"In the real world, Donald Trump isn't going to reverse the Medicaid cuts enacted in the Republican megabill or permanently eschew Russ Vought's claims of executive-branch power over spending authority. Now that he's hailed Vought as the Grim Reaper and labeled Democrats as "the party of Satan," about the most the opposition can realistically expect is a suspension of mass federal-employee layoffs if the government reopens, and even that's a stretch."
"The limited public concessions Democrats can claim have led some observers to suggest they focus on issues that the public may not perceive as vital but that really would restrict Trump's ability to act like a dictator while providing relief to his victims. Jonathan V. Last suggests a few at the Bulwark: A legislative end to " Kavanaugh stops." Ending qualified immunity for federal law enforcement officers. Mandating that federal law enforcement officers cannot wear masks and must display identifying badges/markings at all times."
Democrats face constrained bargaining options amid the shutdown because major concessions—such as reversing Medicaid cuts or undoing executive spending claims—are unlikely. The most achievable outcomes include a suspension of federal-employee layoffs and a partial extension of Obamacare premium subsidies, though such gains would dilute attacks on administration health-care policy. Some observers urge pursuing technical but consequential legal and institutional fixes that limit unilateral executive authority and protect citizens, including reforms on law-enforcement immunity, identification, emergency powers, visa revocation discretion, and procedural blocks that enable abrupt executive actions.
Read at Intelligencer
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