In the run-up to the 2018 midterm election, a progressive movement frothing at the mouth after two years of President Trump was throwing off all kinds of toxic radiation. Its self-assured promises to abuse power it didn’t even have were unnerving. Its anti-social behavior and defense thereof was even more so.

Progressives’ use of threats and intimidation against public officials and even their spouses helped turn the country off to their cause, and just in the nick of time. It likely blunted what could have been a much better performance for Democrats.