Of course, Trump and the GOPs popularity was already down or they would not have lost 40 SEATS in the House. Trump thought he would rally his base by suddenly decided illegal immigration across our southern border was a crisis, even though it wasn't for the first 2 years of his presidency. His demand for the wall did rally his hard core base, BUT NO ONE ELSE. Furthermore, the shutdown was enough to rattle many of his "anyone but Hillary" supporters. While they won't admit they made a mistake, I think many are quietly looking forward to 2020 when they can vote for anyone but Trump.

I had not read that.

He had his masters' preferred vendor, Deripaska, greenlighted to do business in the USA before he folded. Don't think he would have folded without that. Since he had a cornerstone of his plan approved, and the American funders were rebelling due to the airport situation and would revolt, he figured it was time to cave, but just briefly, for show. Next is the proclamation of national emergency, which allows him to place the order for steel (it will be the first thing done) before the courts stop it, because they almost certainly will not buy the BS. Then he just hopes the SCOTUS proves it's Russian Repug driven and will approve his actions, but even if it doesn't, he thinks this will get him off the hook with PUtin for this (to him) critical task since the steel is already ordered. The shutdown was always about vengeance against Americans for installing a Dem House to check him. I just hope he's not cruel and stupid enough to try this a 2nd time so close to the first. American workers and our economy will be devastated if he does.

Trump made the threat that he will shut down the Government again if he does not get any wall money.

He does that, Trump and the GOP are done, finished. The Senate WILL go back to the Democrats and the White House too. We just need the Liberals on the Supreme Court to not die until after 2021. We can hope.

Maybe he thought the FBI wouldn't be able to arrest Stone with the government shut down. Once he saw that that was not the case, he realized there's no point in continuing the shutdown.