In asking the Supreme Court to grant Donald Trump extraordinary powers to tackle an emergency that doesn’t exist, the government’s lawyers seem less concerned about making legal arguments and more about impressing on the justices that ruling against the president will destroy America.

The most lawless president in US history wants Americans to believe that his authoritarian power grab is about fighting crime. And it may just work if Democrats let him control the narrative.

In a move only seen in authoritarian regimes, top Republicans on Monday made it clear they intend to use the assassination of Charlie Kirk to crack down on their political opponents.