(CNN) There's a natural human tendency to assume that politicians (and people more generally) exaggerate -- especially when it comes to how bad things are at any given time. So when President Joe Biden, in remarks at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day , said that "democracy itself is in peril, here at home and around the world" the natural reaction among many people is an eyeroll. Democracy in peril? Yes, really. Consider where we are as a country:* Senate Republicans just put the kibosh on a bipartisan commission that would have investigated the violent insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6.

Source: CNN May 31, 2021 22:30 UTC