In the last week, two stories were published that initially didn't make sense. The first involved William Barr, former Attorney General of the United States, who was the foremost enabler of Donald Trump's corrupt behavior. Barr also indulged in conspiracy theories. Trump was criticised for trying to overturn the 2020 election based on conspiracy theories. Another involved Toyota Motor Corporation (?). The other involved the Toyota Motor Corporation (?)In an interview with Jonathan Karl, Atlantic's political reporter, Barr made these remarks. Karl's article portrays Barr as a struggling defender of nonpartisan honesty who, in December 2020, almost stopped the Trump White House from nullifying election results on the grounds of voter fraud evidence. Barr claims that Barr's Department of Justice investigated all fraud allegations made by Trump's lawyers and fringe right-wing media personalities and concluded that they were not meritorious. Barr then reportedly walked into Trump's White House and asked him what the what was. We are thankful for William Barr, apparently!AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSubscribe to the Slatest Newsletter Get a daily email update with the latest stories. Signing you up was not possible due to an error Please try again. To use this form, please enable jаvascript. Email address: I would like to receive updates on Slate special offers. You agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms by signing up. Thank you for signing up! You can cancel your subscription at any time.It was confusing, as Barr spent almost the whole of his term in office launching and cancelling investigations and prosecutions based on shoddy conspiratorial arguments that were fully in line with Trump's legal and personal interests. Barr used the months leading up to the 2020 election to tell the media that he was in agreement with Trump's claim that widespread voter fraud was imminent. Barr, out of all the Trump officials with previous careers in elite circles was the most concerned about his mainstream reputation. He blasted the media from his official podium, using MAGA talking points to benefit Trump and the DOJ so extensively to his advantage that several of its top officers resigned.In his interview with Karlone, one of the top figures in the mainstream political press, Barr seemed desperate to present himself as an independent operator who had shut down a deeply troubled President for the benefit of the country. The Atlantic is the magazine of choice for Trump veterans like James Mattis or John Kelly who wish to seek out rehabilitation after their departure from the administration. Barr, unlike Mattis and Kelly, has never acted like someone who cares about his reputation. Some of them were even tear-gassed last summer by mounted police officers. (Rude!)AdvertisementAdvertisementSo what was the formerly shameless apparatchik trying to do? Lachlan Markay, a money-in-politics gumshoe, published a story about Toyota for Axios. It gives a hint as to what may be happening. Markay's article was about corporations that have donated to Republican members of Congress since January 6th. * A number companies declared that they would no longer donate after the Capitol riot. Toyota stated at the time that it was reviewing its donation patterns following the terrible events. This assessment was apparently quick, as Toyota donated $55,000 to 37 Republicans who voted against Joe Biden's presidency.AdvertisementToyota, being a non-American brand and somewhat upmarket, doesn't want to be associated with the Q-crazed white nationist mob that smashed its way into Capitol. Its behavior and Barrs are more easily explained by the desire for business as usual-the hope that the public will see the Republican Party as something other than the party of Trump or the wolf-head, shaman guy.AdvertisementBarr is not trying to save his reputation but to preserve the image of the Republican long-standing effort to consolidate power through just-nominally legitimate-enough tactics such as extreme gerrymandering and judicial nomination blockades. He (and Toyota, which owns nonunion manufacturing plants in Indiana and Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, have long participated in this project.AdvertisementThe Atlantic article explains that Barr's split with Trump over election fraud was due to the push of thenSenate Majority leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell is the Rosetta Stone that connects and explains Barr's story with Toyota. He was trying to convince Barr and other party members to withdraw their support for Trump, believing that Trump's alliances to fringe theorists, violent gangs, and the like would not only fail to reverse election results, but also that they would harm the GOPs national image. This fear was confirmed by the Republicans' double defeat in Georgia Senate elections and the flood of postJan. 6 donation freezes by corporate-PACs.AdvertisementMcConnell's behavior before and following the election and Barrs make sense in a framework where the best of both worlds is a Republican controlled government that doesn't depend on Trump's erratic and self-sabotaging personality. The pair tried to maintain the second best option, which was a Republican-controlled government with Trump as a member, until Election Day. McConnell might not be interested in spending his time and resources to get Donald Trump and his criminal associates off the hook for trying to blackmail Ukraine into making smears of Joe Biden. He will do it, it's the political equivalent of using the toilet plunger. McConnell and Barr concluded that making the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers mad about Chinese Communist ballot interference was not the best way to get Trump (yet!) It is possible to seize power in the larger context of public opinion, the courts system and society. They quickly realized the importance of legal evidence and decided to pursue a post-Trump world. In this post-Trump world, they planned to obstruct Biden's agenda for two more years, retake control over Congress with aggressive gerrymandering, voter suppression laws, as well as win the Electoral College in 2024, behind someone less volatile or unpopular than Trump.AdvertisementMcConnell's strategic savvy is not enough to allow him to drive through a Trump 2024 campaign bus. Morning Consults latest poll found that Trump's approval rating among Republicans was above 80 percent and nearly 60 percent of GOP respondents felt he should play an important role in the party's future. Trump is now a one-issue guy. That issue is the alleged illegitimacy and corruption of the Biden presidency. The ex-president issued a statement attacking McConnell, Barr and other politicians as they failed to address a comprehensive list of debunked 2020 theories. He attended a rally in Ohio on Saturday to endorse a right-wing candidate against Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, because Gonzalez voted to impeach Trump following Jan. 6. The Daily Beast reported Tuesday on a right-wing superPAC that has already begun spending large on ads targeting Gonzalez and other Republican Trump critics.A statement from Toyota to Axios stated that it does not believe Republicans should only be judged on their votes in the election certification. This is a good way to summarize McConnells position. The problem for the senator leader, the car manufacturer, and all others who want the old conservative movement back is that it is the exact opposite belief held by McConnell.
