During heated negotiations, Manchin tells Sanders he's 'comfortable with zero' dollars for Biden's social spending plan: 'We shouldn't do it at all'



Democratic negotiations on President Joe Biden's multitrillion-dollar "Build Back Better" spending plan don't seem to be progressing the way the Biden administration had hoped.

Despite public words of optimism and a cheery photo-op Monday, closed-door talks between Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) have reportedly gone sour.

What are the details?

Axios reported that during a Wednesday lunch for Democratic Senate committee chairs, the two lawmakers sparred over everything from the finer details of the plan to whether they should even advance a large spending plan at all.

At the end of the meeting, a massive chasm of $3 trillion to $6 trillion still existed between the two sides.

"Joe said, 'I'm comfortable with nothing.' Bernie said, 'We need to do three-and-a-half [trillion dollars].' The truth is both of them are in different spots," Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mt.), chairman of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, reportedly told Axios following the meeting.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who was also present at the meeting, said, "There was a vigorous, 10-minute discussion. Bernie said, '$6 trillion.'"

At one point, "[Manchin] said, 'We shouldn't do it at all,'" Coons recounted, adding that the West Virginia lawmaker argued, "This will contribute to inflation. We've already passed the American Rescue Plan. We should just pass the infrastructure bill and, you know, pause for six months."

Tester said that Manchin reiterated, "I'm comfortable with zero," and formed a raised-fist goose egg in order to get his opinion across with particular clarity.

What else?

Axios noted that Manchin's comfort level with not doing the spending plan at all, along with his willingness to sharply oppose Sanders in front of other Democrats, "reveals a stark reality for Democratic negotiators: Manchin can control the final dollar amount."

Nevertheless, colleagues of the two lawmakers continued to project aspirations that a deal could be reached by Friday.

Overall, Coons claimed there was "significant progress." Tester chalked the squabbling up to a mere "difference in opinion." Both he and Tester assured Axios that a top-line figure could still be brokered this week.

They might want to check with Manchin. The West Virginia senator plainly told reporters Thursday afternoon, "This is not gonna happen anytime soon, guys."

Anything else?

Subsequent reports have indicated that any brokered deal is likely to come in at a significantly lower dollar amount than the $3.5 trillion initially proposed by the Biden administration.

Democrats have already reportedly dropped free college tuition from the plan in order to make the bill more appealing to the likes of Manchin and other moderates. In recent days, Biden has reportedly floated a $1.75 trillion to $2 trillion top line.

Liberals lash out at Van Jones for saying Biden has failed to deliver on his campaign promises: 'The honeymoon's over.'



CNN guest commentator Van Jones said President Joe Biden had failed to deliver on his campaign promises and cited the many problems plaguing his administration. Many on the left lashed out at him on social media for his comments.

Jones issued his dire assessment of Biden's performance Tuesday as a guest on Chris Cuomo's CNN show.

"Right now the honeymoon's over," Jones said.

"There as a moment where it was like, 'goodbye Trump, hello vaccines, we're so glad to see you Joe Biden!' That's kind of how this year started," he continued. "And then he actually got stuff done. Don't forget you got 200 million Americans vaccinated right now."

Van Jones lauded Biden for funneling a trillion dollars of government spending into the economy and also for going after the Trump supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

"He's doing a lot of good stuff," Jones said.

"The problem is that he put himself in a position where he made big, bold claims about the rest of the agenda. You think this great stuff that we did is good, it's nothing! Wait until this summer when you're gonna get all this other stuff!" he continued.

"And then he steps on a rake, he slips on a banana peel, then he falls down the stairs with some marbles, and now people are looking at him in a negative light," Jones added.

He went on to say that if gas prices go down and if the coronavirus cases go down that Biden's poll numbers might improve.

"Right now the Democratic Party is looking over the edge of a cliff," Jones said, "and there is a lot of fear and concern, and you're not seeing that strong Joe Biden that I think people were expecting to get stuff done, to get the next round of stuff done."

He also said that Biden's successes were being stalled by in-fighting in the Democratic Party over two proposed massive budgeting bills.

Many viewers were outraged that Jones would criticize Biden on CNN.

"Van Jones cares about Van Jones' paycheck," read a tweet.

"Van Jones is the fakest person on this planet. I truly can't stand him," said artist Tony Posnanski.

"I'm done with CNN. Van Jones will say anything to get airtime. Biden is doing everything he can to save America," said another detractor.

"@VanJones68 what is it that you want to see? Trump another 4 years? Stop BASHING @POTUS ! We elected him, support him and use your platform to help keep our country as a democracy," read another tweet.

Some accused CNN of making a right-wing turn.

"I never liked Van Jones, I didn't trust him. Guess my instincts were right. CNN is leaning right these days & I almost never tune in to watch them anymore. Our country is changing & the media is playing a dangerous game in shaping the downfall of our democracy," tweeted Laurie Kafka, who identified herself as a "resister."

"Van Jones is on the wrong network. FOX is more him.? He and fTucker would get along well. But CNN has been on the down slide for awhile," suggested another critic.

Biden's approval ratings have plummeted to the lowest level since he took up residence at the White House. A new Quinnipiac poll found that only 38% of Americans give him a positive job approval.

Here's the video of Van Jones' comments:

'The honeymoon's over': Van Jones breaks down President Biden's mounting problemswww.youtube.com