The broadcast networks tried to reassure their fellow liberals on Tuesday that President Biden’s massive socialist agenda still had a chance. Despite weeks of Democratic infighting and attacks on moderate Democrat lawmakers, ABC, CBS, and NBC insisted they saw a “glimmer of progress” on the edges as the progressive price tag appeared to be getting dragged lower by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (D), while he appeared to be moving up.
“President Biden was on the road today to try to sell his ambitious spending plans that are still dividing Democrats in Congress. But tonight there is a glimmer of progress,” touted anchor Lester “fairness is overrated” Holt on NBC Nightly News.
NBC chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander followed up by noting that “so far the President's been struggling to unite those competing wings of his party, though tonight their differences appear to be narrowing.”
He then touted how Manchin seemed to be moving his price range higher (Click “expand”):
Progressives have blocked the trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill until they get agreement on a much larger climate and social policy package.
Today, key moderate Joe Manchin, who called that plan's initial three and half trillion-dollar price tag “fiscal insanity,” is now suggesting he could support a figure as high as roughly $2 trillion that Mr. Biden has floated.
Meanwhile, on ABC’s World News Tonight, sensationalist anchor David Muir did his part to help Biden sell his legislation and boast about the negotiations. “And tonight, signs that there has been some movement here. The progressives and moderate Senator Joe Manchin appearing to get closer on a price tag,” he announced.
“And now, after weeks of infighting, both sides closer to compromise on the President's sweeping plan to cover everything from universal pre-k to climate change,” further boasted ABC White House correspondent Cecilia Vega during her report.
While NBC was saying Manchin was doing to moving, Vega suggested it was the progressives that were giving up more (Click “expand”):
The initial price tag was $3.5 trillion. But sources tell ABC News that during a negotiation, President Biden proposed a significantly lower number between 1.9 and 2.2 trillion.
The leader of the progressive caucus, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, responded she would be willing to drop to as low as $2.5 trillion. And on the moderate side, one of the main holdouts, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, not now ruling out a deal in the new range the President has proposed.
And as they wrapped up the segment, Muir seemed relieved by the development. “And Cecilia, as you know, both sides have indicated in their own ways here that they want to pass these bills. It would seem at this point it's now about getting to a number they can agree on,” he said.
CBS Evening News, on the other hand, came off as the most skeptical even though they touted the perceived movement too.
CBS chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes wanted viewers to realize both sides were still negotiating. “[Biden] and House Democrats spent the morning discussing what to cut from his signature social spending package in order to secure the votes they need,” she reported.
Adding: Democrats told the President they're most wedded to the bill's new climate protections, paid family leave, universal pre-k., and an extension of the child tax credit. (…) Today, one of the hold-outs, West Virginia's Joe Manchin, said child care is his priority, too.
“But that leaves other measures in limbo, including two free years of community college and adding dental and vision coverage to Medicare,” she bemoaned.
Cordes also falsely claimed Senate Republicans “continued to block” her pals on the left from raising the debt ceiling. In reality, Democrats had the votes to do it on their own.
This desperate hope sharing for President Biden’s agenda was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from WeatherTech on ABC, GEICO on CBS, and Liberty Mutual on NBC. Their contact information is linked so that you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The relevant portions of the transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
October 5, 2021
6:42:29 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Now to President Biden in Michigan today, making his case on his infrastructure bill and on the larger bill that includes paid family leave, early education, pre-k, and expanding health care for seniors. And tonight, signs that there has been some movement here. The progressives and moderate Senator Joe Manchin appearing to get closer on a price tag. Here's our chief White House correspondent Cecilia Vega tonight.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: President Biden today taking his sales pitch on the road, hoping to sell his sweeping domestic agenda to union workers in Michigan.
(…)
VEGA: But for Democrats in Congress, it is exactly moderates versus progressives. And now, after weeks of infighting, both sides closer to compromise on the President's sweeping plan to cover everything from universal pre-k to climate change.
The initial price tag was $3.5 trillion. But sources tell ABC News that during a negotiation, President Biden proposed a significantly lower number between 1.9 and 2.2 trillion.
The leader of the progressive caucus, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, responded she would be willing to drop to as low as $2.5 trillion. And on the moderate side, one of the main holdouts, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, not now ruling out a deal in the new range the President has proposed.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: Well, we'll see. Day by day. Cecilia live at the White House tonight. And Cecilia, as you know, both sides have indicated in their own ways here that they want to pass these bills. It would seem at this point it's now about getting to a number they can agree on.
VEGA: It is exactly that, David. And the President is expected to hold more negotiations with members of Congress in the coming days. But in the bottom line on that number, David, it's not going to be the 3.5 trillion that President Biden wanted. The big question tonight, what stays in this final plan and what goes? Today, David, the President wouldn't say where his red line is.
CBS Evening News
October 5, 2021
6:37:58 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: President Biden left town today to sell his signature spending plans directly to American voters. Now, this came as feuding Democrats worked to iron out exactly how much to spend and what programs to spend it on. We get more now from CBS's Nancy Cordes.
(…)
NANCY CORDES: The President was in Michigan today to sell a plan he now admits must be slashed nearly in half.
(…)
CORDES: He and House Democrats spent the morning discussing what to cut from his signature social spending package in order to secure the votes they need.
(…)
CORDES: Democrats told the President they're most wedded to the bill's new climate protections, paid family leave, universal pre-k., and an extension of the child tax credit.
(…)
CORDES: Today, one of the hold-outs, West Virginia's Joe Manchin, said child care is his priority, too.
(…)
CORDES: But that leaves other measures in limbo, including two free years of community college and adding dental and vision coverage to Medicare.
(…)
CORDES: As they haggled, Washington drew one day closer to crisis as Republicans continued to block Democrats from quickly raising the nation's debt ceiling.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): That would require getting consent from every single Republican. And I can't imagine that would happen.
CORDES: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned today that defaulting could trigger a national recession.
NBC Nightly News
October 5, 2021
7:10:37 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: President Biden was on the road today to try to sell his ambitious spending plans that are still dividing Democrats in Congress. But tonight there is a glimmer of progress. Peter Alexander is at the White House.
[Cuts to video]
PETER ALEXANDER: Tonight, the reset. President Biden at a union training center in Michigan trying to recharge his sales pitch for his multitrillion-dollar spending plans.
(…)
ALEXANDER: But the reality check, so far the President's been struggling to unite those competing wings of his party, though tonight their differences appear to be narrowing. Progressives have blocked the trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill until they get agreement on a much larger climate and social policy package.
Today, key moderate Joe Manchin, who called that plan's initial three and half trillion-dollar price tag “fiscal insanity,” is now suggesting he could support a figure as high as roughly $2 trillion that Mr. Biden has floated.
(…)
ALEXANDER: But Republicans argue the President's plans will send inflation soaring.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R-WY): Everybody is paying higher prices today for everything compared to when Joe Biden came into office. [Transition] We're not going to rubber-stamp their reckless spending.
ALEXANDER: President Biden tonight bashing his critics.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: To oppose these investments is to be complicit in America's decline.
[Cuts back to live]
ALEXANDER: As for the looming fiscal crisis over raising the government's ability to borrow money to pay for past spending, late tonight, President Biden said he'll be speaking to top Republican Mitch McConnell who is still demanding the Democrats increase the debt ceiling on their own.
