There are other universes where none of this is happening.

Ones where John Roberts is a wealthy lawyer in private practice nearing retirement. Or remained on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or is only an associate justice of the Supreme Court. Still more where Donald Trump never came down that infernal escalator. Or lost to Ted Cruz in 2016. Or to Hillary Clinton. And others still, including one in which Trump won reelection or was convicted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial or where there was a blizzard in Washington on Jan. 6. Perhaps even universes where he decided not to run again in 2024.