Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer dodged a question in a Wednesday interview about where he would stand on the prospect of primary challenges against moderate Democrat Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. 

The centrists have fueled frustration within party leadership and among fellow Democrats in Congress after their opposition in a 50-50 split Senate served to derail key parts of President Joe Biden‘s agenda. 

Their role in tanking federal voting rights legislation last month has sparked a progressive outcry for primary challengers to unseat both senators. Backlash against Sinema included a formal censure from the Arizona Democratic Party. 

Both Manchin and Sinema’s seats are up for re-election in 2024.

Schumer would not say when asked by CNN whether he’d support or oppose such challenges, shifting focus to the much nearer November midterm elections.

‘I am focused on 2022, getting things done, and winning the election on 2022,’ Schumer said.

‘I’m not at all focused on 2024 right now, and neither should anyone else be. That’s just how you lose in 2022.’

He defended forcing a floor vote on Democrats’ Freedom To Vote: John R. Lewis Act and a subsequent vote on whether to scuttle the filibuster to pass the package with a simple majority — both of which predictably failed.

Schumer reasoned that ‘when it comes to something as crucial as voting rights, can’t just push it off the table.’  

‘Senators are there to vote. We had to vote. And I think it was the right decision. And it had virtually, it had broad, wide, and deep support in our caucus,’ he said.

He claimed that ‘talks are continuing’ to pass some form of Build Back Better in a portion of his remarks to CNN from last week but published Wednesday. However on Tuesday Manchin declared Biden’s sweeping social reform and climate bill is ‘dead.’

When asked whether he was frustrated by Manchin, Schumer again neglected to give a clear answer.

‘Joe Manchin and I go back a long way, and obviously, I let him know my point of view and (we will) try to persuade him, as does the whole caucus, that our point of view is the correct point of view,’ he said. 

The New York Democrat, who’s served in the Senate since 1999, also shrugged off concerns of a primary challenge to his own seat — up for re-election this year. 

‘When it comes to reelection, I work really hard for New York and it always works out fine,’ Schumer said. ‘I always am looking forward, not over my shoulder.’

Schumer is sure to face more questions about his primary odds as the election nears, with months old rumors trailing him that rising progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would mount her own Senate bid.

Ocasio-Cortez has not ruled out taking on Schumer in past interviews but has not signaled that she was so inclined, either. 

High-profile progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders have said they’d support liberal primary challenges to Manchin in West Virginia or Sinema in Arizona. 

Last week Ocasio-Cortez said Sinema hasn’t ‘given a compelling case’ for why she should keep her seat and suggested she would support a primary challenge from Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego. 

But talk of scouting primary challenges for Manchin and Sinema has died down in the Senate in the weeks since the voting bill failed. 

Progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who earlier suggested she’d be open to supporting challenges to the moderates, told Politico earlier this week: ‘We need to get work done. Right now. We’ve got Build Back Better still hanging in the balance. I want to work with all 50 Democrats and get something passed now.’

Democrat Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii told the outlet he wouldn’t support Sanders’ bid to unseat Manchin and Sinema.

‘It’s a free country. I wouldn’t recommend it,’ he said.

Sinema’s fellow Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly opposed her censure.

‘We’ve got people talking about an election in ‘24? So, I don’t get it,’ the retired astronaut said. 

Chuck Schumer and actress Julia Fox were among some of the early arrivals for Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner – with the unlikely pair raising some eyebrows as they made their way down the red carpet side by side.

Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the Uncut Gems actress, who last month vehemently denied using diabetes meds to lose weight during an ill-fated fling with rapper Kanye West.

Known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, the 33-year-old model elected for a less traditional getup – donning some dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud.

Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who recently said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job. Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton included Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey.

All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a boisterous group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry.

Others seen mingling outside the Washington Hilton’s hallowed auditorium included CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Parks and Rec’s Billy Eichner, with President Biden poised to arriving within the hour as well. 

The youth-led group posed up outside previously posted a video accusing the president of committing ‘ecocide’ – a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action.

Outside the Hilton around 7pm – about an hour removed from the dinner’s scheduled start time – members who have taken issue with Biden’s recent approval of several oil projects were seen shouting and egging on members of the Metro police.

The procession has so far remained peaceful, but remained stationed outside as other notable personalities arrived at the event – with the chaos outside doing little to deter the festivities.

CBS broadcaster Gayle King, for instance, was seen waving at paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with a hot-pink, full length number that harked back to Reese Witherspoons’ character in Legally Blonde.

Kaitlan Collins, who up until last week was Don Lemon’s co-anchor on CNN This Morning before the newscasters’ abrupt ouster, also stopped to pose for the cameras, showing off tasteful, bedazzled black dress – with a bag to match.

Outspoken Democrat – and onetime George W. Bush Diplomat – Fran Drescher also was seen making her way in the hotel, with the 65-year-old Nanny star emanating class in an all-white suit.

Also donning all-white was White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who also arrived unhindered despite the activists still seen outside.

Back on Thursday, the 48-year-old Biden staffer incited controversy when she addressed a recent photo of the head of state holding what appeared to be a cheat sheet of a reporter’s question during a White House press briefing, calling it ‘entirely normal.’

The president will get a rare chance to flex his comedic muscles Saturday, as perhaps the most anticipated speaker of the night – in front of a star-studded audience that will also include his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, and recently released WNBA star Brittany Griner.

Griner, who recently said she was ‘done’ playing overseas following he ten-month detention in Moscow, is set to attend with partner Cherelle Griner as guests of CBS News. 

The pair were not seen among the amalgam of stars and political personalities arriving ahead of the event’s scheduled 8pm start.

That said, other big names spotted included Father-son journalist pair Peter and Steve Doocy, of Fox News, who also stopped to wave at snappers before finding their seat.

Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, too, made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele roughly a month removed from his six-week stint at  Walter Reed for depression.

Fetterman, 53, finally dressed up for the occasion after being met with backlash online for his unformal attire during his first day back at the Capitol less than two weeks ago, of a hoodie, gym shorts, and sneakers.

Since facing criticism for donning clothes many felt unbecoming of an elected official, the politician refused to take any questions from reporters, a few months removed from his hard-fought victory over Republican Rival Mehmet – better known by his TV descriptor, ‘Dr’ – Oz.

Others seen before the dinner’ start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton.