Thread by @ThePlumLineGS

1) In an extraordinary act of capitulation, House Republicans passed $5 billion for Trump's wall, after signaling that they knew the wall is an absurd nonstarter.

Why are Republicans so beholden to the extreme right, while Dems so often shrug off pressure from left?

*THREAD*

2) One of the best explanations for this I’ve ever heard comes from @benwikler of @MoveOn.

He experienced this dynamic first hand, behind the scenes.

And he shared a story about this with me, which I reported in my new book:

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…

@benwikler @MoveOn As @benwikler recounts, during the last government shutdown fight over the DREAMers, progressive groups presented Democrats with private polling.

It showed that Trump and Republicans would bear the blame for the shutdown:

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…

@benwikler @MoveOn 4) After this, Democrats caved in two days.

But @benwikler’s explanation for *why* this happened is eye-opening:

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…

@benwikler @MoveOn 5) Dems privately told progressive groups that they couldn’t withstand the mainstream media heat over the shutdown.

But this gets at a much bigger issue: An extremely important asymmetry in our politics.

This dispiriting quote gets to the heart of it:

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…

@benwikler @MoveOn 6) The incentives this time are aligned very differently, so this might not happen again.

But that deep asymmetry will continue to be a major factor in our politics.

I rely on political science from @MattGrossman and @DaveAHopkins to try to explain it:

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…

@benwikler @MoveOn @mattgrossman @DaveAHopkins 7) The problem is also fueled by a deep asymmetry between conservative and liberal media consumption habits, documented by polling and political science:

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…

@benwikler @MoveOn @mattgrossman @DaveAHopkins 8) How Dems close this “hardball” gap will require a big debate going forward.

If you want much more on the history behind this asymmetry, how GOP power politics got to this point, and what can be done about it, please check out my book.

Happy Shutdown!

amazon.com/Uncivil-War-De…