This isn’t even a negotiation, let alone one in good faith. So-called “centrists” are almost certainly sabotaging infrastructure bills.

Infrastructure

It’s worth noting that the headline on Greg Sargent’s op-ed[1] is self-defeating: It isn’t even remotely hidden when it’s on the Washington Post opinion pages. And the path he lays out really isn’t impressive; it requires so-called “centrists” to be negotiating in good faith.

But the only way the current state of affairs on infrastructure and reconciliation makes sense to me, given that these so-called “centrists” refuse to state their topline budget numbers and refuse to say what they would support,[2] which is to say they are not negotiating at all, let alone in good faith, is that they are perfectly content to see both the bipartisan infrastructure framework as well as the reconciliation package go down in flames.

I’ll even wager that they got some Republicans on board for the bipartisan infrastructure framework with a nod and a wink that they would sabotage all of it. And I’m even more convinced today than yesterday that that’s how this will play.

Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris, and Jennifer Scholtes, “Dem leaders try for unity — and only get more tough questions,” Politico, September 23, 2021, https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/23/democrats-plan-social-spending-513901

Eric Levitz, “Why Are There So Many Democrats to Joe Biden’s Right?” New York, September 23, 2021, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/09/why-are-there-so-many-democrats-to-joe-bidens-right.html

Ryan Lizza et al. to Politico Playbook subscribers, “Inside the room of Biden’s talks with Dems,” September 23, 2021, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2021/09/23/inside-the-room-of-bidens-talks-with-dems-494444

Greg Sargent, “Biden’s agenda is in deep danger. But Pelosi has a hidden way out,” Washington Post, September 23, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/23/pelosi-biden-miracle-reconciliation/


Donald Trump

Militias

Kaleigh Rogers, “Jan. 6 Has Given The Right Hundreds Of New Martyrs,” FiveThirtyEight, September 22, 2021, https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jan-6-has-given-the-right-hundreds-of-new-martyrs/

Coup attempt

Aymann Ismail, “Trumpists Don’t Need Rallies Anymore,” Slate, September 21, 2021, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/09/justice-for-j6-rally-capitol-dc-trump-jason-stanley-interview.html

William Rivers Pitt, “The Rally for the Capitol Mob Fizzled, But This May Be the Calm Before the Storm,” Truthout, September 21, 2021, https://truthout.org/articles/the-rally-for-the-capitol-mob-fizzled-but-this-may-be-the-calm-before-the-storm/

Tom Hamburger and Jacqueline Alemany, “Biden White House leans toward releasing information about Trump and Jan. 6 attack, setting off legal and political showdown,” Washington Post, September 23, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-executive-privilege-subpoenas/2021/09/23/1c163312-1ba7-11ec-8380-5fbadbc43ef8_story.html


  1. [1]Greg Sargent, “Biden’s agenda is in deep danger. But Pelosi has a hidden way out,” Washington Post, September 23, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/23/pelosi-biden-miracle-reconciliation/
  2. [2]Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris, and Jennifer Scholtes, “Dem leaders try for unity — and only get more tough questions,” Politico, September 23, 2021, https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/23/democrats-plan-social-spending-513901; Jonathan Chait, “Kyrsten Sinema Threatens to Kill Her Own Infrastructure Bill,” New York, September 20, 2021, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/09/kyrsten-sinema-threatens-infrastructure-bill-biden-build-back-better.html; Eric Levitz, “Why Are There So Many Democrats to Joe Biden’s Right?” New York, September 23, 2021, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/09/why-are-there-so-many-democrats-to-joe-bidens-right.html; Ryan Lizza et al. to Politico Playbook subscribers, “Inside the room of Biden’s talks with Dems,” September 23, 2021, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2021/09/23/inside-the-room-of-bidens-talks-with-dems-494444; Greg Sargent, “Biden’s agenda is in deep danger. But Pelosi has a hidden way out,” Washington Post, September 23, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/23/pelosi-biden-miracle-reconciliation/

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