I spoke to POLITICO‘s Josh Seigel about Joe Manchin’s ongoing battle with the Biden Administration over implementation of the landmark clean energy package he staked his legacy on.

Some Democrats fear that Manchin’s criticisms will do real damage by confusing the public about one of the law’s most debated-provisions: its $7,500 tax credits for electric vehicles. He has accused the Treasury Department of violating the law by flouting strict provisions he wrote designed to force electric vehicles to be made in the U.S. with American-made parts.

“When you’re Joe Manchin it never hurts to be seen butting heads with the administration, but I think this is genuine umbrage over the fact Congressional intent seems pretty clear, even if the statutory construction left room for Treasury to maneuver,” said Liam Donovan, a lobbyist with the firm Bracewell who previously worked for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “And given that he would not have been on board for the bill at all had this been the understanding, it reads as a personal betrayal.”

Read the full piece here.

I spoke to NBC News‘ Sahil Kapur about the various scenarios that may play out as Congress and the White House seek to resolve the debt limit impasse.

PATH #3: Tie debt limit to government funding

Some congressional aides believe the way out is to attach a debt limit extension to a bipartisan government funding bill, which is due by Sept. 30 to prevent a shutdown.

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“The key to that would be opening up budget negotiations that Republicans will see as a victory in and of itself, while Biden can maintain his debt limit stance,” Republican strategist and lobbyist Liam Donovan said. “It may be prudent to pass a short-term debt limit increase to put more time on the clock, show good faith and sync the deadline up with that of government funding. Short of that sort of orderly engagement, it will take coming right up to the edge to determine who blinks.”

Read the full piece here.

I spoke to Bloomberg’s Josh Green about the debt limit fight, public opinion, and the political implications of potential executive action to avoid default.

In Washington, insiders have started taking the idea semi-seriously. “I think it’s not gotten enough attention,” says Liam Donovan, a Republican lobbyist and debt-ceiling expert. “If you look at the White House position, they kind of have to be prepared to act unilaterally or they’re setting themselves up to look pretty foolish. It’s a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ answer.”

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Still, there’s an argument that Biden just minting the coin and taking heat for it would be the best outcome for everyone—including Republicans, who can’t even agree on a ransom demand. “If Biden were willing to take the debt limit off their plate and spare them from taking a painful vote (and/or a humiliating L), that’s just as well,” Donovan says. “Unilateral action by the administration also puts them back in their comfort zone, where they can push back on the White House’s fiscal recklessness and constitutional overreach, a small political price for Biden if it ends the charade once and for all.” Criticizing Biden is the Republicans’ safe space. Minting the coin would also let future Republican presidents off the hook since, like the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, killing off the debt limit would rid the country of its decades-long reign of terror.

Read the full piece here.

As I told Josh and laid out in my debt limit explainer, I don’t believe minting the coin would be the preferred option of the administration, but unilateral action is a key variable that has not received nearly enough attention. Indeed, Biden’s appetite for confrontation with Republicans likely hinges on his willingness to pursue such a go-it-alone strategy, even as a last resort.