In only a week, mighty tectonic shifts have recast all of American civic life, setting in motion vast elements of the political landscape that seemed fixed in place, with settled matters suddenly unsettled, with broad assumptions suddenly assailed, with important questions suddenly answered and new ones posed – and with consequential new struggles on vital issues such as immigration, foreign aid, and health care taking shape.
Just 10 days ago the Democrats believed Mr. Trump’s collusion with the Russians was so vast that simply an executive summary of the President’s campaign collusion would suffice. Today, fuelled by one part suspicion and one part desperation, they are pressing for the release of the entire 400-page report while Republicans are taking comfort and harbour in the four-page summary prepared by Attorney-General William Barr.
Just 10 days ago the American press was bathed in a warm feeling of self-satisfaction, regarding Mr. Trump’s taunts as badges of honour and with some news outlets actually profiting economically from the aspersions being cast in the public prints and on cable television against Mr. Trump. Today many of the prevailing press assumptions – including the notion, not stated but broadly believed, that Mr. Trump’s presidency amounted to a criminal conspiracy – are in tatters.
But this week Mr. Trump – speaking just before former Democratic Representative Beto O’Rourke travelled to El Paso, Texas, to announce his campaign to unseat the President – will decide whether to close the country’s southern border.