He wouldn't say it in the interview, it would have been in a private negotiation with Snake Schumer about the deal, IF he actually said it. Pundits speculate with the evidence they have to make sense of it. So I agree with you that he didn't say it in the public interview, but switching parties appears to be the only powerful retaliation Manchin has if Schumer gets Manchin's vote now but fails to follow through on those promises.
"Did Joe Manchin Threaten to Switch Political Parties?" Chuck Todd Seems to Know He Did
They don’t give a fuck if he leaves. Their fate is already written. They are set to lose both the house and senate regardless.
Manchin switch would automatically cause Dems to lose control of the Senate Majority and become the minority. Schumer gets the boot, Mitch or Grassley becomes majority leader and investigations begin much earlier during campaign season before the midterms. All Dem initiatives end.
If Schumer keeps his promises, Dems retain control through Jan 20, 2023. That would mean +/-6 months of continued Dem control of both houses. A lot more grifting, shenanigans and obfuscation can happen in 6 months. I'm sure this matters to them.
Manchin switching parties may not a thermonuclear bomb on the Dems, but certainly an A-bomb.
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