Meanwhile, Democrats said privately they fear they’re no closer than where they started the week, with Manchin again questioning the entire structure of the legislation. And for the first time, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday appeared to acknowledge the bill wouldn’t pass this month: “The president requested more time to continue his negotiations.”

The impending holiday recess failed to create pressure for a deal, despite Schumer’s hopes of a Christmas breakthrough. The forthcoming expiration of the expanded child tax credit didn’t move Manchin either.

In fact, this week the key moderate said he dislikes using 10-year financing for a one-year extension of the child tax credit, which has thrown the entire structure of the legislation into question. Extending the benefit longer would make the bill more expensive, and Manchin has capped his support at $1.7 trillion. That could mean cutting other programs to keep in place one of Democrats’ most tangible achievements this year.