I am torn as to what should be done in the remaining days of the Trump administration (eight left as of this morning).
Clearly, the best thing is for Trump to resign--it's the fastest, requires no action on anyone else's part and takes effect immediately. But we all know that's not going to happen, at least not without some kind of metaphorical gun to his head.
Second best would be activating the provisions of the 25th Amendment, declaring him unfit to continue to serve. There are several problems with that: First, Vice President Pence has said he is opposed, so the simplest way to do it (the VP and cabinet voting for it) is not going to happen and any other method would take too long; second, the provisions outlined in the amendment's language seem to be largely directed toward health reasons and not criminal ones, which means there could be court fights over whether the amendment even applies; and third, the amendment allows the President to challenge the action in the courts, again delaying the effectiveness.
Third best is impeachment, which the House has taken the first steps towards. But until the two new Senators from Georgia are seated, the Senate remains with Republican majority. That's not expected to happen until Inauguration Day itself, so there couldn't be a successful vote to remove Trump until he was already out of office.
Eight days may not seem like a long time--especially now that so much of Trump's bully pulpit has come unplugged--but his most rabid followers, the ones who eagerly heard his words last Wednesday as permission for riot and insurrection, are tuned into him, no matter how he gets the message out. Eight days is more than sufficient for a dangerous conspiracy to continue.
