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Has Manchin Doomed the Build Back Better Plan?

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia was always going to be the last Democrat to get on board with President Biden’s $2.2 trillion climate, social spending and tax bill. But the White House was confident that a compromise could be reached. On Sunday, that confidence was shattered: In an interview on Fox News, Mr. Manchin essentially declared that he could not support the bill as written, and he indicated that he was done negotiating all together. Where does this leave Mr. Biden’s signature domestic policy goal? Guest: Emily Cochrane, a correspondent for The New York Times, based in Washington.
Duration
29m
Broadcast on
21 Dec 2021
Audio Format
other

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia was always going to be the last Democrat to get on board with President Biden’s $2.2 trillion climate, social spending and tax bill. But the White House was confident that a compromise could be reached.

On Sunday, that confidence was shattered: In an interview on Fox News, Mr. Manchin essentially declared that he could not support the bill as written, and he indicated that he was done negotiating all together.

Where does this leave Mr. Biden’s signature domestic policy goal?

Guest: Emily Cochrane, a correspondent for The New York Times, based in Washington.

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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. From the New York Times, I'm Sabrina Tavernisi. This is the Daily. The Senate's crucial Democratic holdout, Joe Manchin, now says he cannot vote for President Biden's signature domestic policy plan, all but killing the $2 trillion bill. I spoke with my colleague, Emily Cochrane, about why Manchin is backing out now and where this leaves the President. (dramatic music) It's Tuesday, December 21st. Emily, I wanna roll back the clock a little bit because for the past few weeks, it's felt like Senator Joe Manchin was on the fence about this giant piece of legislation, historic climate and social spending bill proposed by President Biden. But the sense we all had was that this would somehow all work out for Biden, that this would all pass. So what happened? So we always knew that Joe Manchin was probably going to be the last Democrat to get on board. And the President had really turned a lot of attention, as you said, to getting him on board, inviting him to his house in Delaware to meet one-on-one phone calls, one-on-one meetings at the White House. At least one senator was joking that Joe Manchin probably had his own parking space by this week. But there was this confidence that because this was Joe Biden's plan, because these two men had a friendship and an understanding from each having years of experience in the Senate, that they would be able to work out a compromise. - So the President thought he was close.

Transcription truncated.

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia was always going to be the last Democrat to get on board with President Biden’s $2.2 trillion climate, social spending and tax bill. But the White House was confident that a compromise could be reached. On Sunday, that confidence was shattered: In an interview on Fox News, Mr. Manchin essentially declared that he could not support the bill as written, and he indicated that he was done negotiating all together. Where does this leave Mr. Biden’s signature domestic policy goal? Guest: Emily Cochrane, a correspondent for The New York Times, based in Washington.