From New York Times, I'm Michael Obaro. This is a day away.

Today, after more than a year of hard work, the Senate is making history.

Over the weekend, Senate Democrats passed legislation that would make historic investments

to fight climate change and lower the cost of prescription drugs and pay for them by raising taxes on businesses.

It's a game changer. It's a turning point and it's been a long time incoming.

In the process, Democrats revived a set of long-sought party goals that just a few weeks ago were widely seen as dead.

To Americans who've lost faith that Congress can do big things, this bill is for you.

I spoke with my colleague, Congressional reporter Emily Cochran, about how that happened and what the bill actually means for Americans.

It's Tuesday, August 9.

So Emily, this finally happened. It appears so. I'm still processing. After a weekend where single-handedly tested, how much caffeine one human body can take.

Quite a lot. I can assure you.

We are going to spend a lot of time talking about what's actually in this bill and why it's so historic.

Let's start with how we got here. To this place that nobody really thought we'd ever be with Democrats delivering a sweeping bill to fight climate change, make big changes to the health care system,

raise taxes on businesses and reduce the deficit. And somehow doing that while overcoming the profound resistance of Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Kiersten Sinema.

So how did that happen?

So back in November, House Democrats finally had the votes they needed to pass a version of President Biden's signature domestic policy bill.

It would have expanded the social safety net and really transformed the reach of the federal government. It was known as the Build Back Better Act.

It was about 2.2 trillion worth of spending and tax increases. But once it got through the House, it's still needed to get through the Senate.

And without any Republican support, Democrats needed all 50 members of their party to back it for it to get through the Senate.

And in December.

Joining us now, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Senator, welcome back.

Senator Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia, a red state, went on national television and said,

...