Pelosi and Manchin may be closing in on a deal. Sinema says Democratic leaders are 'fully aware' of her priorities.


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did not hold a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill Thursday night, but in a nod to the restive centrists in her caucus, she also did not adjourn the House — so legislatively, it is still Thursday on Friday. The plan is to vote on the bill Friday, but the plans have changed before. A group of progressive House progressives are still threatening to sink the bill without solid assurance their moderate colleagues will back the larger Build Back Better bill. Pelosi spent much of Thursday trying to wrangle those assurances.
By late Thursday night, Politico reports, Pelosi talks "evolved into in-person discussions" among key moderates Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), progressive stalwart Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), plus White House officials. By the end of the night, Pelosi had reportedly offered Manchin a $2.1 trillion BBB package, with the money divided between family issues like child care and paid leave, ObamaCare subsidies and other health care issues, and climate change.
Manchin reiterated after the meeting that he's "still on $1.5 [trillion]" and he's "been on 1.5 and I'm going to make sure that people understand there's an awful lot of good." So Pelosi's offer, Politico says, "makes clear to progressives they can forget about $3.5 trillion, and gives us a ballpark for a potential compromise: most likely between $1.5 and $2.1 trillion."
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.
Ultimately, "Manchin is looking for a way to get to 'yes' on a spending bill, as long as he can stomach the final price tag," Axios reports. "Sinema has always been slightly more skeptical and has indicated she's comfortable voting no." She has also not been publicly forthright about what she wants or would accept, though she tweeted a statement Thursday insisting that claims she "has not detailed her views" to Biden and Schumer "are false," and they "are fully aware of Sen. Sinema's priorities, concerns, and ideas."
Most of her colleagues are still in the dark, Axios says. But her political allies say she's essentially "something of a fiscal conservative" who also "believes in the power of government to help lift people from poverty" and is "committed to bolstering the Affordable Care Act." Also, Axios reports, "addressing climate change is a clear priority for Sinema — putting her on a potential collision course with Manchin."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Sowaka: a fusion of old and new in Kyoto
The Week Recommends Japanese tradition and modern hospitality mesh perfectly at this restored ryokan
-
Scientists have identified 4 distinct autism subtypes
Under the radar They could lead to more accurate diagnosis and care
-
Crossword: July 21, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department