Bill Maher defends Sinema, Manchin: Maybe they have 'their thumb more on the pulse on the average Democrat'

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Biden meets with House Dems to push infrastructure bill

White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich discusses the Biden Administration’s push to pass the infrastructure bill despite rising opposition on ‘Special Report’

"Real Time" host Bill Maher on Friday defended maverick U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., for not backing the Democrats' multitrillion-dollar spending spree. 

Maher kicked off the show's panel discussion by tackling the in-party fighting among Democrat lawmakers over the $1.5 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and the $3.5 spending bill being championed by the progressive wing, noting how the far left members of the party were "very mad" at Sinema and Manchin for not backing it.

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"They're mad at them because they're not progressive enough -- forgetting that they only got elected because they're not progressives! They're moderates," Maher said. 

"They only got elected because they're not progressives! They're moderates!"

— Bill Maher

"Here's my question: Does spending more money make you a better person? Or a bigger moderate?" Maher asked. "And maybe these two, Sinema and Manchin … might have their thumb more on the pulse on the average Democrat in the country."

Bill Maher, center, defended moderate Democratic U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

During his opening monologue, Maher noted Congress averted a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution, sparking cheers from the audience. 

"You're cheering? Because we made it through 'til Dec. 3. That's what they did!" Maher reacted. "This is the equivalent of putting duct tape on your shower nozzle until you actually call the plumber."

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The HBO star blasted the "stupid, stupid game of chicken" between Democrats and Republicans, pointing out "at the last minute, Democrats had to back down."

"Nancy Pelosi blinked, which is itself new," Maher quipped.