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The longest shutdown in the history of the United States has ended––at least for now. As the dust settles and the pollsters do their work, the results of the Trump vs. Pelosi, Republican vs. Democrat boxing match are beginning to come in. And the news doesn’t look good for the Republicans.

According to the Washington Post,

In private, irritated Republican senators lashed out at each other over the 35-day shutdown — with conservative hard-liners and moderates attacking Trump’s strategy and his decision to capitulate by reopening the government without winning a dime for his border wall. Many congressional Republicans say they knew the impasse would not end well for the GOP, but went along with Trump in the name of party unity.

The post, among other publications, report Rep. Peter King’s words:

“I hope we get some common sense out of it,” Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) said, reflecting on what the Republican Party gained from the shutdown fight. “We lost the election in November and now we’ve lost six weeks to get our strength back, to get our position back.”

Pelosi, meanwhile, comes off looking stronger:

Pelosi (D-Calif.) emerges from the shutdown as a stronger leader of her party — and more popular with the public, by early measures — as Democrats eye aggressive efforts to counter Trump’s agenda through ambitious legislation and tough oversight. That suggests the shutdown might have been a strategic misstep for Trump, in addition to a tactical error.

“He’s used to hand-to hand combat,” said former senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), a longtime Pelosi friend and partner in politics. “With Nancy, it’s hand-to-hand combat with a velvet glove, and he’s not used to it.”

…

“I think he’s finally met his match,” said Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). “The speaker always presents herself in public and in private with the utmost respect. But she’s firm, and she’s strong, and she understands how to wield that power.”

The BBC, meanwhile, is reporting that most U.S. press outlets are counting the shutdown as a defeat for Trump.

There’s something oddly poetic about this. Nothing has stuck to Trump––he’s like political teflon. He’s done things that would have ended the careers of far more established politicians. The one time he gets to do what he bragged about his expertise in––make a deal––he flubbed it. He did so spectacularly and very, very publicly.

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