Joe Manchin, Vichy Democrat

With Democrats like Joe Manchin, who needs Republicans?

The Democrats' turncoat.
(Image credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democratic lawmakers are finally listening to their enraged base.

It took countless phone calls and raucous, Tea Party-like protests across the country to get the Democrats to listen. But the results have been noticeable: After President Trump's first few nominees mostly sailed through, the Democrats unified to oppose the nomination of Betsy DeVos and, with the help of Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, forced Vice President Mike Pence to break a 50-50 Senate tie. Similarly, nearly every Democrat opposed the nomination of Senate colleague Jeff Sessions for attorney general — no small feat, considering the limp approach some in the caucus were taking just a few short weeks ago.

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Paul Blest

Paul Blest is a journalist living in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's a former staff writer for INDY Week and has written for New Republic, Jacobin, VICE, and Salon.