 Well, Joe Manchin held a press conference and he essentially initiated a game of chicken with progressives and it's very clear that They're backing down Joe Manchin won progressives at this point Have lost and now it's a matter of how embarrassed They'll be in the end of this which is still yet to be determined now to give you some back Background before I show you what Joe Manchin said Progressives have to their credit remain committed to not supporting the bipartisan infrastructure deal Unless they also vote on the Build Back Better Act because they know that if they vote on the bipartisan Infrastructure deal, which is a corporate handout that Joe Manchin and other Republicans want then they have no leverage they're not gonna get the Build Back Better Act, so it's important that they remain committed and they have and Democratic Party leadership is getting increasingly impatient because they're going back on their promise to progressives and now they're saying Let's just vote on the bipartisan infrastructure give the corporatists what they want and then we'll revisit the Build Back Better Act later In fact over the weekend Nancy Pelosi actually told members not to embarrass the president while he's overseas by voting against his bipartisan infrastructure deal because she's receiving pressure from the corporatists and they want to vote and She now wants to give it to them because she thinks that they mean business Progressives have absolutely no reason whatsoever to support the bipartisan infrastructure deal because it's it's useless It's garbage in fact that alone does more harm to the planet overall and AOC broke this down in a really insightful thread And she says passing Biff without Build Back Better makes our emissions and climate crisis worse Sure, some Biff investments do good, but not enough so it keeps us in the emissions red So if progressives don't get a lot of concessions in Build Back Better enough to offset the damage caused by Biff Bipartisan infrastructure, then they have no reason to support it vote it down now the problem is that Progressives aren't threatening to vote down the bipartisan infrastructure and they're still kind of towing the same line Which was important to a point? But now it's not as valuable. So for example Jamal Bowman said look I'm a yes on both bills, but at the same time he tweeted out we passed what we ran on I'm a yes to building back better for all both bills must pass now I responded to that saying build back better is busted torpedo everything you got played Don't give their corporate donors what they want the crumbs you got in Build Back Better aren't worth voting on Bipartisan infrastructure for don't be weak vote No tank it now even though Jamal Bowman is in one way standing up to Nancy Pelosi by saying no I'm not gonna vote on the bipartisan infrastructure yet. I want to vote on both bills He's still caving by saying he's gonna vote for Biff at all Because it's it's a bad bill and on top of that build back better got gutted We talked about this last week paid leave was even even removed and you're still gonna give them what they want The bipartisan infrastructure proposal, which is a giveaway to their corporate donors. Fuck that vote it down Don't give them what they want. You have no incentive now There's not enough in Build Back Better and by saying no voting down both bills You actually are showing the Democratic Party that you mean business Why do you think Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer listen to these corporate Democrats? Why do you think they're encouraging you to vote on infrastructure because they know that these corporate Democrats? They mean business they will vote down Reconciliation so to get both bills through Nancy Pelosi is trying to appease the corporatists But they're not trying to appease you They kind of shut you out of negotiations on both Biff and Build Back Better Because they know that at the end of the day whatever they come up with You're gonna go along with it as long as there's a little bit of crumbs in it So it doesn't matter how humiliated you look So Joe Manchin he held a press conference and he called their bluff and he basically said look if we don't get a vote on Bipartisan infrastructure, then I'm not gonna support reconciliation. Here's what he had to say Last week the speaker urged Speaker Pelosi urged the importance of voting and passing The Biff bill before the president took the world stage overseas and still no action In my view, this is not how the United States Congress Should operate or in my view has operated in the past the political games have to stop Twice now the House has balked at the opportunity to send the Biff legislation to the president As you've heard there are some House Democrats who say they can't support this infrastructure package Until they get my commitment on the reconciliation legislation It is time to vote on the Biff bill up or down and then go home and explain to your Constituents the decision you made and I've always said if I can't go home and explain it I can't vote for it and if I can I will I've worked in good faith for three months for the past three months With President Biden leader Schumer speaker Pelosi and my colleagues on the reconciliation bill and I will continue to do so For the sake of the country I urge the House to vote and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill Holding this bill hostage is not going to work and getting my support for regular Reconciliation bill throughout the last three months. I've been straightforward about my concerns that I will not support a reconciliation package that expands social programs and Irresponsibly adds to our 29 trillion dollars in national debt that no one seems to really care about or even talk about Nor will I support a package that risks hurting American families Suffering from historic inflation Simply put I will not support a bill that is this consequential Without thoroughly understanding the impact that it'll have on our national debt Our economy and most importantly all of our American people Every elected representatives needs to know what they are voting for and the impact it has not only on their constituents But the entire country so before I get to the response from the leader of the congressional progressive caucus from ill-adjai I just want to go over some things that he said here. He said I've worked in good faith for three months Laughable absolutely laughable on top of that. He says that he will not support a package that risks hurting American families suffering from historic Inflation he would never be able to get away with that if we had a capable