Ronald Brownstein, Columnist

What’s the Endgame for Trump’s Offensive Against Blue Cities?

Minneapolis under siege.

Photographer: Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty Images

The siege of Minneapolis represents a fitting, if foreboding, capstone to the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term. Since returning to office one year ago today, Trump has pursued no goal more passionately or persistently than breaking the ability of blue jurisdictions and their leaders to resist him. In the process, he is straining the nation’s fundamental cohesion in ways that may escalate beyond his control.

Trump’s pressure campaign against blue states and cities is advancing along three major tracks.