ALL IS PROCEEDING EXACTLY AS THE FOUNDERS HAVE FORESEEN: McConnell shuts down the Pelosi agenda. “The Republican Senate is where House Democratic bills go to die.”

As Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) put it: “We are the firewall.”

“Most of that stuff is really easy for Republicans in the Senate to message against,” said Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.). “We think a lot of the ideas over there are crazy. I don’t see many of our folks who have much problem messaging against most of what their agenda’s going to consist of.”

Gridlock in divided government is a longstanding Washington tradition, with the fast-moving House frequently stymied by the Senate. It’s not all bad for Democrats, who can help lay the groundwork for Democrats’ 2020 agenda and show voters what the party can do if it sweeps into power in the next election.

Politico has got to cheerlead for the Democrats, I suppose, because Politico. But Republicans are absolutely counting on voters becoming aware of what Democrats can do if they sweep into power in the next election.