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host: here is how you can reach out to us with your thoughts on senator manchin's actions on go back better. -- on build back better. you can text us at (202) 748-8003, post on facebook at facebook.com/cspan. if you want to post on twitter, do that @cspanwj. here is how the newspapers are taking this event that took place yesterday.

and then "the washington times" on their front page -- "mentioned says no to as of social welfare bill, can't square spending with voters back home." manchin appeared on fox news. [video clip] sen. mentioned: i have had- -- sen. manchin: i've been working every day be it with president biden, majority leader schumer, nancy pelosi, and all my colleagues from all different spectrums of the political

spectrum, if you will, from the right to the left. i've done everything possible. i still have these concerns come and where i am at right now, the inflation i was concerned about is not transitory, it is harming west virginia commit is making it difficult to continue. you go to the jobs, the cost of gasoline, the cost of groceries, the cost of utility bills, all of these things are getting in every aspect of their life. and then you have the debt we are carrying, $29 trillion. you have the geopolitical unrest we have. you have the covid variant. that is wreaking havoc and people are concerned. i am with my family and everyone is concerned. you have these things coming at you the way they are right now, if i cannot go home and explain it to the people of west virginia, i can't vote for it, i cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation, i just can't.

i've tried everything humanly possible. i can't get there. >> you are done? this is a no? >> this is a no. host: again, that from fox news . white house press secretary jen psaki releasing a lengthy statement about the senator's decision from and here's a portion of it. "on tuesday of this week senator manchin came to the white house and submitted to the president in person directly a written outline for a build back better bill that covered many of the same priorities. we believed it could lead to a compromise acceptable to all. senator manchin promised to continue conversations and work with us. just as senator manchin reversed his position this morning, we

will continue to press him to see if he will reversed his position again to honor his prior commitments and be true to his word. in the meantime, senator manchin will have to explain to families paying thousands a month for insulin why they need to keep paying that instead of $35 for that vital medicine. maybe senator manchin can explain to the millions of children who have been lifted out of poverty due to the child tax credit why he wants to end a program that has helped achieve this milestone. we cannot." that is from the white house. to your thoughts this morning concerning the senator's decision. we will start with cindy, connecticut, republican line. good morning. caller: if the plan was just about child tax credit and lower prescription costs, fine, but that is not what it is about. there is more in it that they do not mention, like voter --

federalizing voting. all that other stuff that is just not popular with the american people. if joe manchin wants to actually respect his constituents and do what he is put there to do, a lot of senators have forgotten about their constituents. he is doing the right thing, and i believe the pressure and attacks at his home and harassment did not help his decision. that is something we have to get rid of, this mob mentality, whether it is on the right or the left. it has the opposite effect. it is basic psychology. i just can't believe there is no common sense when it comes to that. host: so, cindy, for yourself, then you are saying if a narrow build back better package like the one you described or the element you describe something you could support? caller: yes. but there is this other stuff in

there i would not support. host: let's hear from sam from hillsdale, michigan, democrats line. caller: thank you. i wanted to say manchin cannot understand this bill is aimed at the future, not the present. if we don't do it now, we will have to do it again in the future. it's got to be done. you might as well do it now and get it over with. host: do you still think elements of this bill have some type of light of day in congress? caller: some do, but the whole thing has to be passed now. that is the important thing. host: one of the elements of the package was that of climate issues.

