Sinema reflects on criticism in exit interview: 'Don't give a s‑‑‑'

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) on Friday dismissed recent scrutiny from her Democratic colleagues as the Arizona lawmaker prepares for the end of her first and only term in the upper chamber.

Sinema, who opted against running for reelection earlier this year, faced her latest wave of pushback from the left after she and Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) blocked the renomination of Lauren McFerran to the National Labor Relations Board, which opened the door for Republican control of the board under President-elect Trump.

In an exit interview with Semafor published Friday, Sinema waved away the pushback, saying she didn't "give a s‑‑‑."

“I know some people think I’m, like, this enigma or whatever, but I don’t think that’s true at all,” Sinema told Semafor. “I think, maybe, this is a place where sometimes people say things that they don’t mean. I am not one of those people … I think I’m highly predictable.”

Both Sinema and Manchin began their terms as Democrats but left the party after facing widespread anger from the party for putting up roadblocks to some liberal priorities under President Biden, in part by staunchly backing the Senate filibuster.

Many in the left wanted Democrats to seek to end the filibuster, at least for priority issues like voting and reproductive rights, which Republicans have largely blocked using the procedural tool.

However, Sinema told Semafor that one Democratic senator, whom she did not identify, reached out to her admitting she was right about her protection of the filibuster.

“One person reached out to me after the election and apologized — and said I was right," she told Semafor.

Sinema was also opposed to Biden's plan to raise the corporate tax rate. However, she took leading roles in negotiating infrastructure and gun violence legislation that gave Biden some of his biggest legislative victories.

Sinema registered as an independent in 2022, saying she's "never fit into any party box."

"I don’t want to," she said in late 2022. "Removing myself from the partisan structure — not only is it true to who I am and how I operate, I also think it’ll provide a place of belonging for many folks across the state and the country who also are tired of the partisanship.”

Ruben Gallego (D), a retired Marine and longtime U.S. House representative, will move into Sinema's Senate seat after he beat Republican candidate Kari Lake. Sinema was reluctant to talk about what kind of senator she thinks Gallego will be during her Semafor interview.

She also declined to say whom she voted for in the presidential election.

Sinema told Semafor that "she's done with politics" and said she's becoming "happier" as the end of her term nears.

Topics

Alicia Keys reflects on Broadway success and gives back to students at alma mater

Sixteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys celebrates her Broadway musical "Hell's Kitchen" earning a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. In an exclusive interview, she revisits her alma ...
CBS News - 1d
Davos Interviews

The "Davos Interviews" series aims to address some of the most significant global challenges of our times. How will technology seamlessly blend into our everyday life and how will this impact our ...
CBS News - 2d
Romney in Congressional exit interview: 'I don’t think history will remember Mitt Romney'

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) joined CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday for his congressional exit interview, noting that he thinks his political legacy will be a "footnote" in the history books. ...
The Hill - 5d
Mitt Romney's Senate exit may create a vacuum of vocal, conservative Trump critics

Sen. Mitt Romney has given his final remarks after seeing the Republican Party for which he was once the standard bearer drastically transform under Donald Trump
ABC News - Dec. 13
Senate Democrats livid with exiting Sinema, Manchin: 'Pathetic'

Senate Democrats were livid after Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), two longtime members of their caucus, voted Wednesday to block President Biden’s nominee, Lauren ...
The Hill - Dec. 13
Patel’s Warm Senate Welcome Reflects the G.O.P.’s Turn Against the F.B.I.

Senate Republicans have largely embraced President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to run the bureau, demonstrating that his anti-F.B.I. stance is now party orthodoxy.
The New York Times - Dec. 12
Manchin, Sinema dash Democratic labor board hopes

Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Manchin, Sinema dash Democratic hopes for NLRB Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and ...
The Hill - Dec. 11
Manchin, Sinema block Democratic control of NLRB

The Senate on Wednesday blocked Lauren McFerran's renomination to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), opening the door for Republican control of the board starting next year under ...
The Hill - Dec. 11
The S&P 500 is up nearly 30% for the year. Don't expect such high returns to continue, experts say

The S&P 500 is up nearly 30% this year so far. But it's important for investors to remember that years like this one are rare, financial advisors cautioned.
CNBC - Dec. 6