Original Air Date 4/14/2021

Today we take a look at the one element of our government that, above all others, has contributed to the absolute disfunction of our democracy. The filibuster was never intended by the founders, always anti-democratic, often used for racist ends and is now being abused at a rate never before seen.

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Transcript

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Filibuster - Last Week Tonight - Air Date 9-9-19

John Oliver explains why filibusters exist, why they shouldn't, and why it's stupid to drink coffee like a cat.

Ch. 2: End the Filibuster: Calls Grow to Retire Relic of Slavery & Jim Crow to Make Senate More Democratic - Democracy Now! Air Date 1-25-21 New

President Joe Biden has promised swift action on the pandemic, the economic crisis and more, but much of his agenda hinges on whether he can get enough support in the Senate.

Ch. 3: Count How Many Lies Mitch McConnell Spews In This 1 Minute Clip - The Majority Report - Air Date 3-24-21

Mitch McConnell is on a warpath, and he's getting all his favorite lies lined up.

Ch. 4: Will Democrats Finally Kill the Filibuster Once and for All - The Mehdi Hasan Show - Air Date 1-21-21

Adam Jentleson, who served as a former senior aide to Sen. Harry Reid, joins Mehdi Hasan to explain the history of the filibuster and how, according to Jentleson, it helps conservatives override the nation's democratic system.

Ch. 5: Is Filibuster Reform Mitch McConnell's 'Kryptonite?' - Zerlina. - Air Date 3-16-21

Rep. John Yarmuth explains to Zerlina Maxwell why the rule is so important to the Senate Minority Leader, and why McConnell is “scared to death” about the possibility that Democrats will abolish it.

Ch. 6: What Is Manchin's Real Agenda w/ David Sirota - The Majority Report - Air Date 4-11-21

David Sirota explains the motivations and unseen pressures playing on Joe Manchin as he continuously pivots his position on the filibuster.

Ch. 7: Activism: Support No Excuses PAC and W.V. Cant Wait - Best of the Left - 4-14-21

Ch. 8: Now Is the Time to End the Filibuster - Breaking the Sound Barrier by Amy Goodman - Air Date 3-18-21

Amy Goodman gives a commentary explaining the need to end the filibuster.

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MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 9: 'What Are We Waiting For?': Why Filibuster Reform Should Happen Sooner Than Later - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 3-19-21

Adam Jentleson, talks about why it's a good idea for Senate Democrats to reform the filibuster and pass popular legislation

Ch. 10: Reid Calls for Filibuster Reform to End Gridlock - Nevada Senator Harry Reid - Air Date 11-22-13

On the Senate floor, Senator Reid laid out why we need to reform the rules to ensure qualified presidential nominees get up-or-down votes.

Ch. 11: What Is Manchin's Real Agenda w/ David Sirota Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 4-11-21

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VOICEMAILS

Ch. 12: Wading into the discussion on the child tax credit - Dave from Olympia, WA

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FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 13: Final comments on racism and population

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EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

Inside the West Virginian Movement to Push Joe Manchin to the Left (The New Republic)

Progressive PAC kick-starts search for challengers to Manchin, Sinema (Politico)

Researched & Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman

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MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

SHOW IMAGE:

Description: Cartoon version of Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell holding a chart that says "Republican Filibusters." The horizontal bar graph below the title shows an X axis starting with "88th term 1963-64" and ending with "110th term 2007-2008." The bar values range from 3 at the beginning of the time-line to "153 Projected for end of term" at the end.

Credits: "Mitch McConnell, Filibuster King" by DonkeyHotey, Flickr | License | Changes: Increased white background to make vertical image square, smudged existing shadow to extend farther, dark blue border added

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson