<![CDATA[When Kyrsten Sinema retired from the Senate last year, she rode out on a wave of moral strength. She had defended the Senate from the depredations of her own party by refusing to end the filibuster. Sinema had largely supported the Biden Regency but had proven stubbornly independent on immigration issues; she blasted Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries for diverting border funds from Arizona to New York (!), and spoke out early about the border crisis while fellow Democrats refused to acknowledge it. Sinema had also sent a "f*** off" message to progressive activists over a minimum-wage increase. ]]>