'F***ing stupid': Joe Manchin lays into Chuck Schumer for nasty speech following debt-ceiling vote



After 11 Senate Republicans voted with the full Democratic caucus to overcome a GOP filibuster of a two-month debt-ceiling increase, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) took to the floor to blast Republicans for playing a "dangerous" game of "brinksmanship."

The Senate ultimately passed the bill on a party-line vote, 50-48.

His remarks did not sit will with more than half the chamber — most notably with moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.).

And according to Punchbowl News, Manchin made his thoughts about the speech clear to Schumer, reporters, and other Senate sources: It was "f***ing stupid."

What happened?

Thursday night, after the Senate invoked cloture on a bill to extend the debt ceiling through early December, Schumer got up and gave a speech praising his fellow Democrats and ripping into Republicans — the very Republicans who just made it possible for the majority to avoid using reconciliation to avoid a potential government default and possible shutdown.

Instead, Schumer stood at his podium and declared, "Republicans played a dangerous and risky partisan game, and I am glad that their brinksmanship did not work."

"For the good of America's families, for the good of our economy, Republicans must recognize in the future that they should approach fixing the debt limit in a bipartisan way," he continued.

He then lectured the GOP that, contrary to his call for bipartisanship, if they didn't "join us," then they need to "stay out of the way and let Democrats address the debt limit ourselves."

Filibustering Republicans had just attempted to allow Schumer's Democrats to do it it by themselves — by pushing the majority to use the reconciliation process, which cannot be filibustered, to raise the debt ceiling. But Democrats refused.

Naturally, the speech perturbed GOP senators. Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) said the speech was "totally out of line," "inappropriate," and "tone deaf," and that Schumer "crossed lines," Politico reported. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told CNN's Manu Raju that it was a "classless speech."

But no one appeared to be more upset than Sen. Manchin. Observers noted how Manchin reacted as Schumer delivered his screed.

Joe Manchin during Schumer speech https://t.co/cESDLak0OM

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) 1633655081.0

In the video of the speech, an agitated Manchin can been seen behind Schumer shaking his head and then burying his face in his hands before getting up and walking away.

WATCH LIVE: Senate votes on short-term increase to debt limit youtu.be

After the speech, Manchin told Schumer to his face the speech was "f***ing stupid," according to four sources, Punchbowl reported.

On his way out of the Capitol after the final vote, Manchin told CNN's Raju he didn't like the speech at all and "didn't think it was appropriate."

"I just think that basically what we've got to do is find a pathway forward, to make sure that we de-weaponize," he said. "We have to de-weaponize."

Noting that Schumer's frustration was probably very high, Manchin said, "That was not a way to take it out."

"Civility is gone," Manchin continued, adding, "I'm going to try to bring it back, and I speak out when I someone do something I don't like."

Manchin tells us he didn’t like Schumer’s speech after the vote to break a filibuster on the debt ceiling. "I didn'… https://t.co/FbD47DJFns

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) 1633655546.0

Sen. Sinema opposes Democrats' $3.5 trillion price tag for spending bill



Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) has upset the Democratic Party's plans to pass a $3.5 trillion spending bill that contains major components of President Joe Biden's progressive agenda, telling the Arizona Republic on Wednesday that she doesn't support the plan's price tag.

Sinema said she has reviewed the Senate Budget Committee's framework for the budget reconciliation package and told the president and Democratic leaders that she supports their goals of economic growth.

"I have also made clear that while I will support beginning this process, I do not support a bill that costs $3.5 trillion — and in the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona's economy and help Arizona's everyday families get ahead," Sinema said in a statement.

Her opposition to the $3.5 trillion package puts Senate Democrats in a bind. With a slim 50-50 majority, Democrats cannot afford to have moderates like Sinema or Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) defect from any major vote. They need all 50 Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking support to pass Biden's so-called "human infrastructure" priorities, which include expanding Medicare, free community college tuition, national paid family leave, extending Biden's revamped child tax credits, and various climate change policies watered down from the Green New Deal.

Democrats intended to have this $3.5 trillion advance along with a bipartisan agreement for a $1.2 trillion "hard infrastructure" package, which would provide funding for roads, bridges, and other projects traditionally associated with infrastructure spending.

Sinema has been working with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to put together a deal that will win support from 10 Senate Republicans, providing the Senate with the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and pass compromise legislation. The White House wants a bipartisan deal very badly, as Biden had promised unity and bipartisan compromise would be key features of his presidency.

On Wednesday, Sinema met with the president to report on the progress she's made negotiating with Republicans on issues like funding for transit, broadband, and water systems. Senate Democrats believe they have a compromise that will overcome a filibuster attempt, the New York Times and Politico reported.

"While bringing both parties together can seem impossible these days, Arizonans elected me to do the hard work," she told the Arizona Republic. "Our historic legislation would make the strongest investment in America's critical infrastructure in a century — creating Arizona jobs, expanding economic opportunities for our state, securing our water future, and protecting our communities from wildfires."

However, progressive Democrats want the Biden administration to swing for the fences on progressive priorities and ignore Republicans entirely. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has vowed that the House will not bring a bipartisan infrastructure deal up for a vote unless the Senate also passes the $3.5 trillion Democratic bill, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) must force through the Senate using a process called budget reconciliation to pass it without GOP support.

She told reporters Wednesday that her position hasn't changed.

