Summer In Trump's Washington

Summers in Washington, D.C. are hot and humid. Particularly in August, it becomes easy to remember that two centuries ago, the city was literally built in a swamp, which was drained to make way for the new capital. Donald Trump’s campaign cry, perhaps unwittingly, mirrors the call of late eighteenth-century construction workers.

Heat and humidity can make people both lazy and irritable, and it seems like that is shaping up to be a perfect reflection of the mood inside D.C., as the first summer of the presidency of Donald Trump slowly progresses. Lazy, in that nothing much continues to happen in terms of fulfilling major campaign promises such as Obamacare repeal and tax reform. And irritable, in the sense of continuing investigations into collusion with the Russians (some justified, to be sure), and marches of “the Resistance.”

Something major could always change, just as the heat and humidity can give way to sudden thunderstorms and flash floods, but as of now it seems unlikely. The status quo will probably continue through the summer, with much sniping and little being accomplished. Such is the standard in modern Washington, and this summer looks set to exacerbate the trend.