1/ Something can be very bad but not a coup. More thoughts on the #ElectoralCollegeRiot from a professor who studies protest.
2/ Some folks are concerned that by calling this a riot, rather than coup, you are implictely dismissing what is happening. Not true. By using hyperbole, you are platforming people who should be marginalized and ignored.
3/ From a social science perspective, the #ElectoralCollegeRiot fits a long term pattern of political riots aimed at harming or intimidating others, such as anti-Black race riots and political urban riots of earlier American history.
4/ These are clearly bad: people are harmed and killed, riots are used to defend privilege and corruption.
5/ But when social scientists use the term "coup" or attempted coup, they usually have in mind a situation where a person grabs power by enlisting the military or the paramilitary to prevent the assumption of power by democratically elected leaders.
6/ On recordings, Trump was found to be fishing for votes and, as is his way, filing dozens of "hail Mary" lawsuits. The best description of this is "fraud." Thankfully, we haven't seen generals go on TV to say that we need to postpone things. *That* would send me into panic.
7/ If media reports are to be believed, Trump incited a riot, which is a criminal offense and should be prosecuted. It is not likely that a crowd of angry middle aged MAGA nerds on a riot would topple the US government. Especially the guy wearing the D&D cosplay costume.
8/ If you buy my analysis, you should not be complacent. The proper response is to clear out rioters, treat them as criminals, prosecute them, and proceed as if nothing had happened. Biden won. End of story.
9/ Bottom line: It may be tempting to call every instance of political violence a coup. That's not quite right. This is a riot. The proper response to rioters is a stint in jail and to renormalize democratic politics as soon as possible.
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