tonight, we're learning that joe biden and senator joe manchin have spoken to one another after manchin threw fellow democrats a curveball by declaring he's a no, a no on the biden spending bill. our chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny is joining us from the white house with more on this critical setback and what it means. >> reporter: the white house, pledging to salvage its economic agenda tonight, after west virginia senator joe manchin infuriated democrats by potentially seinking this legislation. >> we are going to continue to take steps, work like hell to get it done. >> reporter: cnn learned biden and manchin spoke by phone sunday night. but joe manchin's bombshell decision still sparking an extraordinary war of words. on west virginia radio today, the senator blamed aides to the president for a breakdown in negotiations. >> this is not the president, it's the staff. they put some things out that