Many Republicans are sponsored and bribed by fascist powers such as Putin’s Russia. They are under orders to take actions intended to weaken American industry, government, and society. This includes, for instance, sabotaging infrastructure projects, blocking disaster preparedness and relief, and fomenting political violence. The long-range goal is to make America incapable of projecting force to protect its international allies, global trade, etc.; a medium-range goal is to restore a regime broadly supportive of the international fascist movement.

(Just consider: Why does Putin support Trump? Putin doesn’t want to make America great; he wants to make America incapable — especially, incapable of defending Ukraine and, ultimately, other European allies. Putin predicts that Trump/Vance will accomplish that goal.)