'B — U — L — L. Capital B': Joe Manchin denies report he plans to sever ties with the Democratic Party

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a centrist lawmaker who has positioned himself as a major roadblock to President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda, is denying reports he plans to leave the Democratic Party.

Manchin on Wednesday pushed back on the claims saying, "I can't control rumors, and it's bullshit, bullshit spelled with a B, U, L, L, capital B."

A Mother Jones exclusive, published Wednesday, claimed Manchin is quietly mulling over strategies to sever ties with the political party.

Per Mother Jones:

"Manchin told associates that he was prepared to initiate his exit plan earlier this week and had mentioned the possibility to Biden. But he was encouraged by the conversations with Sanders and top Democrats that occurred at the start of the week and did not yet see a reason to take this step. Still, he has informed associates that because he is so out of sync with the Democratic Party, he believes it is likely he will leave the party by November 2022."

Manchin has joined Republican senators in rejecting Biden's Build Back Better agenda, arguing the president's proposals shift American society towards an "entitlement mentality."

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