"new york times," under the headline "climate goals at risk after mr. manchin says no to bill." "mr. manchin, who profits -- are from investments that advocates say are vital to reducing the burning of coal, oil, and gas. mr. manchin rejected part of the bill that would have been the most effective tool to cut greenhouse gases, a clean electricity program that would have awarded power plants that switch from burning fossil fuels to solar wind and other clean sources and punish those that did not. he objected to a provision that would have imposed a fee on emissions of methane and opposed a provision that would have given tax credits to consumers who purchase electric vehicles produced by union labor." some of the climate aspects, "the new york times" reporting. independent line. this is rob. what do you think about the senator's decision? caller: i think it is great. i think joe manchin is doing a great job. these democrats are out of

touch. this bill -- come on, we have the highest inflation in 40 years. this is going to make it worse. the president going on tv and saying it is not going to cost a single cent, this man is demented. host: do you think mr. manchin's motives were purely determined by inflation? caller: i believe there are other factors. he knows he is being lied to. this is $3.5 trillion at least. the congressional budget office said it is more like $5 trillion. host: that is rob new york. from facebook this morning, says "at least one democrat in d.c. has some sense. the rest are bonkers." steve saying, "i count myself as a moderate democrat and see nothing wrong with childcare. the lobbyists have bought senator manchin and when will the madness stop in the senate?"

norman smith come also on facebook "he has completely betrayed the people of west virginia as well as all of america." this is bill calling in on our democrats line. caller: good morning. he did the right thing. he is a man of honor. he follows his conscience. i have three kids still working in the coal mines. i am a retired coalminer. we keep seeing the democrat party going further to the left and this war on coal is ridiculous. we are going to have to have coal for at least the next 50 years. i can tell you, we are going to stand behind joe. if it keeps up like this, people like me and my children are going to be dropping out of this democrat party. it is going so far to the left. it is on the verge of socialism and communism. they might not be communist, but

i'm going to tell you what i , would not trust them not to let the commies come in here and take over. host: do you think the senator's decision is encouraged by coal overall or his attachment to the coal industry? caller: i think the senator looks at the fact that this country is $30 trillion in the red and that my grandkids now are born with debt on their souls that will never be paid off. it is gluttony. it's washington gluttony. these people in washington think they can spend taxpayer money for everything they want to and there is going to be nothing that happens. my grandkids are the only thing i really care about these days, and i do not want to see them living in an america that is any less of in america than it was

when i grew up and have the opportunities i had. i worked my tail off, and i can tell you i'm watching these government people just give money away to people that will not work or are sitting at home. they are getting too much money for free and don't have to work. host: that is bill, west virginia. west virginians are encouraged to call and talk about the by your senator on build back better. louisiana, independent line. caller: good morning. actually, i am calling on the republican line. host: well, this is the independent line. are you an independent or republican? caller: i am a republican. host: ok, i'm going to let you go. i'm going to ask you to call back on the republican line if you can because we try to keep the lines partisan in the sense that it best represents you. go ahead and try again and call in on the republican line.

noel in new york, republican line. caller: good morning, pedro. first, let me say how much i miss brian lamb. he was a great moderator. about this joe manchin vote, i am sure my democrat friends will be excited to understand that somebody in the republican party of the senate will give joe biden his wish on this. we have had a lot of rino's on the republican side. i feel sorry for the country for going through what it is going through. host: for senator manchin's decision, what do you think of that? caller: well, i think he is a man of principle. it is a good way to look at it. we are in a mess now financially. it is going to be not borne by me or my generation, but my

children and my grandchildren are going to be saddled with this. at some point, the rubber has to meet the road. everybody has to pay their bills. it is a mess. joe manchin is doing the right thing by saying no. but unfortunately, like i said, i'm sure one of these republican senators will jump ship. they can't wait to make the news and b -- host: who do you think is likely to do that in the republican party in the senate? caller: well, i don't know, i think they are all sitting there with their heads together. follow the money is what i say. there is so much money in this bill. it is going to go all directions. i think there are people on the republican side that will jump ship to give joe biden his wish.

host: ok, noel in new york. some of the reaction from members of congress when it comes to the future of build back better highlighted in the "wall street journal" this morning. they quote a representative from washington state, the chairman of the moderate new democrat coalition. she said the party should choose a smaller set of programs to fund in the bill, listing the child tax credit, affordable care act subsidies, and climate programs as worthy goals. her statement was tweeted by white house officials, including the white house chief of staff. the story also quotes a representative from virginia, a centrist who faces competitive reelection race next year. she said in a written statement that democrats need to find a compromise. "after months of negotiation, one democratic u.s. senator has summarily walked away from productive negotiation. that is unacceptable, and we cannot act like this moment is the end.

