So much for upstaging. He's a dead man walking.
He will be if he holds this wall crap too close to his chest. If we can assume Trump does not understand the ramifications of even a partial government shutdown and as is his nature, refuses to listen to those knowledgeable about it, he will reach a point where he will get a veto proof bill on his desk. Trump is riding this out because he knows his base is not only enamored with this fucking wall but also the thought of so many federal employees not getting paid. He might overplay this one.
The purpose of the shutdown is to serve Putin's ends, not his. He is always doing what Putin demands of him. Now more than ever, in fact, precisely because they both know it's rapidly coming to an end, so Trump is going to be pulling as many plugs off of life support as he possibly can to please the only person who could
really do him damage; like permanent dead in a ditch (or worse; alive and disfigured) type damage.
This whole thing has never really been about Trump, which is yet another reason why he'll take a deal, but only at the bitter end and when he finally has no other option. It can't be fully revealed what Putin and Trump have done. That is--you'll pardon the pun--the final trump card and it's one that no one in the echelons really wants played if it can be avoided. It's known, of course, at the highest levels and we all
believe it's true, but to actually have that come out--proved in a public court like the Senate impeachment proceedings or the like--is not something anyone in power really wants to see happen. Not for Trump's sake, of course; they'd love to see him swing. For "America's" sake.
Better that he resigns and it remains in the realm of conspiracy theory and rumors and rumors of rumors than to have all of the concrete evidence thrown down that proves a foreign power successfully occupied our highest office and was calling all the shots for a good two years or more. Remember that there are ALSO Republican Senators who are likely also on Putin's payroll, so it's a matter of m.a.d. (or "detente" I guess) that Trump resign without all of that coming to full light.
And maybe that's his final play as well; his bluff.
Go ahead and reveal to the world, kind of false dare/bravada, but then it really would be a death sentence for him; not by Putin, but by us. We'd have the first modern day firing squad in a heartbeat if that were the case, consequences be damned.
So it's resign or death. Basically. Perhaps not literally, but then again, we're not talking about small stakes here.
If he cops to lesser charges, though, that's when we'll know that he is in fact guilty of the higher crimes. And he can cop to those--the money laundering and tax fraud and the like--because those are "businessman" crimes; crimes he can laugh off like Capone thought he could.
Treason, or being proved a bonafide Traitor, however, is not something he could ever live down or get passed. Rumors? Yes. The realm of tabloid conspiracy? Sure, easy to ignore/dismiss. Concrete evidence publicly displayed and part of the historical record? No. It would always be his epitaph; surpassing all other achievements, real or imagined.
He's too much a narcissist to let that happen, so it's deal and likely fairly soon, imho.
I hope you're right