In the US, Joe Manchin is now recognized as the most powerful senator in some ways, precisely because while there are a lot of other Democrats, he is the one dr

In the US, Joe Manchin is now recognized as the most powerful senator in some ways, precisely because while there are a lot of other Democrats, he is the one dragging his feet the most on major bills that need every Democrat to support. On the other side of the aisle, Mitch McConnell has even MORE power in practice since he has centralized the Republican vote in himself and holds more than the 40 Senators needed to veto most legislation. I say more power in practice, because Manchin could participate in removing the filibuster and break McConnell's power, but failed negotiating class and has already committed to not doing that. -- The sum is, with veto power centralized in just two Senators, together they have accrued most of the power of the whole Senate, and (since it has veto power), the entire Congress.