New York: This week provided a preview of how the Democratic Party could blow its chance to make Donald Trump a one-term president.

When Democrats took control of the US House of Representatives last November, they had a plan: hold Trump accountable through investigations while passing legislation that helps working and middle class Americans.

This would help set them up, they reckoned, for victory in the 2020 election.

Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar has been accused of perpetuating anti-Semitic tropes. Credit:AP

Not on the to-do list: being consumed for weeks by an internecine debate about anti-Semitism that allows Republicans to paint them as radical and divided.