Schumer faces Democratic divisions and skeptical Republicans as Biden agenda hangs in balance

Chuck Schumer is confronting his most daunting series of legislative landmines in his young tenure as Senate majority leader, navigating conflicting demands from his left and his moderates -- all the while facing wary Republicans after years of partisan brawling with the hard-nosed New Yorker.

The legislative dilemma comes to a head in this summer's sprint before the August recess, with the push to enact roughly $4 trillion of President Joe Biden's infrastructure and social agenda -- something that could lead to a huge victory for the 22-year Senate veteran or could all collapse and prompt a fresh round of bitter recriminations with their majority on the line in next year's midterms. As he allows bipartisan talks to play out on a smaller $1.2 trillion bill, while greasing the skids for Democrats to go-it alone on a massive plan that could cost as much as $6 trillion and would need the support of all 50 members of his caucus, some liberals warn that Schumer could be giving in too much to Republicans and playing into Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's hands.