That is an interesting concept. But actually, even in this extreme situation, relatively few Trumper officials have no friends on the other side of the aisle; that will change over time as things become even more impossible to defend, but the "it's just a gig" aspect of it has not entirely faded.

There is definitely more "control" at the executive branch level: FBI people have literally been told they will be fired if they don't cut off contact with former FBI Trump critics.

But even so, being told you will be fired is small beer compared to how proper cults deal with dissent, and the level of control (you won't get a job in this town) is different to the level of psychological control a proper cult wields.

They will get there over time, I think.