Mitch McConnell, the longtime Republican leader in the Senate, used to describe his erstwhile role as being that of chief spear catcher—the guy who protected his conference and its agenda from public attacks, primary threats, and Oval Office pressure. Indeed, McConnell’s preternatural ability to catch and disarm incoming ordnance earned him unprecedented support in the chamber—a mixture of admiration and pure fear that allowed the devout institutionalist to reign pretty much unchallenged during an era of populist upheaval. And yet these days, as McConnell has passed his dowry to John Thune and seems unlikely to seek reelection, the 82-year-old has morphed into an ornery rank-and-file senator with the ability to upend MAGA’s legislative agenda and torment his former tormenter, Donald Trump. In many ways, it’s a fitting final act.