children, families, and the future of our planet are counting on us." we will hear from virginia. this is jeff in williamsburg, virginia, independent line. caller: thank you for taking my call. so, what independents heard in the democratic primary process, you need to nominate joe biden because he is not donald trump and he won't send mean tweets. number two, he is not bernie sanders and he won't have a communist-inspired, marxist economic program. so he got the nomination. the bill back--build back bankrupt bill is literally marxist. in terms of priorities, that bill would increase debt and overburden our children. also, what money needs to be spent now is on national security. host: senator manchin's actions specifically, what do you think of that? caller: i think he recognizes

that independents don't want marxist-inspired socialist takeover and massive debt. i think he has been articulate. his words speak for themselves. he expressed it well. he is responsible. is a states man -- he is a statesman, and he is brave. host: speaking of senator sanders, he talked specifically about the decision by senator manchin and reacted to it yesterday. here is part of the response. [video clip] sen. sanders: i think he is going to have a lot of explaining to do to the people of west virginia to tell them why he does not have the guts to take on the drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs, why he is not prepared to expand home health care. west virginia is one of the poorest states in this country. you've got elderly people and disabled people who would like to stay at home. he is going to have to tell the people of west virginia why he does not want to expand medicare to cover dental,

hearing, and eyeglasses. i have been to west virginia a number of times. it is a great state, beautiful people, but it is a state that is struggling. he is going to have to tell the people of west virginia why he is rejecting what scientists of the world are telling us, that we have to act boldly and transform our energy system to protect future generations from the devastation of climate change. what is going on now in washington is big money is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars to make sure we continue to pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs so the rich do not pay their fair share of taxes. i would've hoped we could have had at least 50 democrats on board who have the guts to take on lobbyists and the powerful and special interests. we have no republicans, not one republican in the united states senate or house, prepared to stand up to drug companies or insurance companies or the wealthy. i would hope we would have had

50 democrats. but if that is the case, i hope we will bring a strong bill to the floor of the senate as soon as we can and let mr. manchin explain to the people west virginia what he does not have the guts to stand up to special interests. host: again, that is senator sanders from yesterday. in "the washington post" this morning, how biden's alliance with mention unraveled. they say mr. manchin made up his mind only in the past day or two, according to a person familiar with the situation, concluding he had exhausted all negotiating options with the white house. the senator did not seem pleased with a written statement from president biden thursday evening that effectively pushed the negotiations into next year, which had referenced mr. manchin multiple times.

joseph in virginia, republican line, you are next. caller: good morning. senator manchin, you did the right thing. this is a horrible bill. there are so many hidden items in it. i hear a lot of democrats talking about one senator is taking over everything. remember the republican senator all you democrats loved, john mccain? remember what he threw the wrench in it for donald trump? do you remember when the rhode island senator left the senate from the republican party and went to the democrat party when george bush was president? these things happen. there is probably money in this bill for black lives matter. i watched joe manchin yesterday three different times on reruns on the same segment. hey, bernie sanders, you said you wished you had at least 50 democrat senators. bernie, you only have 50 democrat senators. host: ok, joseph in stafford,

virginia. independent line from west virginia. we will hear from donald. caller: good morning. i have been hearing for weeks them run down joe manchin. let me assure you, west virginia is behind joe manchin. his poll numbers were good before. i would say they are even better this morning. bernie sanders does not represent west virginia. joe manchin does. host: why did you support his decision on this build back better act? ah, you hung up. let's hear from anthony, minneapolis, minnesota, democrats line. caller: i think future president manchin -- that is what he wants to do, become president. it is ridiculous that the part of the country he represents is the poorest part of the country and nobody listens to the point you brought up earlier, that he makes money off of fossil fuels. to the people in this country who believe we need to have

