1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, this is Chuck and uh surprise, you get 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: a bonus episode this week and every Saturday moving forward 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: with our s Y s K Selects episode. So what 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: we decided to do was um to kind of you know, 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: not everyone knows we have all these back episodes laying 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: in wait to the tune of nine plus. So each week, UM, 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Josh will pick one, I'll pick one. We're gonna curate these. 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: It might be Newsy, it might just be one of 9 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: our favorites, and we're gonna publish them on Saturday. So 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: if you if you haven't heard this one before, enjoy it. 11 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: If you have, maybe listen again. Uh And this week 12 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: I picked out Filibusters, especially because of kind of what's 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: going on in this country right now with the looming 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: nomination of uh Mr Gorsych to the Supreme Court and 15 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: the threatened democratic filibuster. So if you don't know what 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: filibusters are all about, give this episode to listen and 17 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: everything will be a lot more clear and we hope 18 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: you enjoy it. Welcome to Stuff you should know the 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: house Stuff Works dot Com. Hey, and welcome to the podcast. 20 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: I'm Josh Clark and with me is always at Charles Study, 21 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: Chuck Bryant, and Jerry And that's the stuff you should know. 22 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: I filibuster that you can't. I could talk for the 23 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: next twenty four hours straight and not allow you to speak, 24 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: and that would be filibuster in this podcast. Um, No, 25 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: you'd actually be creating a podcast. Still, I guess we 26 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: don't have any part elementary rules, So I mean, technically 27 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: you could do that and it's a podcast. Still, upon 28 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 1: reading this, it seems like the U. S. Government doesn't either, 29 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: because one strategy is to just pick up your ball 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: and go home. Yeah. I just sort of put the 31 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: filibustering is, except you don't go home. No, you stand 32 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: there and tell everybody else goes home. In the most 33 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: classic example, which is what we're all about here at 34 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: stuff you should know the classics, man, Um, Chuck. You 35 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: know this year two thirteen, which is drawing to a close, Um, 36 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: there were two very high profile filibusters. One was by 37 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: Wendy Davis, member of the Texas State Senate, who filibustered 38 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: against a proposed bill that would or a package of 39 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: bills that would limit access to abortions. Did she actually 40 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: do it like a solo filibuster? Yeah, the classic she 41 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: had like on some snazzy pink magenta Mazzuno running shoes, 42 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: back brace and I believe a catheter. Shut up. No, 43 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 1: I'm not kidding, I'm I'm almost positive shad a catheter 44 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: and spoke for eleven hours straight. Um. There was also 45 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: another one by in September by U S. Senator from 46 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: Texas Ted Cruz, one of the founding people of the 47 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: Tea Party, or at least one of the most prominent 48 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: members of the Tea Party, who was um filibustering against 49 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: a continuing resolution to keep the government open, okay, or 50 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 1: to reopen the government. He went solo as well he did. 51 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: One was real. One was fake. What do you mean, 52 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: Cruises was fake? It wasn't a real filibuster. It was 53 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: basically stage dressing that looked like filibuster. But at its core, 54 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: as we'll soon find out, it wasn't a filibuster because 55 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: it was the result of a deal with Harry Reid 56 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: that Ted Cruise would be allowed to speak for twenty 57 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 1: one hours and then at the end of his twenty 58 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: one hours, this vote would go on. The whole purpose 59 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,239 Speaker 1: of a filibuster is to prevent a vote from taking place. 60 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: Not make a deal to speak for a certain amount 61 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: of time. Uh, and then let the vote go through 62 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: and then cruise even further wild people by voting in 63 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: favor of the motion after he supposedly filibustered it. So 64 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: we have one, very very real one Wendy Davis. She 65 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: wasn't allowed to take a simple water, She had to 66 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: stay on on topic, spoke NonStop for eleven hours, catheter 67 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: the whole she had to stay on topic. Is that 68 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: a new thing, Well, it isn't. It's a Texas state rule. 69 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: And then Crews just basically spoke for twenty one hours, 70 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: handed the lecture and over to I think Ram Paul. 71 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: For a little while it was this kind of meandering 72 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: or whatever. It looked like a filipbuster, but as we'll 73 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: find out, it wasn't really, even though Davis was very 74 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: much filibuster. So let's talk filibusters, man. Yeah, it's one 75 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: of these. Well, I was about to say uniquely American, 76 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: but it does happen and has happened in other countries. 77 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: Actually dates back to ancient room, but it is uniquely 78 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: American in the way that we do it and how 79 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: it's abused. So, um, it's history does go back to 80 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: ancient room. Cato the younger was a master of the filibuster. 