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President Joe Biden makes private phone calls to Sen. Bernie Sanders to hear from the left of his party, according to a New York Times report.

It's an unlikely turn of events for two fierce rivals from last fall's primary campaign from opposite wings of the Democratic Party, but another piece of evidence that Biden's bold economic agenda is dissolving the boundaries between those factions — and that Sanders is playing a pivotal role in it.

Politico reported in early March that Biden and Sanders had a very high level of contact with each other. Weeks later, after Biden's historic $1.9 trillion stimulus package passed almost entirely intact — with the significant exception of Sanders' beloved $15 minimum-wage increase — the Los Angeles Times reported that Sanders had become "the consummate insider in the Senate," hitting the phones to keep progressives in line as the minimum-wage was struck from the bill.

Sanders subsequently praised Biden for the size and scope of the stimulus, which included several policies Sanders has long championed. He also later told the New York Times that he thinks Biden has the "courage" to act boldly — and hopes that continues.

"As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, I am proud that we passed the American Rescue Plan, which, in my view, is the most significant piece of legislation to benefit working families in the modern history of this country," Sanders tweeted after the passage of the first stimulus package.

Biden reportedly also makes private calls to moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin, who wields considerable power in the Democrats' razor-thin majority, to check in with the broader Democratic caucus. He also calls Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to urge bipartisanship, which has so far not manifested.

Both Sanders and Manchin represent major factions that will likely come into play during months of infrastructure negotiations ahead. The more moderate Manchin was one of the Democrats who vocally opposed the inclusion of a $15 minimum wage in reconciliation, and ultimately voted against the wage hike.

He's also already reportedly shaped at least one of the proposed tax hikes in Biden's infrastructure package; Manchin signaled that he'd prefer the corporate tax rate increase to 25% from 21%, instead of Biden's proposed 28%. He's been reportedly joined by other Senate Democrats, and that's the rate that's likely to get passed, according to a Morgan Stanley note.

In April, when Insider's Nicole Gaudiano and Warren Rojas spoke to prominent progressives about Biden's progress so far, they said Biden is largely impressing his left wing, but also cited disappointments such as the $15 minimum wage and what they perceive as a subpar handling of the climate crisis.

"I think he is showing the kind of leadership and providing the kind of agenda that working families in this country want and need," Sanders previously told Insider.

On May 01 2021 01:43 plasmidghost wrote:
I am thankful that Biden learned from Obama's mistakes of trying to appease the GOP. This actually gives me some hope since he's listening to the progressives in the party and is trying to work out plans knowing only Dems will support it. I really hope Bernie can convince Biden to push for more progressive policies regarding things like climate change.

https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-bernie-sanders-private-calls-left-wing-nyt-2021-4

On May 01 2021 01:47 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:


I agree that trying to compromise with Congressional Republicans is absolutely fruitless, and a waste of time. The only members of Congress that Biden needs to make sure he keeps on board, for his agenda, are the few Democrats who are moderate, like Joe Manchin. That's where some appeasement might need to exist, but definitely not with respect to Republicans.

On May 01 2021 01:51 plasmidghost wrote:

Yep, and if the Dems can shake off the midterm trends of the other party making significant gains, people like Manchin would become a lot less relevant (thank god)

On May 01 2021 02:21 EnDeR_ wrote:


I wouldn't bank on that, the trifecta never remains active for long, and reps have an advantage with the senate map, so we'll likely go back to McTurtle blocking everything very soon. Biden should take as many wins as he can, while he can.

On May 01 2021 02:56 Starlightsun wrote:


The Republicans are going nuts passing voting bills in their state legislatures... Florida just did one yesterday or something. I think there's a very real danger that they take back the senate with combination of gerrymandering and the slew of new voting legislation they've passed in response to their 2020 loss. I'm really anxious for the Democrats to nuke the filibuster and get to work at DC statehood and strengthening voter enfranchisement. Honestly the GOP feels like a terrorist organization holding the country hostage at this point.

On May 01 2021 03:17 FlaShFTW wrote:

You realized the last time Democrats used the Nuclear option on judicial nominees, you ended up with Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett right? Democrats need to stop thinking so short term with their actions when it comes to changing the rules and also consider the backlash and consequences of their actions.

As an example, if Biden does in fact pack the court and add more seats to the Supreme Court, I guarantee you that Republicans will do the same when they go back and control Congress.

President Biden is canceling projects to build a wall along the southern border using diverted defense funds and will use some funding to counter environmental damage from the wall's construction.

Then-President Trump had diverted billions in defense and military construction funds toward building the wall, using emergency powers after Congress refused to fully fund the project directly.

"Consistent with the President’s Proclamation terminating the redirection of funds for border wall, no more money will be diverted from other purposes to building a border wall," a Biden administration official said Friday. "Today, the Department of Defense will begin cancelling all wall projects using the diverted funds, and will take steps to return remaining unobligated military construction funds to their appropriated purpose as permitted by law."

A Defense Department spokesperson said the funds would be returned to accounts designated for "schools for military children, overseas military construction projects in partner nations, and the National Guard and Reserve equipment account," but added that the department was reviewing projects to determine priorities.

Upon entering office, Biden canceled the state of emergency Trump had declared along the southern border and paused construction on the wall in order to conduct a review, though the 60 day period for the review's completion has long passed.

Republicans in Congress have accused Biden of illegally halting congressionally approved funds, and the Government Accountability Office is preparing a report on whether the pause was legal under the Impoundment Control Act.

Sen. James Risch (Idaho), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relation Committee, said the move would be a blow to national security.

"This is an ill-advised decision at best," Risch tweeted.

The administration said Friday it would use some of the $1.4 billion appropriated for constructing the wall toward repairing environmental damage from its construction, such as flood barriers in the Rio Grande Valley and soil erosion in San Diego.

The issue of funding the wall, one the most symbolic policies of the Trump era, was a regular flashpoint between Democrats and Republicans over the past four years.

Trump would regularly request north of $5 billion a year for the wall, much to the chagrin of Democrats.

In order to pass spending bills, which require 60 votes in the Senate, Democrats and Republicans typically compromised on a significantly lower figure, replete with caveats over what could be built or reinforced with the funds.

In late 2018, however, Trump threatened to veto spending bills over lack of wall funding, leading to a 35-day government shutdown, the longest in the nation's history. When it was over, he declared a state of emergency and announced he would redirect the defense funds and other sources of government money toward building the wall.

Democrats and outside groups have challenged the diversion of military funds toward the wall in court with mixed success.