Mitch McConnell tried to force Senate Democrats to guarantee that they would preserve the filibuster. They refused, stood firm and McConnell caved. As Martin Longman notes, while McConnell got more verbal commitments from Manchin and Sinema, they have always been in record as opposing scrapping the filibuster. However, if McConnel embarks on complete obstruction, Sinema and Manchin can "more in regret than anger" join the rest of the Democratic caucus in getting rid of the filibuster. Or maybe reforming it via various rule changes about universal consent or forcing a "talking filibuster."
The usual Twitt-iots were decrying how Schumer and Senate Dems were already a bunch of worthless failures. A day or two passes and Schumer wins. The Internet has trained us for instant gratification but legislating is a slow business. I think we can expect more of this impatient whining from those who don't seem to understand how little leverage anyone has over Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema right now. Maybe if Sara Gideon and Cal Cunningham had won their elections, we would be having a different conversation right now, but they didn't so we aren't.
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