coal, the coal industry, if you look it up, the peak of the coal industry was in 1914 at the beginning of world war i. we only have 60,000 to 70,000 coal workers. why is it so important to keep a bunch of coal workers, people getting black lung and bringing it home to their kids? it is ridiculous that this country will not spend any money on people -- on poor people but don't have any problem spending $2 trillion on rich people who sit back and don't pay taxes. host: do you think that democrats have to rework the current version of build back better to get mr. manchi n's support? caller: joe manchin is not going to vote for this because he is looking at the poll numbers for joe biden, thinking he can run for president next time. but i guarantee you, i have never voted for a republican and i would never vote for joe

manchin even if he paid me. host: ok, if you go to the "new york times" website, there is a story, how joe manchin survived as a democrat in west virginia. i will read you portions of it. it says white voters without a four-year degree in the state made up 69% of voters in 2020 according to census data. mr. trump won west virginia with 69% of the vote in 2020, more than in every state in wyoming. it is hard to say how his mr. manchin is a democratic senator at all. his state voted for mr. trump by 39 points. no other member in their state or district who voted for the other party's presidential candidate by more than 16 points. his unique ability to survive in west virginia is the last vestige of the new deal

democratic tradition, dating to the old industrial era over workers rights and safety. it was one of the most reliably democratic states for the second half of the 20th century. it voted in defeat for li stevenson in 1952, hubert humphrey, jimmy carter in 1980, and michael dukakis. the so-called republican southern strategy yielded no inroads there." there is more to that. this is posted by nate cohn. the story dates back to july of this year. allen in ohio, independent line. caller: hi, pedro. i called in -- you would think i would be interested in the bill. i am 63. i have a hernia that is not operated on, and i have to lift my mom up every day to care for her at home. we are trying to keep her out of the nursing home. she is going to be 97 and she was affected by covid. i still don't think the bill should be passed even if it

hands us some of the benefits offered to seniors. when i was listening when you were showing the clip from senator sanders -- i know things in the bill are good, but we have to work it out. west virginia needs to work that out by themselves. the federal government should not get involved. they can't handle these problems. they are too big. i had a really negative experience with medicaid in ohio. there were some things they were telling us that were not true. host: so senator manchin's decision specifically, what did you think of that? caller: senator sanders? host: senator manchin's decision on holding off the bill, what did you think of that? caller: i was in support of it. i just really think it should not be passed by the federal government. the biden administration, they have good intentions, but i am not in support of it. if byron donalds of florida was the president, we would be on the path of success in america.

everybody please look into byron donalds of florida. host: ok, ok. we will go to clay in louisiana. republican line. caller: thank you, pedro, for taking my call. yes, i support senator manchin 100%. he is a rare individual, a man of principle in washington today. in a joint committee meeting with the senators, the former head of the chief of staff said the biggest threat to our country, survival of our country, is not china. it is not russia. it is our debt. senator manchin accused him of taking money. the man lives on a houseboat.

senator from vermont, who was always doubting the so-called wealthy. has free housing. if the people of west virginia do not like senator manchin, they are free to run someone against him. host: is he only a man of principle on this decision, or would you say every decision senator manchin makes in the senate? caller: well, i have followed c-span. it is a wonderful civic program. i guess i followed senator manchin reasonably well. but overall, i think he is a man of principle. the bill that was passed, the $106 trillion supporting roads and bridges and someone, no reasonable person could be against that. they throw in all the other things and the social program, some of them are well-meaning but add to the national debt.

they have to be individually sorted out and not lumped together under a massive spending program. host: let's hear from middleton in west virginia, democrats line. caller: good morning, pedro. let me tell you, this is a personal story. i have met joe manchin. i was campaigning for another democrat, and he was there. he kissed my wife on the cheek, so i thought things were great. i had a big package -- a problem that affects all people across the united states, having to do with pre-existing conditions and the medicare supplement insurance program. i gave him a wad of facts of -- >>