I agree. Manchin is corrupt, but I don't think Democrats were expecting one of their own to feel strongly about retaining the filibuster when it explicitly helps Republicans instead of Democrats (he even said in an article that it for Republican minority. source: https://archive.vn/HdlV4)

Quote: "I'm not going to go there until my Republican friends have the ability to have their say also. ... I’m hoping they will get involved to the point where we have 10 of them that will work with 50 of us."

idk dude, it's really weird in my opinion. I'll take any miracle at this point.