The best case scenario for these scenarios is that some other shiny toy distracts him, or rather than Putin for whatever reason decides that he wants something else more (which come to think of it, is not the best case anymore… at least not overall).

But while I may be too naively optimistic here, there’s a non-zero chance that the institutions left in the USA are too solid to allow for such a unilateral takeover? At which point this operation serves to pull those into the light as “problem areas” for the next push forward, plus whatever he backs down from serves to make the remaining crap he will do seem more reasonable by comparison - like a negotiation, The Art Of The Deal style? You gotta love that ratchet effect that conservatives always do… which somehow always manages to work on those who allow themselves to forget? 🤢🤮