Talks between Biden and Joe Manchin are reportedly 'going very poorly'


Senate Democrats still haven't passed President Biden's sweeping Build Back Better agenda, and it's looking increasingly unlikely they'll manage to do so before the end of year, CNBC reports.
Continuing to complicate things is Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), whose spending package negotiations with Biden are "going very poorly," a source tells Politico. The two "are far apart," the source added. Manchin has not yet signed off on the $1.75 trillion proposal, reportedly for reasons having to do with the expanded child tax credit.
Though the president and the lawmaker developed a cozy and respectful rapport this year, the slow pace of talks is weighing on their relationship; Biden has reportedly grown tired of the protracted process, and will soon encourage Manchin "to make a decision and support the legislation," Politico reports, citing two White House sources.
Subscribe to 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.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday he will keep working to bring the legislation to a vote, but at this point, it's likely to move into 2022, explains CNBC. Not only is Manchin still a question mark, but the bill's legislative text has yet to be finalized, among other to-do's.
If Congress fails to pass the plan in 2021, the enhanced child tax credit will expire at the end of the year unless extended. Passage of the Build Back Better Act would renew the $300 monthly payments for a year.
All this said, Manchin ultimately doesn't want to tank Biden's agenda and isn't one to do so, according to his friends in the Senate.
"They may have very different views about timing," said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) of the president and Manchin. "It's less about whether, than about when and how much."
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.
-
Art review: Diane Arbus: Constellation
Feature Park Avenue Armory, New York City, through Aug. 17
-
July fiction: Summers to remember
Feature Featuring the latest summer-themed novels from Darrow Farr, Lucas Schaefer, and more
-
Why are flash floods in Texas so deadly?
Today's Big Question Over 100 people, including 27 girls at a summer camp, died in recent flooding
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin on August 1, with rates ranging from 25% to 40% on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration