The government shutdown concluded with a painful paradox for Chuck Schumer. On one hand, the workaholic, media-thirsty Senate Democratic leader helped orchestrate a successful shutdown strategy that surprised even the most cynical Washington observers. He kept hard-to-wrangle Democrats united and on offense around a simple message about healthcare benefits that overpowered Donald Trump’s efforts to counter it. On the other hand, Schumer was blamed for the shutdown’s clunky denouement, in which members of his Senate caucus went rogue to reopen the government with no tangible healthcare victory in hand. Capitol Hill insiders are already gossiping about his exit as leader.