Trump Urges Filibuster Elimination Amid Shutdown, House Speaker Johnson Defends Senate Procedure
President Trump urges Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to end the shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders resist, defending its vital role.
'Nuking' filibuster would only aid Democrats
The Spectator World
Thune and Johnson united against Trump demand to nix Senate filibuster
Washington Examiner
For One Day at Least, Long Live the King
The Bulwark
Trump demands Senate scrap filibuster rule to end shutdown
New York Daily News
Overview
- President Trump urges Senate Republicans to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster, seeking to bypass Democratic opposition and end the monthlong government shutdown with a simple majority vote.
- Trump's "nuclear option" proposal aims to allow funding legislation to pass quickly, reopening the government and resolving budget disagreements impacting federal workers and services.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the Senate filibuster, rejecting President Trump's demands to eliminate it during the shutdown, aligning with other prominent Republican leaders.
- Many GOP senators, including John Thune and John Barrasso, strongly resist Trump's call, emphasizing the filibuster's importance as an institutional safeguard for the minority party.
- The filibuster, requiring 60 votes for cloture since 1975 to end debate, has been historically used by both Republicans and Democrats to block legislation, underscoring its procedural significance.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, presenting a balanced account of the government shutdown, the filibuster debate, and the impact on federal programs. They report on the actions and statements of both Republican and Democratic leaders, detailing their differing positions without adopting a partisan stance. The coverage includes factual updates on legal rulings and the consequences for citizens, allowing readers to form their own conclusions.
"From coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of the shuttered federal government is hitting home."
Chicago Tribune"President Donald Trump’s push to abolish the 60-vote filibuster rule in the Senate to reopen the shuttered government without Democratic votes is meeting swift and firm resistance from his own party."
NBC News"Protecting the filibuster is a step toward erasing that complacency."
USA TODAY"Senate GOP leaders in a rare rebuke to President Donald Trump are rejecting his demand to end the filibuster so they can bypass Democrats and pass Republican legislation to reopen the government."
USA TODAY"Senate Republican leaders have been outspoken in their support for the 60-vote rule to pass most bills."
NBC News"As the shutdown drags on, frustrated Republicans have been floating the idea of getting rid of the filibuster in order to erase that leverage."
Associated Press"As the shutdown drags on, from coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of the shuttered federal government is hitting home: Alaskans are stockpiling moose, caribou and fish for winter, even before SNAP food aid is scheduled to shut off."
Associated Press"The Trump administration is committed across the board to these practices: No Accountability. No Truth. No Justice."
The Bulwark"Trump's demand to end the filibuster 'not my call,' House speaker says."
Associated Press"The president was referring to an attempt by Senate Democrats in January 2022, when they tried to push through voting rights legislation by changing the chamber's filibuster rule."
CBS News"Trump's call to terminate the filibuster could alter the ways the Senate and congressional dealmaking operate, with the president saying in his post that he gave a "great deal" of thought to the choice on his flight back from Asia on Thursday."
NPR"The shutdown could cost the U.S. economy between $7 billion and $14 billion, shaving up to 2% from gross domestic product in the fourth quarter due to the lapse in government spending, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said on Oct. 29."
USA TODAY"The shutdown is not expected to end before Saturday's deadline when Americans' deep food insecurity — one in eight people depend on the government to have enough to eat — could become starkly apparent if federal SNAP funds run dry."
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FAQ
The filibuster is a Senate procedural tactic that allows senators to extend debate on a bill, effectively blocking a vote unless 60 senators vote for cloture to end debate. This 60-vote threshold has been in place since 1975 and is designed to protect minority party interests by requiring broad consensus for most legislation.
President Trump wants to eliminate the filibuster to allow funding legislation to pass with a simple majority, bypassing Democratic opposition and ending the government shutdown quickly, which is affecting federal workers and services.
Republican leaders argue that the filibuster is a vital institutional safeguard for the minority party, ensuring that legislation requires broad consensus and preventing rapid, partisan changes that could undermine Senate traditions and stability.
Yes, the filibuster has been modified in the past for specific cases, such as budget reconciliation bills and nominations, through what is known as the 'nuclear option,' but it remains in place for most legislation.
The government shutdown halts non-essential federal operations, furloughs workers, delays services, and can affect programs like national parks, federal benefits, and regulatory agencies, causing economic and social disruptions.
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