Democrats Just Beat Mitch McConnell at His Own Game

Speculation has risen that the Democrats may have "out-McConnelled" Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announced he has agreed to support a major spending bill right after the Senate voted to pass the CHIPS Act on Wednesday.

Manchin's change of heart could be particularly embarrassing for McConnell, seeing as he previously threatened that the GOP would not help pass the CHIPS Act—a bill aimed at building up U.S, manufacturing and technological competitiveness against China—if Democrats went forward with its reconciliation package.

On Wednesday night, the Senate passed the CHIPS Act by a 64-33 vote. Shortly afterward, Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that an agreement has been reached on the major energy and health care bill.