Thread by @brianbeutler

The solution is obvious. McConnell is *already* abusing the filibuster to block the constitution of the new majority. Nuking the filibuster is the appropriate response. At the very least the threat is the only thing that might make McConnell back down. politico.com/news/2021/01/2…

The alternative—cave to McConnell on this basic question of which party won the majority, and ratify his plan to set a 60-vote threshold for everything of consequence—would be a profound, irrevocable betrayal right off the bat.

This is an important thing for reporters to portray accurately, too. McConnell is *already* abusing the filibuster to nullify the Senate election results.

If Dems cave to this abuse it’ll be just appalling. But if McConnell doesn’t budge, he leaves them no choice but to go nuclear as a first order of business. The fact that he, again, created an untenable situation is the story.

There’s a big role here for liberal writers: to clarify just how vulgar McConnell’s latest hostage threat is (so it’s covered accurately) and how cripplingly destructive it’d be for Dems to cave (so they don’t). @ThePlumLineGS @jonathanchait @michelleinbklyn @joshtpm @ezraklein

In short, McConnell is telling Dems they can’t seat their newly elected members on committees, take gavels, etc unless they preemptively bless his right to filibuster everything. How is he able to do that? By abusing the filibuster rules! Rules Dems can change with 50 votes.

Let's be even clearer than this. McConnell is threatening to nullify Senate election results unless Dems concede him veto power over most of Biden's agenda. 'Filibustering the organizing resolution' is technical language to describe the weapon he's using.

https://twitter.com/JoshABlock/status/1352278902505414657

But it's true, Democrats can neutralize McConnell's threat to their legitimate control over the Senate by doing the very thing he's trying to strongarm them into not doing: abolish the filibuster.

Yup. Glad to see this. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/senate-…

Excellent, people are starting to notice. McConnell is indeed nullifying the senate election through abuse of the filibuster rules and Dems are (inexplicably but hopefully only temporarily) allowing it, because some of them would rather be humiliated and robbed than use power.

https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1353799613875187712

More here. mailchi.mp/crooked.com/bi…