81 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: And this is back at a time when you actually 82 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: could make pretty good use of the filibuster because the 83 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: Senate rule was that all business had to be concluded 84 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: by dusk. If it wasn't, sorry, it's off the table. 85 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: So all you had to do a stand there technically 86 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: for one day, and you could filibuster anything. It's pretty 87 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: when you think about it. Yeah, and a lot of people, 88 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: I think assume that it's like part of like the 89 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 1: Constitution maybe nope, Or that the founding father said, hey, 90 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: we need this rule the filibuster. Nope. Uh that perhaps 91 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: it was um brought up by Superman and the guys 92 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: at Clark Kent. Yes, okay, we get there something alright. 93 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: So filibuster is an actual it's any sort of action 94 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: that you can take to um block or delay action 95 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: in the Senate House can't do it, Senate can, right, 96 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: And it's it's it exists because there are rules. Yeah, 97 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: it's a really it's an odd thing with an odd 98 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: accidental history. Um. I guess first we should say that 99 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: the name they believe comes from the Dutch word that 100 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: means pirate, and as pirates take things hostage, filibustering can 101 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: also be looked at its taking things off very much. So, 102 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: I mean like a vote or a bill that wants 103 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: to be introduced, confirmation or a nomination. Yeah, for a 104 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: confirmation for a judge. Let's say, yeah, you're holding it hostage. Um. 105 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: A lot of people think a filibuster is a good 106 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: thing because it allows the minority, meaning the minority in 107 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: the Senate to still have a voice and not just 108 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: have to get run rush shot over by the majority. 109 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: And the Senate has very has a long storied history 110 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: of giving a tremendous amount of say and rights to 111 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: the minority whichever whichever party that might be at any 112 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: given time. Um. And so as a result, the filibuster 113 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: was allowed to exist for a while ever since it 114 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: was accidentally created. But initially the Senate and the House 115 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: had a rule UM that prevented filibustering. Yeah, the previous 116 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: question motion which required a majority vote, and it was 117 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: not used though apparently ever so in eighteen o six 118 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: they got rid of it. Yeah, the Senate did, and 119 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: um kind of didn't realize what they had created was 120 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: a bit of a loophole. And that now, if you wanted, 121 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: you could get up and speak endlessly about something, and 122 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: that's basically what it is. And Mr Smith goes to Washington. 123 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: Jimmy Stewart did it and everyone loved it. But these 124 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: days it's kind of a different story. Well, yeah, it's 125 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: definitely lost a lot of its um substance to you know. Well, 126 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: they didn't used to use it very much. No, And 127 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,119 Speaker 1: and that previous question motion, um, that's what it was called, right, Yeah, 128 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: so that was basically like you could say, um, so 129 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: is everybody ready for this guy to stop talking about 130 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: this bill or can we be done with debate? And 131 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: everybody says yeah, your nay? And then if it's yeah, 132 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: then you just go on and and vote like it 133 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: ends debate. But like you said, nobody was using it 134 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: and so they just kind of threw it out because 135 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: debate is Yeah, I guess it was Aaron Aaron Burr 136 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: was saying, we need to simplify these rules. So the 137 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: Senate did it. The House didn't, which is why you 138 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: can't have a filibuster in the House because they never 139 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: got rid of the previous question motion. But like you said, 140 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: Jimmy Stewart did it. Everybody was just in awe of 141 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: the idea of one all you need is one good 142 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: senator and the rest of the Senate could be corrupt. 143 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: But as long as you have Jimmy Stewart, one Jimmy 144 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: Stewart in there. Yeah, and and a little bit of stamina, um, 145 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: you the the truth justice in the American way can prevail. Um. 146 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: And as you were saying, as a result, a lot 147 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: of people think having a filibuster is a good thing 148 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: because it prevents tyranny by the majority. Yeah. And in 149 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: essence it is a good thing in a democracy. Um. 150 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 1: And like I said, it wasn't used that much in 151 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: the nineteenth century. The first one was not until eighteen 152 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: thirty seven, and less than two dozen took place before 153 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: the year nineteen hundred. Uh. In nineteen seventeen, things change 154 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: with President Wilson got a little ticked off because there 155 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: was a filibus for blocking a bill arming merchant ships 156 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: in the Great War was being fought, and he said, 157 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: we don't have time for this, so I'm gonna push 158 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: to pass something called a culture rule, which means that 159 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: we can cease this filibustering with the two thirds vote, right, 160 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: And he didn't really have any say. I mean, the 161 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: President is not the he's not involved in the Senate. 