As you'll hear on the pod…there are many occasions when cable pundits say Trump's having his WORST WEEK EVER. A lot of times, that's hype. But I think there's some truth this time. He's fighting on multiple fronts that expose the big weaknesses in his approach to the presidency.
In particular, his deteriorating relationships with McConnell & other members of the Congressional leadership is a major deal. The shutdown itself isn't a huge news event (IMO). But those relationships matter a lot, including on the big questions (impeachment, primary challenge).
In the background, there's also an increasing amount of downside risk—how much depends on which economist you ask—for Trump on the economy. I'm not sure the stock market sell-off matters much. But something that spills into the consumer sector could be very bad for Trump.
