon against Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi: She accused Pelosi of racism for “the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color” for criticism.