I think if you want to understand what the minority of senate Dems who are supporting this deal are thinking, you actually do have to set the politics aside — they are concerned about the harm the shutdown is doing and high-mindedly want to bring it to an end.

I would say it’s true that the shutdown is causing harm, but the public is blaming Trump and he is crashing out and picking intra-party fights about the filibuster to try to save his ass. But Dems don’t necessarily all believe their own story about blame and feel guilty.

I respect that perspective and want to somewhat reserve judgment until I understand more of the details of what’s in the appropriations bills, but this seems soft-minded to me and a little bit oblivious about the stakes.