SCOTUS and Sinema set back Biden again
![President Biden.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uvS9YgNaxeppovdCPHq7g9-415-80.jpg)
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) has cast another blow against President Biden's agenda. Her Wednesday reaffirmation that she opposes changing the Senate filibuster rules to jettison the 60-vote threshold for most legislation will doom Democrats' voting rights push unless Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) can pull a rabbit out of his hat.
One reason for the party's shift to voting legislation after its failure to pass Biden's social welfare spending bill, the Build Back Better agenda, was that even if Democrats couldn't get anything done, at least they could blame Republicans. The message was all set for the midterms later this year: It's Republicans who refuse to support voting rights and constantly obstruct Biden. It's Republicans who necessitated these voting bills in the first place with former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 election and restrictive election laws being passed in red states.
Now that message won't play. Instead the focus is once again on Democratic divisions. Biden cannot even deliver Sinema and her fellow centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) when it matters, so unanimous Republican opposition can't be blamed for the vaunted Washington dealmaker's inability to govern.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The same day Sinema delivered that disappointment, the Supreme Court rejected Biden's COVID vaccine or testing mandate for large private employers. Given previous judicial setbacks, even the pen and the phone won't save the rule, another loss for the president's agenda. And elections that could erase the razor-thin Democratic majorities are fast approaching.
These setbacks all stem from the same fundamental error: Biden has tried to govern as if he had large congressional majorities, when in reality he's within a Manchin or Sinema of Republicans controlling the Senate. (The Democrats' House majority isn't much bigger, but it is easier for the speaker to rule that chamber with an iron fist.)
The composition of Congress demands complete Democratic Party unity for Biden to get anything done, but Wednesday was a reminder Biden usually lacks even that. He may not wind up with much to show for his New Deal dreams, especially if 2022 continues as it has begun.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
W. James Antle III is the politics editor of the Washington Examiner, the former editor of The American Conservative, and author of Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped?.
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The US presidents who decided not to run for a second term
The Explainer Joe Biden's decision to end his re-election campaign was shocking, but there's a long history of presidents who've bowed out on a chance at four more years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
'Spare us the charade'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Harris clinches Democratic support, raises $81M
Speed Read President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her as his replacement
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The convention speakers whose political stars rose
The Explainer Why you're likely to see the future leaders of the Democratic and Republican Parties at the conventions
By David Faris Published
-
How Biden's enablers may have delayed his bowing out
Talking Points Joe Biden's inner circle faces calls for a reckoning for allegedly shielding the president — and the public — from questions of aging and electoral viability
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published