mainstream media that was doing its job Because he doesn't care about the American people He doesn't care about what people in West Virginia want if you look at the polls these policies are incredibly popular He's doing the bidding of his corporate overlords and on top of that. He says this bill will Irresponsibly add to our twenty nine trillion dollar national debt that no one seems to really care about or even talk about Yeah, that's because we shouldn't care about that. I don't give a fuck about the national debt and nobody who's serious should I care about people in this country who are suffering because dipshits like you are holding your entire party back Even when Democrats want to do the bare minimum We can't even get that can't even get a billionaire tax can't even get four weeks paid leave You can't even join the rest of the world in offering the bare minimum to American workers So like if I'm a progressive and I see that I thought if I see that he's very obviously trying to call my bluff I'm saying okay. Keep your vote on reconciliation Joe Manchin We're voting no on your corporate handout disguised as bipartisan infrastructure. Fuck you. We don't need you We're done with everything. We got nothing that we wanted So we're gonna deny you what you want so desperately for your donors, too But that's not what happened because Joe Manchin called the bluff of progressives in Congress and the leader of progressives Back down she basically said well look We we really want to vote on both bills at the same time But we're willing to vote for this bipartisan infrastructure corporate giveaway So long as the president pinky promises that we're gonna get a vote on reconciliation take a look at what she had to say This is just embarrassingly pathetic. You endorsed the White House framework last week. You as a group of course Are you confident that those two senators will be for it because they have been less than definitive in what they've said so far publicly Yes, Andrea, it's good to see you and we did endorse the framework and in fact We also had a very very good meeting yesterday of the full CPC After the text was released, which is something that we were asking for for the Build Back Better Act And I'm very happy to say that we are now awaiting negotiations among senators on prescription drug pricing and child care and Some details on immigration but the Progressive Caucus assuming good resolution of Those issues from the Senate side that we will be excited to vote for both bills We now feel like we have what we need we are taking the president's word at The fact that he believes he can get 50 votes in the Senate And you know, I hope that the two senators that we've been waiting on these months Who have come to the table in good faith and negotiated that they understand that this is a leap of faith But you know assuming we get these negotiation these final negotiations done We're ready to pass both bills And I think the caucus feels very good about the fact that we've been able to do what we said from the beginning Which is past both bills at the same time get the entirety of the president's agenda to his desk for signature And ultimately deliver transformative change for people across this country That was absolutely Pathetic and this is why progressives don't get what they want. This is why they're not taken seriously During negotiations because of things like that She said we are taking the president's word at the fact that he believes he can get 50 votes in the Senate And you know, she really hopes that these two senators Kirsten Sinema and Joe Manchin know that they're taking a leap of faith That's assuming that Joe Manchin and Kirsten Sinema are good faith negotiators when Pramila Jayapal knows they are not But what she's doing is she's buckling and I'm gonna play another clip for you in a moment where she talks about how okay Even if the build-back better act was gutted. What's in it is still good, but here's the problem with that You're voting for what they want So at that point once you vote for their corporate giveaway, you no longer have leverage So that five hundred fifty billion dollars that's being made into climate change investments Well, what's stopping Joe Manchin after you've given him infrastructure from saying You know what let's cut that in half. Let's also take out the universal pre-k. Let's take that out, too If he does that, what are you gonna say? No, you better not you already gave him what he wants you gave away your leverage so he can do anything he wants at this point and You've enabled that that's why at a minimum you can't Vote for infrastructure unless you get a vote in the Senate on build-back better And also there was a little line in there where she said she was waiting to see what happens in the Senate with regard to Prescription drugs or you're just waiting and crossing your fingers that everything is gonna go as you plan you fight Representative Jaipal you fucking fight. It's not gonna go your way if you just sit back and Crush fingers and and hope and pray that things are gonna go your way You're working against an entire industry that is trying to tank this and It's clear that you've just decided to get steamrolled What you said there is basically give us whatever and we'll just go along with it because we have no fucking spines Now I do want to show you this Second clip here where she made it very clear that she's she's happy with what's left of the build-back better act and Yeah, they really hope that You know the prescription drug clause is included in build-back better But if it's not I mean we'll still vote for it, but there's a big if there if you do don't get Senate agreement on child care immigration prescription drugs. Does that mean that you won't go forward? Well, I think that we are very very close is my understanding and it isn't just the two senators at this point You know you have to get 50 votes in the Senate So there are different senators who are who are pushing very hard for different pieces of this bill including the prescription drug pricing piece and On child care actually is really not about the overall. It's really about the implementation Details. There are some differences between the language and what the Biden framework said So we are trying to iron out those differences, but my my hope is that that will happen very quickly and as I said You know look, I think we're we're in the very end zone here We are we are just about to get this done and we're feeling very good about Both bills and and you know and the president frankly being able to say once we deliver the build-back better act What a crucial time. This is you