After an 'unrestrained' Trump frees himself of aides that would temper him, Jared takes the wheel

Gone are the old staffers who would attempt to talk some sense into a man inventing policy largely from the strange delusions he insists, to onlookers, to be true; in their place, there's only Jared.

There is still hope among punditry that Trump is degrading, a man more dishonest this year than last, angrier and newly unfettered from any aides that would seek to temper him, could hoist himself up to decency if the situation demanded he do so. He has shown no evidence of this, in any circumstance. It will not happen. He will give a speech; he will be judged not by any pretense of elegance but by whether he tells greater or lesser falsehoods to the American people than he usually does. He will then retreat to the safe space of his closest advisers and Fox News, yes men every one, and marvel at his own brilliance.