Thread by @ChadPergram

1) The Senate is likely to kill S.1, the Democrats voting rights bill today. 

The Senate won’t take a straight, up/down vote on the measure. Today’s vote is procedural just to begin debate on the legislation. The measure needs 60 yeas to trigger debate.

2) It is expected to fail, thus stymieing even consideration of the measure on the floor. 

We don’t expect that vote until later in the day. 

Today’s vote likely reveals the limits of the Democratic majority in a split Senate.

3) Moreover, this begins to underscore how Democrats may have run out the string on their legislative agenda.

Today’s failed procedural vote will also amplify discussion about altering the filibuster.

4) Democrats will blame Republicans for failing to help them attain 60 yeas to overcome a filibuster. But Democrats will also use today’s vote as another round of pressure against Democrats who are reluctant to change filibuster provisions.

5) Democrats will use today’s vote to show their base they tried - but faced obstruction from the GOP. But remember, there are Democratic senators besides Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) who also don’t want to torpedo the filibuster.

6) In addition, there are several Democratic senators who aren’t exactly enamored with the voting rights bill. They can use the blockage of this bill as s heat shield - without having to weigh in.

Plus, this is all part of a Democratic strategy for 2022.

7) Democrats may not be able to approve the voting rights bill - the touchstone of their legislative agenda. But they can deploy Republican opposition to the plan as a weapon next year.

8) Democrats hope this will help invigorate their base and get voters to the polls - because they feel their right to vote is threatened.