I'm not sure what Joe Manchin has ever flipped about...throughout this entire process his message has been very consistent. If he wanted to flip, I am quite sure he could get any committee chairmanship he wants, by calling himself a Republican.

As for Kyrsten Simena, she said multiple times that she would not negotiate in public, and she was very actively negotiating in private--as the Senate is designed to do. I do acknowledge she hasn't launched the best PR campaign around selling her story. If she is primaries by a real leftie, I guarantee you the next Arizona Senator will be a Republican. Arizona is still at best a crimson purple state.