>Congress right now is a House of 'cards', the majority 'won' by the Dims having actually been stolen.
The dems are splintered and Pelosi/Schumer can't pull them together. Best thing for POTUS would be a wall funding vote because it would force dems to go on the record yea or nay for the wall. Polls/call ins most likely showing high level of support for wall and low profile dems are getting nervous.
If Pelosi/Schumer cave on a deal they will take the blame and be neutered from the get go in the new congress. Pelosi/Schumer have to find a way to shove the reponsibility over to the miltant dems demanding no cave in order to keep the support of those dems buckling under poll pressure.
If POTUS goes national emergency Pelosi/Schumer are off the hook and will label POTUS a dictator who goes around congress. No emergency keeps pressure on dems under revolt. Pelosi/Schumer here are like the question about dogs who chase cars. What happens if they catch one? Well they grabbed on to an 18 wheeler.
Optics now are that the only reason you would not want a wall is that you are making money off not having a wall. One case where hard evidence arises that some dem pol is profiting off illegal behavior at the border and the house comes down. That's why so many pubs where shoehorned out of their jobs last term IMO. Dems taking house was a trap.