know Boris Johnson talking about how important climate is there's a 555 billion dollar investment in climate and we spent the weekend Looking at whether it would really lead to significant reductions meaningful reductions in climate emissions and our belief given the Detailed look that we have had and the briefings we've had from the White House that yes We will get there with that and so that is a huge victory And and that's why we think you know that we should pass these two bills together As soon as possible and let's wrap up these negotiations Let's get these last things done and let's pass them through I think we're ready All right So she claims that the reason why the main reason why progressives in Congress are still Enthusiastic about the build-back better is because of the 550 billion still in that bill for climate change investment She says that we spent the weekend looking at whether it would lead to significant reductions meaningful reductions in climate emissions and our belief Given the detailed look is that yes, we will get there the problem is that Pramila even if you are excited about that provision again if you vote for infrastructure Joe Manchin can say I don't like that number Let's make it 100 billion and there's nothing that you can do once you've given away your leverage and furthermore I Don't believe that that's actually going to be sufficient. I mean, of course, I have to see the details of the bill I'm sure it's positive But when we're talking about global anthropogenic climate change if you think that 550 billion is going to be sufficient I Just feel like that is incredibly naive in an op-ed for the New York Times Abram Luss Gordon eloquently explains why even if progressives got the full 3.5 trillion Dollar investments that they wanted which I mean that's still the compromise But even if they got that that would still be not enough given the scale of the destruction that climate change will inevitably cause He writes the current price tag of nearly 1.9 trillion for climate and other social spending might seem enormous Though less so than the original 3.5 trillion plan But over the long term either would be a pittance by zeroing in on those numbers The public debate seems to have skipped over the economic ramifications of climate change Which promise to be historically disruptive and enormously expensive what we don't spend now will cost us much more later The compromise plan calls for half a trillion dollars directed largely toward tax incentives for low-emission energy sources But it omits other provisions which will make it hard for mr. Biden to reach his climate goals Some economists and climate scientists have calculated that climate change could cost the United States the equivalent of nearly 4% of its gross domestic product a year By 2100 4% is likely a conservative estimate It leaves out consequential costs like damages from drought and climate migration It assumes the United States and other nations eventually move away from energy generated by oil coal and natural gas Though not as immediately as many say is needed in this scenario The planet will still warm by around three degrees Celsius by the end of the century from pre-industrial levels a change That would be disastrous 4% of American GDP comes out to about 840 billion each year it figured on last year's economic output Measured over a decade the way the Build Back Better Act is framed It's nearly 8.4 trillion but the actual cost of climate change to the economy could easily be far greater So we know that half a trillion isn't enough to tackle climate change But I guess if it meets joe biden's meager goals then Pramila Jayapal as the leader of the congressional progressive caucus Is satisfied and it's just it's incredibly disappointing to see how easily They will roll over for the corporate wing of the party and you could even take things further Okay, Build Back Better is gutted and they still really want you to vote for their infrastructure proposal Right because they want that gift to their corporate donors There's a reason why over a dozen republicans are supporting it in the senate as well So if they want that Make more demands from joe biden and say look you're clearly not going to get the votes But if you assure us that you're going to be signing An executive order where you cancel 50 000 In student debt from each debt holder If there's more executive orders that we can get from you before we vote on this Maybe we'll change our minds because what we're getting here is fucked over We're getting crumbs and we don't accept it, but give us some more executive orders these five executive orders And sure we'll we'll consider a change of heart We'll consider voting on your corporate giveaway if we get the crumbs and build back better But they're not doing anything they're they're just rolling over and they're dying And this is why they will never be taken seriously in congress Because at the end of the day Even when they do a good job and they hold strong for a really long time You can always expect them to buckle and this is why change never happens in the united states It's really really frustrating and it's disappointing and honestly if pramila jaya paul Doesn't Think she can handle all the pressure that leadership is putting on her Maybe she shouldn't be the leader of the congressional progressive caucus because what we saw Is weakness and you just broadcasted to everyone in the country that you're willing To go back on the bare minimum that you were holding strong on so that's incredibly embarrassing congressional progressives look weak and If progressives don't vote down everything torpedo build back better and bipartisan infrastructure I mean they're they're going to Leave lots of young people who are hopeful that they'd get the job done Feeling disillusion and that's going to hurt progressives in 2022. So if they let us down They're gonna be the ones to blame. I mean joe manchin is Clearly trying to play you and you're giving him exactly what he wants You walked right into his trap and that's really unfortunate makes him demands fight But they're not willing to fight and unfortunately i'm not that surprised I kind of expected this to be the ultimate outcome You know when we were talking about all of these wonderful things in build back better i was Pretty skeptical that they would be accomplished and my cynicism Unfortunately was correct. So this is not really the surprising outcome so far assuming it's going to head in this direction It's just you know another day where progressives get fucked because they are absolutely spineless and Yeah, so joe manchin wins corporate america wins