Outgoing members of Congress pull no punches in parting shots

Some had advice for the upcoming Congress. Others were thankful they were leaving. Most were frustrated with political parties, partisanship, or the slow going process in the chambers. Here’s what they said.

Sinema withstood a torrent of attention at most every turn during her time in Congress, and found praise from both Republicans and Democrats. The political independent, who sometimes caucused with her former Democratic Party, drew a hard line on the filibuster and spoke her mind.

In an exit interview with Semafor, she did more of the same. Sinema says a Senate Democrat reached out to her after the election to apologize and said she was right about protecting the filibuster. “I was surprised about that one,” she said. “I was very surprised. And I appreciate it.”

She mentioned that she didn’t understand why she was viewed as an enigma in her time with the Senate, saying whoever thought that “wasn’t paying attention” and that she believes she was “highly predictable” because she didn’t say things she didn’t mean.

Sinema drew a lot of criticism from the left at times during her Senate career, most recently for blocking President Joe Biden’s reappointment of a top labor board nominee. She responded to it by saying she doesn’t “give a sh*t.”

Ultimately, she’s thankful to be leaving after six years in the House and Senate each. On if would return to politics she said, ““No … We’re good.”

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV)

Manchin, who spent his last months in the Senate as an independent following frustration with his own party, didn’t differ much from...