“the very gravity of the situation can demolish frivolity and produce unexpectedly clear thinking”

Baldwin does not indulge in facing cold facts. Towards the end of the clip he reverts to standard quote that we are in this mess because of Republicans & Current Administration. Now, that 180o is perfectly OK if, and only if, it is true that the right wing extremist Aristotle invented Logic for the sole and precise end of men being able to subject, er, women, unfortunate minorities, non-western people, etc. However, if the latter proposition happens not to be true, then Baldwin attempts something a lot easier: damage control.
Pretend you take into account the hard facts while cleaving to your basic position even faster than limpets do to rock.