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Inside The Sinema-DC Insider Mind Meld

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 3: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) reacts to a journalists question about whether she opposes closing the carried interest loophole that currently is part of the Democrats' $740 billion reconciliat... WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 3: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) reacts to a journalists question about whether she opposes closing the carried interest loophole that currently is part of the Democrats' $740 billion reconciliation bill, as she arrives at the U.S. Capitol for a vote August 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Senate is voting on a resolution to ratify Finland and Swedens applications to join NATO. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) MORE LESS

February 10, 2023 1:52 p.m.

I’ve had a few readers point me to this new Puck rundown of Kyrsten Sinema’s chances in 2024 and/or her incipient campaign. (It’s subscription-only but you can get like one free article if you really want to read it.) One reader was mystified that reporter Tara Palmeri approached the race on the assumption that Sinema holds all the cards versus national Democrats and the Senate leadership.

So what’s my take?

First of all the reporter, Tara Palmeri, is very much part of the inside D.C. consensus, very much part of the Axios/Politico/Punchbowl “this is excellent news for Kyrsten Sinema!” mindset. Nothing wrong with that. But I just wanted to position the players for you. Palmeri does kind of paint that picture at the head of the article. But perhaps in spite of herself she comes round much closer to the reality of the situation further down in the piece.

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