Climate change group Sunrise Movement goes after Joe Manchin with succinct, three-word statement

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) released an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, urging fellow Congress members to take a "strategic pause" and re-evaluate Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending package. While Manchin's pushback is not necessarily a surprise, those with skin in the game certainly didn't take long to call him out.
"Congress should hit a strategic pause on the budget-reconciliation legislation" to examine the pandemic's continuing trajectory and the potential long-term effects of inflation, Manchin argued. Furthermore, the senator said he "won't support a $3.5 trillion bill, or anywhere near that level of additional spending, without greater clarity about why Congress chooses to ignore the serious effects inflation and debt have on existing government programs." Manchin went on to assert that by reducing the size of the package to "only what America can afford and needs to spend," the nation itself will grow stronger.
Of course, such a loaded suggestion was not about to go down easy.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
Climate change group the Sunrise Movement — presumably concerned that climate initatives would find themselves on the chopping block should the size of the package diminish — immediately clapped back at Manchin in a three-word, hilariously-brief response: "Abolish the Senate."
The Sunrise Movement has had their eye on the West Virginia senator for some time, having reportedly singled him out as moderate in need of courting and convincing. Well, getting rid of the upper chamber is certainly one way to solve the problem. Read more at The Wall Street Journal.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Is Kash Patel’s fate sealed after Kirk shooting missteps?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The FBI’s bungled response in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting has director Kash Patel in the hot seat
-
‘We must empower young athletes with the knowledge to stay safe’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Fox’s Kilmeade sorry for ‘just kill’ homeless remark
Speed Read Kilmeade’s ‘rare on-air apology’ also served as Fox News’ response to the controversy
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants