Well, howdy there, Internet people, it's Bell again.

So today, we're going to talk about Trump, Thune, motives, and signals.

So, we've got a little news about the shutdown and a question about Republican Senate Majority Leader Thune's motives.

So, here's the question.

Quote,

Thune's term ends in 28.

South Dakota overwhelmingly voted for Trump.

I drive all around the South Dakota countryside twice a year for work,

and I've watched as Trump flags go up and down.

Since I started doing this many years ago, but after Trump was first elected, there were always

dozens of Trump flags up. This spring there were two. Now there are none. Thune's term ends in

2008, so in theory, there's nothing Trump can do to him.

Unless either Thune hates humanity and health care that much, or he thinks Trump is going to be president in 2029, or both.

What do you think of this analysis? Well, I think that most of us forget, at least

occasionally, that the Trumpian takeover of the Republican Party alienated many in the traditional

Republican base. Trump's current term is hurting a lot of once loyal Republican demographics. Thune is a politician.

He wants what all Senate majority leaders want. Another term. Wholesale abandonment of Trump's

rhetoric right away would lead to the Republican Party collapsing in on itself as the Trump base flees.

Besides, Trump doesn't officially become a lame duck for another year.

I'm not particularly worried about a third Trump term.

Now, on to other Thune news.

Thune signaled that Republicans would be willing to roll back some of the actions they've

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