Senate leaders from both parties have tried to ban the filibuster since the 19th century. Now, some Democrats are pushing forward with the effort.

Senate leaders from both parties have tried to ban the filibuster since the 19th century. Now, some Democrats are pushing forward with the effort.

For years, the filibuster was an arcane procedural tool in the Senate and little thought about by the American public. But over the last decade or so, it’s come to be seen by many as a tool of obstruction, not to mention a major cause of Senate dysfunction.

Getting rid of it became a topic for Democrats on the 2020 campaign trail. And now many in the progressive wing of the party are lobbying to follow through on that promise.

There are few who have watched this evolution as closely as E.J. Dionne. He’s a columnist for the Washington Post and a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

Diane asked him to explain just how the filibuster works and what the consequences of scrapping it might be for the Senate, itself.

Guests

  • E.J. Dionne Jr. Senior fellow, Brookings Institution; columnist, The Washington Post
Most Recent Shows

Donald Trump’s Money Troubles

Thursday, Mar 21 2024Donald Trump faces a cash crunch as he struggles to pay more than half a billion dollars in legal fines. Edward Luce is U.S. editor and columnist for The Financial Times. He joins Diane to break down Trump's money problems and what these penalties could mean for him and his candidacy.

How Old Is Too Old? Age And The 2024 Election

Thursday, Mar 14 2024Age has become a central issue in the presidential election. With the two oldest candidates in history running for the office, it should be, according to aging expert Tracey Gendron. But, she warns, we're talking about it all wrong.

The Human Cost Of The War In Gaza

Thursday, Feb 29 2024Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is a U-S citizen from Gaza and a Middle East analyst. He has lost 31 family members in the conflict so far. He joins Diane to talk about the current conditions in Gaza and what the global community must do to address them.