4.2 • 7.2K Ratings
🗓️ 24 February 2021
⏱️ 39 minutes
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0:00.0 | Today on the argument, should Democrats kill the filibuster? |
0:07.0 | President-elect Joe Biden is under pressure from some in his party to reform what's known |
0:15.0 | as the filibuster in the Senate. |
0:17.0 | It is a rule designed to allow a minority of senators to prevent a vote on an issue by continuing to debate it. |
0:24.0 | But the reality of the filibuster is paralysis. |
0:28.0 | If your legislation can't pass the Senate, you don't scrap the rule. |
0:31.0 | If the Republicans, if there's no way to move, other than getting rid of the filibuster, that's what we'll do. |
0:40.0 | For the first time in 10 years, Democrats control the White House and both houses of Congress. |
0:45.0 | But there is a major roadblock standing between them and their sweeping legislative agenda. |
0:51.0 | It's the filibuster. |
0:53.0 | A powerful procedural weapon the filibuster effectively creates a 60-vote minimum to pass most laws. |
0:59.0 | Democrats only have 51 votes at the moment, including Vice President Harris's tiebreaker. |
1:05.0 | Finding enough Republicans to break rank just isn't going to happen. |
1:09.0 | Which means the big ideas, strengthening voting rights, agreeing new deal, or a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants? |
1:17.0 | None of it is likely to pass unless Democrats push the filibuster off a cliff. |
1:24.0 | I'm Jane Kostin. |
1:27.0 | With the future of the filibuster up for debate once again, I've invited two people on today's show to argue for and against. |
1:34.0 | Of course, I've got some pretty strong feelings for my own on the issue. Just wait for it. |
1:39.0 | Ezra Klein is an opinion columnist of the New York Times and host of the Ezra Klein Show. |
1:44.0 | Jessica Anderson is executive director at Heritage Action for America. |
1:48.0 | A conservative group based here in Washington, D.C. |
1:51.0 | Hello, Ezra. It is always nice to see you. |
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