Democrats are signaling that they are committed to reviving Build Back Better talks in the new year, and House progressives are urging Biden to take executive actions to address the same issues. In a Wednesday statement, progressives said that while the legislative push continues: “The White House must continue to act on a parallel track by using the President’s incredibly powerful tool of executive action. The legislative approach, while essential, has no certainty of timing or results — and we simply cannot wait to deliver tangible relief to people that they can feel and will make a difference in their lives and livelihoods.”

In reality, there is not much that Biden can do on the executive-action front that would replicate the expansive programs being pursued in Build Back Better — or certainly nothing that he could do that would survive a court challenge.

If the Build Back Better effort fizzles in the new year, there won’t be much of a window for major progressive legislation in the rest of Biden’s term, as Republicans are widely expected to take back at least the House in 2022. Thus, for many progressives, Biden will have exhausted his usefulness to them, and the marriage of convenience will begin to break up.