As the one-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol Hill violence approaches, what's striking to me is the element of Trump nostalgia on the left. Not that they miss Trump, exactly; but they may miss the simplicity of having a person to blame for all the country's problems, and to mobilize against. What can be more grandiose than rising to defend democracy?
By comparison, the current problems—soaring inflation, rising coronavirus case counts, a resurgent Russia, China and Iran, sagging labor force participation, political polarization and legislative gridlock—are less conveniently blamed on a single individual (though the Republican presidential candidate in 2024 will certainly try to pin them all on President Biden.)
Re-living the year-ago storming of Capitol Hill is a kind of escape from the present reality. Unpleasant though it was, at least it is safely behind us.