DL Open Thread: Wednesday, October 20, 2021

How Much More Popular Stuff Will D’s Excise From Package To Satisfy The Two Bomb-Throwers In The Caucus? Lots more:

The potential new price range marks a significant reduction from the $3.5 trillion that some Democrats initially pursued under a budget agreement chiefly brokered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) earlier this year. But it is closer to the number that centrists, especially Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), had outlined in recent months as they sought steep cuts to Democrats’ spending plans. Manchin and Sanders met Tuesday for the second time in two days after the two sparred with each other over the weekend.

But slimming down the package also is sure to force Democrats to make some sacrifices. The path put forward by the White House could extend new, expanded child tax credit payments recently adopted by Congress, but perhaps for only one additional year, three of the sources said. It would offer new money to make housing more affordable, yet far less than Democrats once envisioned. And it would provide paid leave, except only four weeks of benefits, rather than the 12 weeks some had once proposed, according to one of the people in the room.

The proposal’s price tag had remained a major point of contention. Sanders and Jayapal had sought as much as $3.5 trillion over 10 years as they worked to expand Medicare benefits, invest new sums to combat global warming, and extend paid leave and tax credits to workers and families. But two key centrists, Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), objected to the overall cost and vast policy scope favored by their liberal counterparts.

They’re not centrists, they’re not Democrats. They’re corporate toadies. Yet more cuts:

(Biden) told Democrats that a plan to provide two years of free community college would most likely have to be jettisoned, according to lawmakers who attended. The concession came days after negotiators began preparing to drop a clean electricity program intended to help rapidly replace coal- and gas-fired power plants, which is opposed by Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, whose concerns about the package are driving the talks.

Don’t blame any of this shit on progressives.  Though the so-called centrists will.

Moscow Mitch’s Aluminum Plant In Trouble? Look Whose Home Just Got Swarmed Over By Federal Law Enforcement.  Guess Where He Had Parked Some Of His Ill-Gotten Gains.

Facebook To Rebrand?  I can’t wait to see the stream of comedic memes this will cause.  Since I don’t understand this stuff, allow me to share this, which, it goes without saying, I don’t understand:

According to the Verge, VR is the driver of the mooted name change as the company focuses on building a “metaverse” as the cornerstone of a new growth strategy. The Verge reported that the rebranding announcement could take place at the company’s annual product conference, Connect, on 28 October, when more details about the metaverse are set to be unveiled.

NCC Announces New Initiatives For Federal Funding Grants.  Hey, if you’re thinking of running for Governor, it’s great to have a huge pot of money to divvy up.  I know that several state legislators believe that much of this money should have gone to the State.

What’s El Burrito Junior Doing? Harvesting sea salt.  Hey, if it makes him happy…probably good for his soul after dealing with politicos for so long.  I can relate.

What do you want to talk about?  Please confine your comments to the metaverse.