Republican lawmakers caught laughing while thanking Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for keeping the filibuster alive
A newly-released video catches GOP lawmakers praising Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) for effectively blocking President Biden's agenda by refusing to abolish the filibuster, even going so far as to ask conservative activists to "flood" the Democratic centrists with "messages of gratitude," Insider reported on Friday.
The video, taken by Democratic activist Lauren Windsor at a June 29 Patriot Voices event, per Insider, includes appearances from former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), among others.
For his part, Biggs concedes that without the filibuster, which has proven itself a huge barrier to much of Biden's agenda, "we would be dead meat. ... But thank goodness for Sinema and Joe Manchin."
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.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is shown telling "all of you in this room, people at home on Zoom ... if you want to do one thing to keep the republic afloat, call Joe Manchin's office, call Kyrsten Sinema's office." The Florida lawmaker also admits to using Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as a pawn in appealing to Manchin, saying "it makes my job easier as a conservative" when AOC goes after the West Virginia senator.
Santorum later echoes Donalds' charge, imploring all attendees to "call Joe Manchin and say thank you. Seriously. Call Kyrsten Sinema and say thank you." He added earlier: "Our constitution was set up to protect who? Minority rights, not the majority rights." Read more at Insider.
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
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 22, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - bricking it, I can buy myself flowers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 exclusive cartoons about Trump and Putin negotiating peace
Cartoons Artists take on alternative timelines, missing participants, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The AI arms race
Talking Point The fixation on AI-powered economic growth risks drowning out concerns around the technology which have yet to be resolved
By The Week UK Published
-
Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection
Speed Read The longest-serving Senate party leader is retiring
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump reportedly wants to take over US Postal Service
Speed Read President Trump is making plans to disband the leadership of USPS and absorb the agency into his administration
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump seeks to end New York's congestion pricing
Speed Read The MTA quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published