Clarification: senators Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have cultured an image of being the “sensible centrist” that will go against the party when they disagree on something, in order to ensure reelection in purple states.

In reality, they only do so when the Republicans already have enough votes for their preferred outcome or when said outcome is impossible to achieve with or without them, making their “principled stand” purely symbolic if not outright fraudulent.