Joe Manchin thinks he can be the honest broker in a deal between the Democrats and the House Republicans. He is confident that Kevin McCarthy will deal with him in good faith. Is he right?
When McCarthy talks to Manchin and Biden, he will do his best to sound reasonable. When he talks to MTG and Matt Gaetz, he will be a cheerleader for burning it down. You can’t trust anything he says, because his principal tactic for remaining Speaker is to tell every person he sees what he thinks that person wants to hear.
In other words, good luck, Joe. You’re going to need it. You’re not negotiating with McCarthy; you’re negotiating with the Chaos Caucus.