The battle for the Capitol ended. The war for democracy continues
WASHINGTON — There are few clues left at the U.S. Capitol that American democracy hung in the balance a year ago.
Shattered windows have been replaced, blood wiped off the marble floors, tear gas residue cleaned from historic art.
As far as anyone walking around the building can see, the country has swiftly recovered from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by thousands of Donald Trump supporters who unsuccessfully sought to block the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory.
But the lies that fueled the riot remain deeply embedded in American politics.
Instead of providing a foundation for national unity, Jan. 6 became a launchpad for disinformation and new state laws to restrict access to the ballot box.
Today, most Republican voters believe the last election was stolen, and many of the party's politicians either believe the same falsehoods or are afraid to contradict them.
A reminder came in Minnesota last month, when five Republican candidates for governor were whether President Biden had won the last election. None of them would say yes.
