Biden Struggles to Solve the Manchin-Sinema Puzzle

Politico: “With the clock ticking on their hopes of clinching a major climate and deficit reduction deal before Memorial Day, Democratic leaders are again struggling to make progress — stymied by a lack of clear direction or an understanding of what both Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), their two biggest obstacles, are prepared to support.”

Said one White House insider: “The White House is hamstrung by the Venn diagram of Manchin and Sinema asks.”

“Currently, informal reconciliation talks center on three major areas: climate change, prescription drug reform and deficit reduction. While the White House has yet to acknowledge other social spending elements have been moved off the table, multiple people familiar with the talks said President Joe Biden’s ambitions on child and elder care are all but dead.”