Joe Manchin Isn’t Actually the Most Powerful Senator – By Mary Harris (Slate) / Feb 10 2021
But the Democratic Party needs him nevertheless.
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Joe Manchin is arguably the most conservative Democrat in the 50–50 Senate, and as a result of his position, he gets to help decide the priorities of his party’s agenda—because, simply put, the Democrats need his vote. But considering how relatively tight-lipped he has been about his overall legislative priorities, it’s worth asking: Just how is Manchin going to use this power? And should Democrats actually be grateful that the staunch nonprogressive from West Virginia has such an outsize role in their caucus? To figure out Joe Manchin may influence the Democrats—and, thus, the other Joe in power—I spoke with Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer, on Wednesday’s episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
CONTINUE> https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/02/joe-manchin-democrats-senate-power.html
