So, reading in WAPO that

So not sure this is actually a surprise to many folks.

also heard that a lot of back benchers were heavily involved in the "push" (not sure how that works exactly -- but that's the story)

Edit: "Expected" or not -- let's just say that nobody on capital hill was counting on the WH as a reliable partner in negotiation. (or much of anything for that matter)

So unlike him and ya...

Aside from a few legal maneuvers he's made, with the advice of sleazy lawyers, he's been very predictable. He's going to troll his way into the news as much as possible. Even when he leaves office, he's going to do what he can to stay in the news. When he started running in 2015, he got this mouthpiece that he isn't going to give up willingly. The best thing for people to do is ignore him when he leaves office. I wish we could ignore him now, but since he is still President, what he does matters.

that could never find any work. No offense taken.

There are people all across the country who have been watching developments intently. Six hundred bucks is insufficient, but for a lot of people, it's something when they have nothing. With the iffy promise that Congress might do something more come January, this $600 could be the bridge to better days. Instead, Trump comes in at the last moment and kicks the whole thing off the rails. He wants people to get more than $600! Yay! Where the fuck has he been for the last several weeks? Republicans have been stripping the assistance down to the bone and Democrats were going along to get something for people in desperate straits, and hope for better in the new year.

Nope, Donald's not happy. So suck it, needy people. Meanwhile, some millionaire media personalities are hand-waving the whole cruel charade away, marveling at Trump's showmanship.