Asked Pelosi if House would commit to passing Senate bipartisan infrastructure package unchanged. “No,” she said. S… https://t.co/bysx1Gohju

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) 1627488649.0

Sinema's opposition to the $3.5 trillion price tag of the reconciliation bill means Democrats will have to cut spending from the package to win her support and move it through the Senate. If they don't pass the reconciliation bill, Pelosi will ensure that the bipartisan infrastructure bill dies in the House.

Still, there's no guarantee Pelosi will allow a watered-down reconciliation bill to have vote on the House floor either. She may instead support the progressives in her conference, who are furious with Sinema and unwilling to compromise on the reconciliation package.

"We didn't elect Sinema as President and we won't let her obstruction put a Republican in the Oval Office in 2024. It's the reconciliation bill or GOP controlling every level of government again, period," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

Time for the White House to play hardball. We didn't elect Sinema as President and we won't let her obstruction put… https://t.co/VxD02ggPX0

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) 1627499510.0

One of two things will happen: Either pressure from progressives will cause Sinema to cave and support the full $3.5 trillion bill, or Biden will have to persuade Pelosi to take the best offer the House will get from Senate, else infrastructure will go nowhere.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie calls out CNN reporter for misrepresenting his comment on Jan. 6 riot



Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called out a CNN reporter for misrepresenting his comment about the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

CNN's chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju stopped Massie to pepper him with questions about the riot, but Massie says his report did not document his comment correctly.

"Do you agree with Trump that the election was rigged or stolen somehow?" asked Raju.

"We didn't have hearings, there's no way to litigate that up here. If you're in the minority, the DOJ wouldn't investigate it," responded Massie.

"There's no evidence of widespread fraud," replied Raju.

"That's your opinion," smiled Massie.

"Are you concerned by suggesting that there's something wrong it could lead to more violence?" asked Raju later in the interview.

"No, no," Massie replied.

"Why?" Raju challenged.

"I don't see any violence," Massie said as he walked away.

The CNN report claimed that Massie said, "I didn't see any violence," as if he were denying the attacks on the U.S. Capitol in January.

Massie warned that he may not take any more questions from CNN unless the network corrects its report.

"I said 'don't,' not 'didn't' The audio is there for all to hear," said Massie on Twitter.

I said “don't," not “didn't" The audio is there for all to hear. Please fix your article @mkraju @CNN I'm one of t… https://t.co/hm4oEfnA3y
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) 1620950426.0

"Please fix your article @mkraju @CNN I'm one of the few GOP folks who will even talk to you in the hallway. There will be zero if you insist on misreporting our words," he added.

The CNN report tried to group Massie's comment with other Republicans who refused to talk about the rioting at the Capitol or downplayed the violence that occurred.

Massie had previously earned the ire of former President Donald Trump when he tried to derail passage of the first coronavirus relief bill in March 2020. Trump called him a "third rate grandstander" and called for the party to expel him.

Here's the misleading report from CNN:

CNN reporter chases GOP lawmaker after Capitol riot remarkwww.youtube.com

Chuck Schumer: House to hand Senate impeachment article Monday; 'make no mistake,' a trial will happen



House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will transmit the single article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Friday.

Schumer, speaking on the Senate floor, said in no uncertain terms that there will be an impeachment trial and a Senate vote on whether to convict Trump, whose term as president ended Wednesday when President Joe Biden was inaugurated.

"Make no mistake: A trial will be held in the United States Senate, and there will be a vote on whether to convict the president," Schumer said.

Schumer dismissed arguments advanced by some Republican lawmakers and legal experts that an impeachment trial for a former civil officer is unconstitutional once said officer has left office.

"It makes no sense whatsoever that a president or any official could commit a heinous crime against our country and then be permitted to resign so as to avoid accountability and a vote to disbar them from future office," Schumer argued. "Makes no sense."

JUST IN: Majority Leader Schumer says Speaker Pelosi will deliver article of impeachment against former Pres. Trump… https://t.co/5EcqstCW0c
— ABC News Politics (@ABC News Politics)1611328752.0

Senate Democrats and Republicans are in the midst of negotiations on when the impeachment trial should start, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pushing for the trial to be delayed until February, according to multiple reports.

On Thursday, Politico's Playbook email reported that lawmakers were privately discussing a three-day impeachment trial for Trump, which would be the fastest of any trial for a president in U.S. history. However, Republicans want their impeachment managers and Trump's lawyers to have adequate time to prepare for the trial, which is why McConnell is reportedly asking for a delay.

"Senate Republicans are strongly united behind the principle that the institution of the Senate, the office of the presidency, and former President Trump himself all deserve a full and fair process that respects his rights and the serious factual, legal, and constitutional questions at stake," McConnell said in a statement. "Given the unprecedented speed of the House's process, our proposed timeline for the initial phases includes a modest and reasonable amount of additional time for both sides to assemble their arguments before the Senate would begin to hear them."

At least some Democrats are open to the possibility of delaying the impeachment trial.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told CNN on Friday that Democrats may be open to a quid pro quo where Republicans work to confirm Biden's Cabinet nominees before the trial starts, giving Trump's legal team time to mount a defense.

"I think Democrats will be open to considering a delay that allows former President Trump time to assemble his legal team and his defense for the impeachment trial if we are making progress on confirming the very talented, seasoned, and diverse team that President Joe Biden has nominated to serve in his cabinet," Coons said.

@mkraju @wolfblitzer Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) thinks Democrats "will be open to considering a delay" of Trump's seco… https://t.co/TwdPlusW4I
— The Recount (@The Recount)1611270442.0