In other words, not much different from the Jan 6 committee, which will no doubt evaporate after January 1 when the Republicans take over. If there was ever an "empty, misleading spectacle" which generated zero new information, I'd like to know what it was/is.

I'm not saying that Trump shouldn't have to be accountable for his various and sundry narcissistic/illegal/stupid actions. On paper, a Congressional investigation seems a likely way to go. If only Nancy Pelosi had allowed a few Republicans onto the committee, it might have had some legitimacy. As it was, it was a joke. Liz Cheney and Adam Kitzinger are not Republicans--sorry readers of this column, but that's a fiction. Democrats were so convinced that the nation would be swept up and appalled by what happened on January 6, 2021, that all political affliations would magically fall away and the populace would rise up against Donald Trump. Uh--no. Instead, it looked like a partisan attempted hanging, because that's what it was.

One reason we're going down the political and societal drain was mentioned early in the article: "Over the last century, the executive branch has become more powerful relative to the other branches". Yes, and that happened for a reason, namely FDR. He was a powerful personality who helpd shape the executive branch we have today. https://www.ushistory.org/gov/7a.asp

Congress effectively gave away their power. Is it time to claw some of it back? Perhaps. With a surging Republican party and a weak Executive branch, this may be the era to make some changes. Feeling better about November 8 every day.