An Overnight Switcheroo on Defunding Law Enforcement

William Saletan: “Two years ago, in congressional and state elections, Republican candidates accused Democrats of supporting proposals to ‘defund’ or ‘abolish’ police. Actually, although anti-police slogans were widespread on social media and among protesters, very few Democratic officeholders supported these ideas. But Republicans didn’t let those facts get in the way. They smeared the whole Democratic party as an agent of crime and chaos.”

“Monday’s FBI search of Mar-a-Lago—reportedly in pursuit of classified documents that former President Donald Trump may have illegally kept when he left office—has turned this issue upside down. Now that law enforcement has targeted Trump, conservatives are denouncing the FBI. Some want to defund the bureau; others are demanding its complete abolition.”