Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said there’s no doubt that the Democrats’ liberal base is animated when Pelosi confronts Trump head on. And that’s especially true, she explained, given Trump’s long history of personal attacks on women who have crossed his path — a long list that includes Hillary Clinton (“crooked Hillary”), Omarosa Newman (“that dog”), Rosie O’Donnell (“a fat, ugly face”), Gail Collins (“the face of a pig”), and Stormy Daniels (“horseface”).

“He has a pattern of having a problem with women who are strong and powerful. … They seem to be an easy target for him,” Walsh said. “When she stands up to him, the base gets energized, women get energized.”

Yet there’s also a risk, Walsh warned, that provoking Trump will make it more difficult for Democrats to pass another round of emergency coronavirus relief — legislation Republicans were resisting even before last week’s Pelosi-Trump clash.