We are about to embark on what might be one of the wildest years in the history of American politics, and it may end up merely a prelude.

If 2024 is set to be tumultuous and unpredictable, just wait until 2025 if Donald Trump wins the presidency again this year.

His adversaries don’t have a history of accepting his victories with equanimity.

Trump’s unexpected victory in 2016 launched conspiracy theories about how Russia had helped him win; catalyzed a years-long law enforcement investigation into him and his campaign based on those theories; and set off protests in the streets.

All that was mild, given what may yet be in the offing.