And I agree with Charlie Pierce this morning. The crisis might come and go without the nation realizing it. And when it is over, there will be no more Republic.

It's here already.

In fact, we already had one, albeit slightly smaller. We had a political party refuse to consider a nominee to the Supreme Court until it took over the executive branch.

So Charlie is correct that these crises go unnoticed. Bush v. Gore was another. And it fractured the Republic. Now the third constitutional crisis in the post-Nixon era threatens to burn down what is left.

Foreign individuals or governments, representing at least four nations, offered assistance to the Trump 2016 campaign. In return, they received or are receiving favors from the Trump administration. Whether it's a new embassy in Jerusalem, or a bailout for Jared Kushner's 666 Fifth Avenue. We are witnessing transparent bribery, corruption and many quid pro quos. We only know a few of them.

And what has Trump done today? He's on the verge of blowing up the DOJ. He is demanding that the DOJ launch a politically-motivated investigation of itself in order to hasten the end of an investigation into a large and real conspiracy.

The crisis is here. And we're just watching the republic burn.