Politico reports:

Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema left a two-hour meeting with White House officials seemingly on the verge of an agreement to advance President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda — depending on whether their fellow Democrats sign on.

And, in a sign of Biden’s entreaties to progressives, the president hosted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for an afternoon meeting, according to a Democratic source. Sanders has objected to the possible exclusion of his Medicare expansion proposal from a deal, as Manchin has raised doubts about expanding government programs.

“Everybody is working in such good faith. The president’s been wonderful,” Manchin said as progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) yanked him into an elevator on Wednesday afternoon. “There’s 50 of us.”

Several Democrats said the deal was essentially done, pending Biden’s and Sanders’ final sign offs. If they clinch a deal, the president is expected to come to the House to pitch Democrats on an infrastructure vote, possibly delaying his overseas flight Thursday morning. Many lawmakers plan to attend the congressional softball game Wednesday night. [Continue reading…]