Atrip to Washington this year during the US summer can seem like a visit to the scene of a disaster foretold. Having removed Donald Trump from office, and with majorities in both chambers of Congress, the Democrats began last year with high ambition and the eyes of the world upon them. A year and a half later, they are facing political ruin.
A combination of bad luck, ineptitude, internal divisions, the structures of US politics and the ruthlessness of their enemies has put not only the future of the Biden administration, but the republic itself, in danger.
