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Joe Manchin on the Fight for America's Future: Term Limits, Bipartisanship & the 2028 Election

In a candid and wide-ranging discussion, Senator Joe Manchin joins the podcast to reflect on his political journey, the challenges of maintaining institutional integrity, and the growing polarization in American politics. He offers a firsthand account of standing firm on principle amid intense pressure, shedding light on the personal and political costs of dissent in today’s hyper-partisan environment.
Manchin defends his decision to oppose the Build Back Better agenda, citing fiscal responsibility and the dangers of inflation after trillions in pandemic spending. He reveals the personal toll of death threats and paid protests, while emphasizing his commitment to the filibuster and bipartisan process. He critiques Biden's leadership as influenced by far-left advisers, contrasts Obama's detachment with Trump's engagement, and laments broken promises to coal communities. Advocating for work requirements in social programs, he warns against entitlement culture and rising socialism. He supports term limits, open primaries, and electoral reform to break the two-party stranglehold, and expresses concern over national debt and democratic erosion. Reflecting on past presidencies, he considers an independent run or new political movement to restore centrism and address critical issues like energy and immigration.
18:54
18:54
Protesters were paid $15 an hour to demonstrate against me
21:58
21:58
Trump was the most engaged president I worked with
35:27
35:27
Financial literacy should be required to receive student loans.
37:06
37:06
Two six-year Senate terms are enough; public service shouldn't be about fame or fortune.
55:27
55:27
Closed primaries disenfranchise independent voters and distort democratic representation
1:04:59
1:04:59
I would've run to talk about important issues like energy.