収束ゾーンでのライフ: Life in the Convergence Zone

I agree this looks like a massive rope-a-dope but I disagree with you on who's being played. I see the Democrats ending up bruised and humiliated.

Consider how this round plays out on the Democratic side of the ring:

1. Dems compromise with Republicans on a border security bill.
2. The center and left wings of the Democratic party don't like the tough-on-immigrants measures in the bill and lose faith in their leaders.
3. The bill fails because Republicans abandon it, so the Democrats are left without support for Ukraine and alienating part of their base.

Meanwhile from the Republican side:

1. Republicans talk down the bill (which THEY helped negotiate) as not tough enough.
2. Right wing echo chamber media repeat all the spin and lies uncritically.
3. Republican voters cheer their leaders for standing up to the awful Dems who are still trying to ruin America.