What did Donald Trump do today?

Stochastic terrorism.

Trump tweeted out a not-too-veiled threat about the "price" Rep. Adam Schiff would pay for leading the impeachment case against him.

This is not the first time that Trump has tried to stir up violence against political opponents, while hiding behind the technicality that he could conceivably have meant something else. He's done it at least twice with the whistleblower whose report through official channels of Trump's misdeeds in Ukraine started the whole process in the first place.

Trump also knows that this kind of threat, also known as "lone wolf" terrorism, works. He and his campaign have promoted the "QAnon" hoax, which led to a shooting at a DC area restaurant. One of his followers mailed pipe bombs to a list of media outlets and government officials that Trump attacked. 

Racist and anti-semitic domestic terrorism, committed by the white nationalist fringe that Trump has welcomed into his base, has also increased dramatically on Trump's watch. 

Why does this matter?

• Trying to incite mobs to violence against political enemies is what authoritarians do.