Inside Sinema’s Senate floor diplomacy

When the Senate passed the annual defense policy bill Thursday on an eye-popping 86-11 vote, it stood as a vivid counterpoint to the partisan rancor that surrounded the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

And to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), it was also further proof of the magic power of cross-party relationships and another example of how they can make Washington work.

Sinema, who is known for her close personal relationships with Republican senators, played an active role in shepherding the bill across the floor. She explained to Huddle in...