The Note: A high-stakes week for Trump

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March 20, 2017

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A high-stakes week for Trump

The Big Story

This is it – the start of the week that will define President Trump's early presidency more than any that has yet arrived. There's so much popping at once -- FBI Director James Comey's first public testimony in months; the start of Supreme Court confirmation hearings; health care bill wrangling; very different public standoffs with America's top allies and top judges – that it's tempting to let days like this wash through as if they're typical in the Trump chaos-creation machine. What makes this week different, in part, are the stakes. On the line this week are Trump's own essential credibility, his basic ability to get things done, the word and bond of powerful U.S. allies, and the efficacy of checks and balances. One other thing that sets this week apart: Trump is used to being the star of his own show. Today and for much of this week, though, he'll be seeing others – Comey, Judge Neil Gorsuch, House Speaker Paul Ryan – take the spotlight, and take effective control of his agenda.

The Sleeper Story

It's one thing to insult the media, or celebrities, or Democrats, or members of Congress, or nations whose intelligence, financial and moral leadership support the United States does not depend on. But as we learned earlier in Trump's presidency when he sparred privately and then publicly with the prime minister of Australia, powerful allies do not earn themselves immunity. Now the president has two more enraged friends to cope with: the British and the Germans. "Absurd," a former British ambassador to the United States wrote, calling it a "dangerous game" and citing "the president's famous reluctance to admit mistakes, and his suspicion of intelligence agencies and their product." As for the president's assertion that Germany owes NATO money, "There is no account where debts are registered with NATO," the German defense minister said in a statement, by way of correcting Trump. The president may not have set out to annoy or offend the British or the Germans, but his disregard for precision and essential accuracy is catching up to him.

The Shiny Story

Cue the liberal anger, along with the ads that are already accusing Judge Neil Gorsuch of refusing to say where he stands on key issues, even before he's had a chance not to answer those questions. Nothing gets bases revved up quite like a Supreme Court confirmation hearing, and that means liberals will energize against its own to demand a filibuster to block Gorsuch from the high court. This will mean a rare (for the Trump era) public airing of internal Democratic grievances, a reminder that, yes, the Democratic Party emerged from the election angry and divided on tactics and strategies. But this is not the big dance. It's a major conference tournament. So much of what happens in the Senate Judiciary Committee won't be about Gorsuch but about the person who queues up behind him as the next nominee, the one who might tip the ideology of the court.

TLDR

Weeks don't get bigger than this: FBI Director James Comey testifies, Neil Gorsuch gets his Supreme Court hearings and the health care bill is scheduled for its first House vote.