It's The Dexo

“I am proud to shut down the government"

"I will take the mantle"

"I will take the blame for it"

— @realDonaldTrump to Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Schumer, Dec. 11, 2018 https://t.co/5gKd2dRLL1

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) October 6, 2020

1/ Trump cut off stimulus talks. It's almost as if he has a political death wish and will take down Republicans with him.

His campaign people are staring mutely at the screens of their phones, stunned and depressed.

Stepien was just on with the pollsters. Ooops. Blindsided.

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 6, 2020

He has the emotional makeup of a particularly bratty preschooler. Essentially, he's holding his breath to get attention. https://t.co/k4vqvUS7Wo

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) October 6, 2020

When Trump broke his news about shutting down stimulus talks, Pelosi was on a conference call with House Democrats. One of her responses to members was to suggest that Trump may be affected in his thinking by the steroids he is on.

— Billy House (@HouseInSession) October 6, 2020

Or not.

For many months, some aides have wondered if he actually wants a second term. Here was our story from June. Not much has changed https://t.co/QDjxFUFwF9 https://t.co/YiJqoUDMyD

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 6, 2020

The self-owns will continue until polling improves.

— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) October 6, 2020

*TRUMP SAYS HE'S STOPPING STIMULUS TALKS UNTIL AFTER ELECTION

*S&P 500 DROPS TO SESSION LOW, FALLS BELOW 3,400 pic.twitter.com/tkcELrxhZv

— Justin Sink (@justinsink) October 6, 2020

Trump ends stimulus talks, says he has advised his deputies not to engage again before the election. https://t.co/40rw2b3HpV

— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) October 6, 2020

There’s always a tweet (from 3 days ago) https://t.co/TYWrqZ549g

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 6, 2020

No money for rent.  No money for payroll.  No rent forbearance.  No help for airline employees.  No help at all.  And the Capitol may have to shut down; lots of old people in there.

New: There are now 123 front-line workers in the Capitol complex who have have tested positive—or are presumed positive—for COVID-19, according to House Admin GOP Spokesperson Ashley Phelps.

Story coming.

— Chris Marquette (@ChrisMarquette_) October 6, 2020

The GOP Titanic is sinking on the iceberg, and Trump is telling everyone "This is fine!"

This is another Biden +14, and the numbers are even worse for Trump in the part of the poll post his COVID diagnosis. I think we're starting to get more evidence now that COVID hurt him in addition to the debate. https://t.co/648Db5ziBC

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) October 6, 2020

And we still have tomorrow night.

What is Pence even going to say in the debate tomorrow?

“No, we aren’t passing a Covid relief bill before the election.”
“Yes, the President and his top aids are infected with Covid.”
“Why, yes, we did just tank the market.”
“Yes, we did hold a superspreader event at the WH.”

— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) October 6, 2020

Pretty sure it's the dexo.  Pretty sure the POTUS is incapacitated.  And the band on the deck keeps playing as the water keeps rising.

🧩🧩🧩Cc: @maggieNYT 🧩🧩🧩 https://t.co/6TDX2YbFL2

— Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) October 6, 2020

Trump’s closing argument of More Covid, Less Stimulus seems like a bit of a gamble.

— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 6, 2020

cf. Hitler/Speer/Nero Order https://t.co/XNOc9bGjED

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) October 6, 2020

I do think Trump realizes he can't win the battle at this point (not necessarily the war, yet, though he's losing that, too), so he's decided to turnover the board and scatter all the pieces. It's his idea of "negotiating."  Or it's the dexo.  Probably both, actually.