I respect Brian but I think he's wrong here. The blob & the political establishment had obvious deep antipathy for Trump and went to extreme ends to prevent him from becoming President again. Precisely because he's unpredictable in what he might do and we're already seeing this unpredictability play out.

The exposure of USAID activities has done real damage to the Blob; it wasn't just a limited hangout. Sure they will try to regrow this 'tentacle' and reestablish control in areas that they have lost it. But it will be hard work for them and something they would have very much wanted to avoid having to do.

This isn't to say that it's over for the Blob, not at all. They'll fight back. But there is a real fight going on, it's not just theatre.