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Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersCBO says minimum wage would increase deficit B The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by TikTok - Senate trial of Trump to dominate this week This week: Senate starts Trump trial as Democrats draft coronavirus bill MORE (I-Vt.) said that President Biden sees the progressive movement as a strong part of his coalition, even as recent debates over the federal minimum wage and coronavirus relief have revealed some divisions between liberal and more centrist Democrats.

In an interview with The New York Times published Tuesday, Sanders, a leading voice on the left, said congressional Democrats are largely united with the Biden administration in efforts to respond to the health care and economic crises fueled by the coronavirus pandemic.

The new Senate Budget Committee chairman, citing the the large portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt opposite the Resolute Desk thathe saw when he walked into his first Oval Office meeting with Biden last week, told the Times, President Biden understands that, like Roosevelt, he has entered office at a time of extraordinary crises and that he is prepared to think big and not small in order to address the many, many problems facing working families.

There is an understanding that if were going to address the crises facing this country, were all in it together, Sanders added.

Bidens former 2020 Democratic presidential primary opponent added that already in the presidents first three weeks in office, he has spoken frequently with him, as well as White House chief of staff Ron KlainRon KlainOvernight Health Care: New COVID-19 cases nationally drop below 100K for first time in 2021 | CDC warns states against lifting restrictions amid threat of virus variants | Health officials warn COVID-19 eradication unlikely House Democrats renew probe into Trump administration's pandemic response Biden makes inroads with progressives MORE, withSanders saying that his calls to the White House have been returned very shortly.

Biden, Sanders said,"sees the progressive movement as a strong part of his coalition and is reaching out to us and is adopting some of the ideas that we have put forth that make sense in terms of todays crises.

Despite opposition from Republicans, Democrats appear largely united in their effort to advance Bidens proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, as well as in a collective desire to hold former President TrumpDonald TrumpDOJ to seek resignations of most Trump-appointed US attorneys: report Trump attorney withdraws request to not hold impeachment trial on Saturday Kinzinger in op-ed calls on GOP senators to convict Trump in impeachment trial MORE accountable in his Senate impeachment trial this week.

Trump faces a single article of impeachmentafter the House accused him with inciting the violent Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, which led to the deaths of five people, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Two additional officers who responded to the rioting have since died by suicide.

However, Sanders over the weekend condemned some fellow Democrats who he says are looking to lower the income eligibility thresholds for coronavirus stimulus checks from $75,000 to $50,000 for individuals and from $150,000 to $100,000 for couples.

On Thursday, the Senate voted 99-1 on an amendment from Sens. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinHouse Democrats unveil draft coronavirus relief legislation Former Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson: Manchin, Sinema should be primaried if 'they're going to stand in the way of progress' CBO says minimum wage would increase deficit B MORE (D-W.Va.) and Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsThe GOP's impeachment 'prisoner's dilemma' This week: Senate starts Trump trial as Democrats draft coronavirus bill Biden makes inroads with progressives MORE (R-Maine) related to "targeting" the checks and making sure that "upper-income taxpayers are not eligible."

The moves come asthe addition of two new Democratic moderates to the upper chamber Sens. John HickenlooperJohn HickenlooperOVERNIGHT ENERGY:DOJ to let companies pay for environmental projects again to reduce fines | House Democrats reintroduce green energy tax package Republican 2024 hopefuls draw early battle lines for post-Trump era Senate Democrats approve budget resolution, teeing up coronavirus bill MORE (Colo.) and Mark KellyMark Kelly'Purple America' will set political direction in 2022 Republican 2024 hopefuls draw early battle lines for post-Trump era Senate Democrats approve budget resolution, teeing up coronavirus bill MORE (Ariz.) has strengthened the centrist wing of the caucus.

Manchin and other moderates have signaled opposition to raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, which is currently part of Bidens coronavirus relief package, despite having support from Sanders and other powerful progressives in both chambers of Congress.

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Sanders says Biden sees progressives as 'strong part of his coalition' | TheHill - The Hill