Sunday shows preview: Manchin makes the rounds after pivotal role in coronavirus relief debate

The Senate’s approval of President Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill is expected to dominate this Sunday’s talk shows, with a round of appearances from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who over the weekend played a critical role in advancing — and delaying — the legislation. 

The 50-49 party-line vote on Saturday followed a more than 24-hour session in the Senate, with Democrats resisting attempts from GOP senators to make changes to the legislation. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement Saturday that the House plans on voting on the relief bill Tuesday before sending it to Biden’s office for a signature. 

Biden in remarks from the White House Saturday called the Senate’s vote a “giant step forward,” in delivering relief to Americans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“This plan puts us on a path to beating the virus. This plan gives those families who are struggling the most the help and the breathing room they need to get through this moment. This plan gives small businesses in this country a fighting chance to survive,” Biden said. 

The package includes another round of stimulus checks, additional aid for state and local governments and support for reopening schools across the country. 

The vote came after Democrats huddled with Manchin, the lone holdout, for hours before ultimately reaching a deal on unemployment benefits Friday evening following debate on the measure that prompted an hours-long delay of the relief bill.

Senate Democrats in the deal agreed to a proposal of a $300 per week unemployment payments through Sept. 6. The deal would also make the first $10,200 of benefits non-taxable for households with an income less than $150,000.

“When we started negotiating it took longer than it should have. But we got it done, we got a better deal,” Manchin said on Saturday about the talks. 

Manchin will make a round of appearances this Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CNN’s “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday.” 

The step forward on a relief package comes as the U.S. has reached roughly 28.9 million coronavirus vaccine infections, and more than 524,000 total deaths as a result of the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 

However, lowered daily infection rates and the increased distribution of three vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have provided hope for an eventual end to the pandemic. 

The nation’s top infectious disease expert and White House Chief Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci will be on “Face the Nation” this Sunday, and Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under former President Obama, is expected on “Fox News Sunday.” 

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Manchin; Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio).

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sens. Manchin and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.); White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients; Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Fauci; Govs. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Phil Murphy (D-N.J).; Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Manchin; Govs. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) and Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.); White House communications director Kate Bedingfield.

“Fox News Sunday” — Manchin; Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.); Frieden; Marc Short, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence; Julie Pace, Associated Press; Juan Williams, Fox News political analyst, co-host of “The Five.”; John Foley, Peloton CEO. 

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), ranking member, Senate Budget Committee; Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), House Judiciary Committee; John Solomon, editor-in-chief, Just the News.