Thread by @drvolts

Note how often the loss of climate-related provisions in the infrastructure bill is framed as a "blow to climate activists," as though climate action is some boutique favor for a leftie special interest. This way of thinking is SO deeply rooted in the political press.

Imagine some giant foreign army were sailing toward the US & Congress passed a defense bill without any provisions to prepare for the attack.

"Prevent-the-US-from-being-invaded-and-conquered activists frustrated by loss of war provisions in Defense Bill"

Another common bit of framing: a bipartisan infrastructure deal is at hand, but petulant progressives are standing in the way because their precious climate stuff wasn't included.

In reality -- & I can't stress this enough -- there is no bipartisan infrastructure deal.

The point of this whole exercise -- as in 2009-2010 -- is:
a) drag things out, allowing RW media time to polarize it;
b) get D leadership to state for the record what they're willing to sacrifice, thus causing
c) infighting on the left over who's betraying who, & then
d) bail.

Everyone who follows US politics knows these bipartisan negotiations are an empty ritual. Both parties, for their own reasons, need to be seen trying, or at least acting like they're trying. Rs want to spin the press on the idea that they tried, but Ds won't compromise. Ds ...

... need to put on a theater production for Manchin & Sinema, to give them psycho-political justification to use reconciliation. Neither party really thinks Rs will allow a bipartisan bill to pass. The press ought to tell the public the truth about that instead of playing along.