In years past but hopefully no longer though that remains to be seen, the RATS had all the say even when they were the minority. Go back to when Republicans took over the Senate in 1980 and then both houses in 1994 and you'll see where they deferred to the Democrats at every turn including continuing to call many of the former committee heads, "Mr. Chairman." Being in the minority meant nothing when the likes of Ted Kennedy, Patrick Leahy, or Joe Biden would interrupt a hearing and thereafter the cowering Republicans would look to them for direction in what to do next.
Again, I hope this is in the past, but I'm going to need to see some serious smackdowns before I believe it. Trump and his guys are definitely in charge and tell the RATS and their allies to eff off as many times a day as needed (which is becoming fewer and fewer already), but Ryan, McConnell, and the rest of the GOPe are guilty until proved otherwise.
I think your fears are based on a past when no-ball Republicans peed their pants at the prospect of a Democrat or the Media calling them a Draconian Tyrant.
WE REAL AMERICANS have shown them that we don’t give a damn about Democrats OR the Media, frankly.
We have a NEW Media - it’s called Trump Tweet, and we have a cadre of no-ball Republicans that have virtually to a man now fallen in behind the program, save the two biggest losers ever to walk this planet: McCain and Graham.
What America (and recalcitrant Republicans) is learning by Trump’s example is that Democrat and Media bleats are just that - bleats with no meaning. We’re still gonna shear their asses anyway and like it.