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AIPC.

Hey folks, Barb here. Here's a recording of my latest Cafe note, The Art of the Counterpunch.

As always, please write to us with your thoughts and questions at Letters at Cafe.com.

Dear listener, a chilling effect doesn't work when critics bring the heat.

On Sunday, Donald Trump said that members of Congress who investigated the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol should go to jail. Words that once

may have sounded like the ramblings of an angry old man become more menacing when they're uttered by someone

who will soon hold the most powerful office

in the world. And while Trump said he would not order his new attorney general or FBI director

to initiate investigations, he noted, I think they'll have to look at that. Punishing his rivals is

part of Trump's longtime strategy as a counterpuncher.

When critics attack him, he once explained, he retaliates times 10. In Trump's book, The Art of the

deal, he said retribution was an important part of his business success, as he, or perhaps his ghostwriter, noted,

when people treat me badly or unfairly or try to take advantage of me, my general attitude,

all my life, has been to fight back very hard.

The value of counterpunching, of course, is that it not only exacts vengeance,

it also causes deterrence. Observers learn that it's dangerous to cross the counterpuncher,

because they might be next. His wrath has a chilling effect on other would-be critics.

...