Scoop: Manchin opens the door to confirming Julie Su

• "If I could vote to give her the title, I would do that now," Manchin told Axios.
• "We had differences. I couldn't vote for her because of the differences, but I would do nothing that would harm her, and her further endeavors in life," he said, explaining his stark reversal.

Flashback: In July of 2023, the White House acknowledged that Su, who had initially been confirmed as deputy secretary by a vote of 50-47, didn't have the votes to be confirmed as secretary.

• In a somewhat unusual statement, the White House named – and blamed – Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) for blocking her confirmation.
• At the same time, Biden officials signaled that Su, who had been serving in an acting capacity since March of 2023, could continue in her role without getting confirmed for the top job.
• Eventually she became the longest-serving acting cabinet secretary in history. But her tenure has always been marked by an asterisk, as NPR noted.

Driving the news: It's unclear if there's enough time before senators leave for the holiday recess.

• "He's got a major, major time problem right now with all these bills he wants to do," Sen. Josh Hawley told Axios. "Maybe he'd get it. I kind of doubt it though."
• Even some of Su's supporters are doubtful that Schumer should burn floor time to take away her "acting" title and make her official.

• "Julie Su has been the best secretary of labor that I've seen since I've been in Congress," Sen. Bernie Sanders told Axios. "Not quite sure what putting her in office for two weeks does."

Between the lines: Manchin gave his party a final middle finger last week with his vote to tank Lauren McFerran for the National Labor Relations Board, depriving Democrats of a majority for the first half of President-elect Trump's term.

• This week, he's making nice with labor.

The bottom line: Democrats lost the element of surprise last week with their NLRB gambit. Both Sen. Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance showed up for the vote, scuppering the Democrats plans.

• If Schumer does schedule a vote on Su before Jan. 2, he may not telegraph it too widely.
• A Schumer spokesperson declined to comment.