The truth is that nothing would have been better for the fortunes of Joe Biden and the Democrats than a violent uprising on the mall. Nothing would have been better calculated to revive memories of the original attack on the Capitol when Trump’s hordes tried to stage a new storming of the Winter Palace.

But Donald Trump knew that. So did Republican lawmakers who avoided the rally, if it even merits that word. The Proud Boys took no pride in it. In reality, it was a few stone cold losers, to use one of Trump’s favorite terms, shuffling around downtown. Perhaps there will be some more action in the future. But for now it seems that the right has been cowed.

Given the loss that Trumpists just suffered in California, the steam may well be going out of the movement itself as it becomes clear that Trump is a millstone for the GOP.