I’ve generally found Chris Hays to be a bit glib and shallow, but his analysis of this now viral New York Times opinion piece by a senior official inside the White House is spot on:

The op-ed is an attempt to take out an insurance policy for the GOP and conservatism if and when things get much much worse. It’s a very public hedge meant to preserve the reputation of the GOP’s entire political and governing class.

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 5, 2018

This editorial is an effort at ass-covering.