Basically "GOP has been making power grabs for 20 yrs, and Trump was even more shameless".  But it's not like there was a coup-like outcome likely from Jan 6. There's no overwhelming effect from controlling the Capitol in 2021 - you'll be removed quick enough, and they can meet elsewhere meanwhile. Most of the "Acting" cabinet positions have been illegal and often forced to roll back orders. Many of Trump's attempts have been overridden by courts. And he was pretty definitively defeated at the polls. Could have been a coup - but far from being a serious one.

What annoys me about the piece is that it doesn't do a good job of distinguishing motive from instruments of power.

One doesn't need a GED to observe what Team Trump wanted. If one is interested in why the moves did not work, one has to consider that the Federal system was set up to resist National power. If the result somehow authorized the election differently, there are all the States who would beg to differ. The idea that all of them would just fall in line with the result is to ignore every lesson our Republic has taught so far.