AOC is skeptical a Democratic holdout is ready to cut a deal on Biden's economic agenda: 'Another week, another Manchin'

• AOC is skeptical that Manchin is ready to cut a deal on the party's agenda.
• "Another week, another Manchin," she told Insider.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York doesn't totally buy a fresh overture from Sen. Joe Manchin that he's willing to cut a deal to advance the bulk of his party's agenda.

"Another week, another Manchin," she told Insider in a brief interview Thursday. "The moment he's actually willing to do something, I'll be listening. But as long as he's talking about doing something, I don't really have much faith."

Ocasio-Cortez reiterated that she believed it was a mistake to split up President Joe Biden's agenda and advance a bipartisan infrastructure plan without the follow-up social and climate spending bill in tow. That was the original "two-track" strategy set up by Democratic leaders until they abandoned it in the fall.

"What's going to get Manchin to move this time, I'm not entirely sure," she said.

It comes a day after the conservative West Virginia Democrat began sketching an outline of another climate and social spending bill that he could support. He told Politico that it should be built on an overhaul of the tax code and prescription drug savings while omitting what he called "social issues" to instead be passed in other bills.

Democrats can't advance the plan without Manchin's vote in a 50-50 Senate over likely united Republican opposition. His office declined to comment.

During his recent State of the Union Address, Biden relaunched his stalled economic agenda under a new banner: "Building a Better America." He pitched it as a set of economic plans designed to cut inflation and the federal deficit, both chief concerns of Manchin.

He urged Congress to approve legislation that established affordable childcare, set up universal pre-K for young children, and renewed subsidies that cheapen health coverage under the Affordable Care Act among other steps.

Ocasio-Cortez has emerged as one of Manchin's fiercest critics. She recently criticized him for "nuking" the monthly child tax credit program that led to a spike in child poverty last month. The New York congresswoman also swiped at Manchin for having "a different demand" from one day to the next to approve the party's agenda to expand healthcare and childcare.

Other prominent progressives held out hope that Manchin would get onboard another party-line spending bill. "I'm forever an optimist," Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chair of the House Progressive Caucus, told Insider. "I really fundamentally believe that we got to get this done.

She went on: "So I'm open but it's got to be real and it's got to be quick."

Democrats appeared to be holding their breath for now. "It's encouraging he's outlining more of what he's willing to support," a House Democratic aide granted anonymity to speak candidly told Insider. "Only time will tell."