Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate

Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinSenate votes to take up infrastructure deal GOP, Democrats battle over masks in House, Senate Sinema says she opposes .5T price tag for spending bill MORE (D-W.Va.), who over the weekend played a critical role in advancing — and delaying — President BidenJoe BidenBriahna Joy Gray: White House thinks extending student loan pause is a 'bad look' Biden to meet with 11 Democratic lawmakers on DACA: report Former New York state Senate candidate charged in riot MORE’s sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, appeared on multiple Sunday morning political interview shows.

The moderate senator discussed prospects for a minimum wage increase and House-passed voting rights legislation in the upper chamber.

Guests also discussed the latest on the coronavirus pandemic and decisions by some governors to lift public health mandates.

Read The Hill's complete coverage below.

Manchin: Every member of the Senate thinks minimum wage should increase By JOHN BOWDEN    Moderate West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) predicted that the Senate would be able to reach a compromise to raise the minimum wage nationally. Speaking with CNN's "State of the Union," Manchin told host Jake TapperJacob (Jake) Paul TapperAly Raisman defends former teammate Biles: 'I'm proud of her' House Republican calls second bout of COVID-19 'far more challenging' Fauci says vulnerable populations may need vaccine booster shots MORE that he believed every single member of the upper chamber supported a minimum wage increase, while adding that the disagreement was over how much it should be. Read the full story here

Manchin on his moderate role: 'I didn't lobby for this position' By JOSEPH CHOI   Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) on Sunday shot down suggestions that Democrats are now forced to cater to him as he has become one of the most prominent moderate lawmakers in a 50-50 Senate. Read the full story here

Manchin unmoved on filibuster, keeps door cracked open on reconciliation for voting rights bill By ZACK BUDRYK    “I'm not going to change my mind on the filibuster. I will change my mind if we need to go to a reconciliation to where we have to get something done once I know they have process into it,” Manchin said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “But I'm not going to go there until my Republican friends have the ability to have their say also."  Read the full story here

White House says Biden would prefer to not end filibuster By JOHN BOWDEN   Communications director Kate BedingfieldKate BedingfieldBiden's misinformation crackdown spotlights partisan divide on content reform White House uses Trump's words praising China to slam McCarthy's Biden criticism Biden, Putin begin high-stakes summit in Geneva MORE told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" that President Biden remains committed to winning Republican support even after no GOP lawmakers broke with their party in either chamber to vote for the $1.9 trillion relief bill. Read the full story here

Fauci: Current virus plateau 'unacceptable' By ZACK BUDRYK   “Historically, if you look back at the different surges we’ve had, when they come down and start to plateau at a very high level… plateauing at a level of [60,000] to 70,000 new cases per day is not an acceptable level, that is really very high.” Read the full story here

Former Biden COVID-19 adviser: 'We are in the eye of the hurricane right now' By JOSEPH CHOI   Michael Osterholm, a former Biden adviser on COVID-19, warned on Sunday that although progress was being made in combating the coronavirus pandemic, the threat from new virus variants still loomed. Read the full story here

Mississippi governor defends ending mask mandate By JOHN BOWDEN    Mississippi's Republican governor, Tate Reeves, on Sunday defended his decision to roll back restrictions on businesses and end Mississippi's mask mandate, saying the levels of COVID-19 in his state did not warrant such measures remaining in place. Read the full story here

Ohio governor on continued mask order: 'We can't give up the defense' By JOSEPH CHOI   Ohio Gov. Mike DeWineMike DeWineAmericans' confidence in institutions slips after uptick: Gallup DeWine bans Ohio universities, schools from mandating COVID-19 vaccines Biden to participate in CNN town hall in Ohio MORE (R) on Sunday defended his state’s continued mask mandate as fellow Republican governors lift pandemic-related restrictions in their own states. Read the full story here

Arkansas governor: Removal of coronavirus restrictions an 'off-ramp' By ZACK BUDRYK   Arkansas Gov. Asa HutchinsonAsa HutchinsonWhat you need to know about the new COVID-19 surge CNN: Every county in Florida, Arkansas rated 'high transmission' for community spread Sunday shows - Jan. 6 investigation dominates MORE (R), one of several governors from both parties to announce a reversal of coronavirus restrictions, defended his decision Sunday, saying he viewed the rollback in his state as an “off-ramp” that could be adjusted if infections spike. Read the full story here

Michigan governor touts J&J vaccine after Detroit mayor turns down doses By JOHN BOWDEN    The governor of Michigan is defending the efficacy of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, saying she would get it herself should it be available when she is eligible to be vaccinated. Read the full story here

New Jersey governor: 'I'm confident in the numbers' on nursing home outbreaks By ZACK BUDRYK   Amid reported investigations into New York Gov. Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoCuomo ordering all New York state workers to be vaccinated or face testing Want to improve vaccine rates? Ask for this endorsement Scarborough pleads with Biden to mandate vaccines for teachers, health workers MORE’s (D) office handling of statistics around coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said Sunday he was “confident” in his state's data. Read the full story here

Pentagon chief: Response to rocket attack in Iraq will be 'thoughtful' and 'appropriate' By ZACK BUDRYK   “We're still developing the intelligence. We're encouraging the Iraqis to move as fast as they can to investigate the incident and they are doing that. But you can expect that we will always hold people accountable for their acts,” Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinBlinken calls US-India relationship 'vital' during official visit Senate panel advances Navy secretary nominee Biden zigzags on China policy MORE said on ABC’s “This Week.” Read the full story here