The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Alibaba – Progressives ready

                            Presented by Alibaba

Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. It is Wednesday! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe!

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 688,033; Tuesday, 690,434; Wednesday, 693,055.

The political future of the Democratic Party could turn on what liberals and centrists decide next in a battle over President BidenJoe BidenDemocrats search for sweet spot below .5 trillion price tag Progressive Democrats seek to purge the term ‘moderate’ Republicans plow forward with election challenges MORE’s spending and infrastructure agenda. Right now, they are pummeling each other.  

The infighting continued on Tuesday as progressive members issued another threat in the direction of Democratic leaders to sink a planned Thursday vote on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill without assurances from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaDemocrats search for sweet spot below .5 trillion price tag Progressive Democrats seek to purge the term ‘moderate’ On The Money — Democratic divides deepen as progressives hold the line MORE (D-Ariz.) that they will vote for a wide-ranging reconciliation package. 

The Hill: Senate Democrats weigh a government funding bill through Dec. 3 delinked from a hike in the debt ceiling.

“If she were to call the bill, it will fail,” Rep. Jan SchakowskyJanice (Jan) Danoff SchakowskyOn The Money — Democratic divides deepen as progressives hold the line Overnight Energy & Environment — Presented by the American Petroleum Institute — Manchin expresses his misgivings Missouri Republican mulling Senate race launches statewide ad slamming Dem spending bill MORE (D-Ill.), an ally of Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiDemocrats search for sweet spot below .5 trillion price tag Progressive Democrats seek to purge the term ‘moderate’ Overnight Defense & National Security — Presented by AM General — Senators slam Pentagon officials MORE (D-Calif.), told The Hill on Tuesday. “Not because the [Congressional] Progressive Caucus, people like me, aren’t willing to vote for it. But … we had an agreement that we were going to get these two pieces [together]” (The Hill).

However, there were signs of life for the majority party and its agenda. Biden held separate meetings with Manchin and Sinema at the White House on Tuesday, with the Arizona Democrat taking part in multiple other meetings with White House officials. Additionally, Biden nixed a planned trip to Chicago today to promote vaccinations and mandates in favor of staying in Washington to take part in negotiations (The Hill). 

“In meetings and calls over the weekend and…