Bernie Sanders: ‘extremely modest’ spending bill fails to meet the moment

Leftwing senator says party squandered chance to be bold, and takes aim at corporate Democrats' Sinema and Manchin

As Democrats celebrate the long-sought passage of Joe Biden's sweeping health, climate and economic package, Bernie Sanders is not ready to declare victory. Instead, the Vermont senator is sounding the alarm that Congress has failed to meet the moment, with potentially grave consequences for American democracy.

We are living in enormously difficult times," he said in an interview with the Guardian. And I worry very much ... that people are giving up on democracy because they do not believe that their government is working for them."