By announcing he won’t schedule debate on any bills to reopen the government Trump won’t sign, McConnell has empowered the President and reduced pressure on his caucus that would inevitably come from voting on such bills. To wit, the latest polls show just 5% of Americans blaming Congressional Republicans. Moreover, McConnell is attempting to frame this as a fight between equals; Pelosi/Schumer vs. Trump, a strategy unavailable until this Congress.