It is a cruel irony for Schumer. Almost exactly eight months ago, he was the one sitting down with Joe Biden at the then-president’s beach house, urging him to step aside. Now, the 74-year-old Senate leader is the one being painted as too geriatric—with calls for him to give up his leadership growing louder and more impassioned.

The Senate minority leader discusses the backlash to his vote on the Republican spending bill, how he sees his role within the party and his new book.