The phrase lame duck is confusing as the lame duck has superpowers.
Not having to worry about running for the same office again means he can make unpopular power moves for his faction.
The right almost never does this, the left always does.
The last serious right wing power move was Reagan appointing a former DJ to the FCC, who then ended the equal time rule enabling right wing talk radio.
That was 37 years ago.
RT: https://poa.st/objects/b275b6b5-60f8-42b4-a43f-179090f11b7a