I fear they've burned the credibility they'd need for that to work. If they claim to have made an example of a critic, how do we know that was actually a critic – and by extension, how do we know that not critiquing them will keep us safe?
That's when loyalty becomes the new bar. Polarization makes everyone not supporting the regime an enemy. I don't see USA fully going down that slope, so I'm confused about what is the final goal. Maybe it's just a temporary whim of the executive and his backers.