It’s this autumn’s zaniest sitcom. Donald in the Middle stars three best friends who get up to all sorts of wacky high-jinks around the nation’s capital. Along the way these former enemies learn the value of bipartisan governance and friendship.

We all get more than enough entertainment from Washington these days. But the Donald’s latest dalliances with Democrats – specifically, his apparently amicable talks with House and Senate leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer – do feel like something of a joke. After all this time, all those tweets, the insults and the name-calling, could he possibly believe that the Left will provide his political salvation?

Trump is eight months into his presidency and has nothing to show for it. It is said that he blames congressional Republicans for the lack of progress on his agenda. He’s tried to go it alone (see the so-called Muslim ban), and he’s tried pushing through legislation without Democratic co-operation (see the attempted repeal and replacement of Obamacare). Now, he’s pushing at door number three: ditch the Grand Old Party, and grab whatever Democratic votes are going.

With Democratic support, Trump was able to punt a tough conversation on the debt ceiling into the new year last week; that victory brought forward more dialogue with Democratic leadership (as well as rank and file members) on everything from healthcare to tax cuts to immigration reform. In particular, the White House and congressional Democrats are said to be “very close” to a deal on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which furnishes temporary work and educational visas to people who arrived in the country illegally as small children.