Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has more to say following what he called a "bulls---" report he's planning to leave the Democratic Party if Democrats don't agree to reduce the size of their spending package.
While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Manchin said that "what is true is that I have told the president, [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and even the whole caucus that if it is 'embarassing' to them to have a moderate, centrist Democrat in the mix and if it would help them publicly, I could become an independent — like [Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)", per The Hill. "Then they could explain some of this to the public saying it's complicated to corral these two independents, Bernie and me." Sen. Angus King of Maine is also an independent.
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