Outgoing Independent West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin vehemently criticized some of the advice that President Biden received throughout his presidency, claiming that such guidance led to significant blindspots for the administration on pressing issues such as inflation, immigration, and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
During his guest appearance on CBS’s “The Takeout” podcast on Friday, Manchin candidly recounted his attempts to persuade Biden to pursue bipartisan cooperation on the American Rescue Plan. He recalled warning the president about the potentially dire consequences of extending unemployment benefits through October 2021—an alarm that seemed to fall on deaf ears due to the influence of 17 Nobel laureates advising Biden.
“I warned of that, and I got criticized; as you recall, they told me they had 17 Nobel laureates,” Manchin remarked, subsequently labeling those laureates as “17 educated idiots,” who were providing Biden with affirmations that aligned with his preferences rather than sound economic advice.
Manchin, who initially remained a member of the Democratic Party during the early days of Biden’s administration, played a pivotal role in shaping the new president’s legislative ambitions within the Senate. His cooperation was instrumental in navigating through a closely divided chamber.
Democrats maintained a razor-thin majority throughout Biden’s term, relying on the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris to facilitate the passage of the administration’s agenda, which underscored the critical nature of the moderate West Virginia senator’s support.
Ultimately, Manchin made the significant decision to forgo a run for re-election and to sever ties with the Democratic Party after a lengthy political career, asserting that he needed to remain “true” to himself and his principles.
“To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority,” Manchin announced in a May 2024 statement, emphasizing his commitment to governing principles over partisan politics.
During his CBS interview, Manchin reflected on the collaborative efforts of Congress in working alongside the Trump administration to expedite the distribution of stimulus checks in the chaotic early days of pandemic shutdowns, suggesting that while lawmakers had acted decisively, they later recognized that flooding the economy with money had been a miscalculation.
Nevertheless, Manchin noted that Biden quickly moved toward the budget reconciliation process to push the American Rescue Plan through the Senate, a course of action that Manchin himself initially resisted. He recalled how his objections temporarily halted proceedings for several hours.
“Remember when I stopped and it shut down for about eight or 10 hours? That’s because they were extending unemployment benefits and we had a vaccine that worked,” Manchin recalled. He stressed that the administration was overlooking critical economic signals at a time when American consumers had already received financial support from stimulus checks.
“You’ve got inflation coming at you hard when you do this, and now you’re still keeping people out of the workforce because you’re going to give them an extension clear up until October 2021 of unemployment benefits, and they can’t go back and can’t be threatened to lose their unemployment benefits,” Manchin warned, encapsulating his concerns about a “perfect storm” brewing for the economy.
What factors influenced Senator Joe Manchin’s decision to register as an independent and not seek re-election?
**Interview with Outgoing Independent Senator Joe Manchin**
**Host:** Welcome to our program, Senator Manchin. You recently shared your thoughts on President Biden’s presidency, particularly criticizing some of the advice he received from his economic advisors. Can you elaborate on your concerns?
**Manchin:** Absolutely. During my time in the Senate, I witnessed how specific recommendations, especially those backed by so-called experts, led to crucial blindspots. For instance, when it came to the American Rescue Plan, I urged the President to prioritize bipartisan cooperation. I specifically warned against extending unemployment benefits through October 2021, predicting it would have negative repercussions for the economy. Unfortunately, it seemed my warnings were overlooked because of the influence of 17 Nobel laureates.
**Host:** You referred to those laureates as “17 educated idiots.” Can you explain why you believe their advice was misguided?
**Manchin:** My point is that while they may have impressive credentials, their advice to the President often reinforced his pre-existing preferences rather than offering truly objective economic guidance. In my view, blind adherence to this kind of advice can lead to harmful policies. Ultimately, we need sound economic strategies grounded in reality, not just academic theories.
**Host:** You played a significant role in passing legislation during a closely divided Senate. How did your position as a moderate impact your effectiveness?
**Manchin:** Being a moderate allowed me to facilitate crucial discussions. Democrats relied heavily on my cooperation, especially with the tiebreaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris. My goal has always been to prioritize the interests of West Virginians and the American people—sometimes that meant aligning with my party, and other times it meant standing apart when I felt it was necessary.
**Host:** You’ve decided not to run for re-election and have registered as an independent. Can you explain this decision?
**Manchin:** After years in office, I realized that I needed to remain true to my principles. Registering as an independent allows me to put my country before any party alignment. I believe there’s a sensible majority in America that is often overlooked by both parties, and I want to continue advocating for their interests without being constrained by party politics.
**Host:** Thank you, Senator Manchin, for sharing your insights with us. It’s clear that your commitment to bipartisanship and principle-driven service will continue to shape your efforts moving forward.
**Manchin:** Thank you for having me. I’m dedicated to fighting for the sensible majority and ensuring that every American’s voice is heard.
