Trump is now just the bully in the pulpit

strategy for reversing the plan, but whatever it is, environmental groups are almost certain to appeal it in the courts. Big businesses and utilities, fearing that the courts may rule against the administration, are lobbying the EPA to come up with a replacement.

Although Gen. John Kelly has reduced White House chaos somewhat, the firings and shake-ups are unremitting.

Trump’s Cabinet secretaries don’t seem to have a clue. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos still wants to spend taxpayer money on for-profit schools and colleges that cheat their students. Won’t happen. The EPA’s Scott Pruitt is trying to strip the agency of scientists — another brainless scheme.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price didn’t resign for his ethical breaches. Price broke Trump’s cardinal rule, which was never to get bad headlines for Trump.

Top echelons of departments and agencies are still empty. Trump has said “in many cases, we don’t want to fill those jobs,” which means decisions are being made by career civil servants and industry lobbyists.

By the start of September, more than a third of the leadership positions at the Federal Emergency Management Agency were still vacant. Not a good way to begin hurricane season. Puerto Rico, anyone?

Trump’s political clout is waning among Republicans. He couldn’t even get victory for his pick in a Senate primary in Alabama, a state bulging with Trump voters.

Business leaders have deserted him over his remarks about Charlottesville, Va. NFL owners have turned on him over his remarks about players.

Don’t get me wrong. Trump is still a dangerous showman and con man — tweeting condemnations of critics and ranting before friendly crowds at his never-ending campaign rallies. He continues to fuel bigotry and meanness. He has reduced America’s standing in the world. His outbursts could start a nuclear war.

But when it comes to the actual work of governing America, Trump is becoming utterly and completely irrelevant.