What a difference a few months can make, eh? As you likely recall from earlier this year, Joe Manchin was either the darling of Washington and the “acting president” or he was a demon, depending on who you asked. He was thwarting many of the best-laid plans of his own party in the upper chamber, even as the Democrats had to keep kissing his ring in the hope that he would allow some parts of their agenda to make it into law. He was simultaneously being courted by some Republicans who wanted to prevent the Democrats from running the board. Then came the day when he cut a sweetheart deal with Chuck Schumer to allow the hilariously named Inflation Reduction Act to make it over the finish line in exchange for a pipeline-permitting reform measure to go through separately. That would ensure the completion of a new pipeline in his home state that he has promised to his constituents.Read More
Joe Manchin gets used to living under the bus