162 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: That's the vice where he but he was. He was 163 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: using all of his influence in public opinion against a 164 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 1: quote a little group of willful men. Yeah. I mean 165 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: he hated it, and he was a big champion of 166 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: trying to limit it as much as possible. So the 167 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: Senate passed this culture rule that said you can you 168 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: can bring something to a vote with two thirds majority, 169 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: which is sixty seven senators. That's right, that's still you know, 170 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: that's a lot of people. That means that the will 171 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: of the Senate, not just the majority. Uh, not just 172 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: the majority party, I should say, but the actual Senate 173 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: is like enough of this, Like, well, let's just we 174 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: agree that we need to stop debating exactly. Uh. It 175 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: has since been abused um or used depending on your viewpoint. UH. 176 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: In the during the civil rights movement, racist senators used 177 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: it to block all sorts of things, from anti lynching 178 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: laws to civil rights UH bills and um successfully. Strom 179 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: Thurman in n seven broke the record for speaking for 180 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: twenty four hours and eighteen minutes. That's still the record straight. 181 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: That's because no one else wants to do that, or 182 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: has the stamina or the adult papers. We can't leave. 183 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: We keep talking about that. We should explain you're not 184 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: allowed to leave, even to pee. You have to keep talking. Well, 185 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: that was the case until the seventies. Apparently, filibustering thanks 186 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 1: to the um UH segregationists who are using it to 187 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: prevent lynching, laws, to prevent the um UH, the Civil 188 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: Rights Bill, UH, pretty much anything that had to do 189 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: civil rights they were using the filibuster for. So by 190 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: the time the seventies rolled around, the Senate passed a 191 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: um A different rule that meant well, it said, if 192 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: you want to bring a vote to cloture to end debate, 193 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: no longer do you need sixty seven senators. You only 194 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: need sixty, which is a little easier to get. But 195 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: we're going to give the minority. Still. See, the Senate 196 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: loves the minority, UM the ability to threaten a filibuster 197 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: if they have forty one senators on board with that filipbuster, 198 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: and you don't even have to stand up there anymore. Yeah, 199 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: but you still can if you're a loan senator like it. 200 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: It didn't eliminate the loan filibuster. Speaker, no because if 201 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: you have forty or thirty nine or thirty eight, or 202 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: it's just you, you're just that one person, then you 203 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 1: have to stand up there still. But the idea that, um, 204 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: if you had forty one senators who would, if called upon, 205 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: would vote um against that clture, you don't have to talk, 206 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: right because by definition, you have that filibuster power. And 207 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: the whole idea of adding this rule was not just 208 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: to kind of give a little back to the minority 209 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: when you were taking it away by dropping it from 210 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: a two thirds to three fifths majority for culture Um. 211 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: They were also trying to make it so that the 212 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 1: Senate business was more streamlined and efficient. But it had 213 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: the unintended consequence of people saying like, oh, well, I'm 214 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 1: I threatened filibuster. I'm gonna sit over here and I 215 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: don't have to talk. I'm gonna threaten filibuster. So that 216 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: means take this bill out of consideration and let's move 217 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: on with the other business. And that's when bills just 218 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 1: started getting blocked the left and right. Yeah yeah, um. 219 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: And back to Thurman. Supposedly with the whole bathroom thing, 220 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: he h took a steam bath to hydrate himself so 221 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: he wouldn't have to peat. That's the story. I can 222 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: imagine that would take for maybe ten twelve hours, but 223 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 1: then twenty four hours he peat himself. You think, I'll 224 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: bet it's just one of those untold stories of the 225 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: Senate strom Thurm and Pete all over himself. Okay, so 226 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: that's the simple filibuster, the one you don't see as 227 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: much anymore because the one guy standing up. Yeah, now 228 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: now it's more about, hey, we we can just threaten 229 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: it and no one has to waste their time speaking 230 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: and debating. But Chuck, it's also it does. It does 231 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: keep you from wasting time. But because it's easy to 232 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 1: do and because all you need are forty one senators, um, 233 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: it's created a backlog. It's a really easy way for 234 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: the minority to hold anything they want hostage, which is 235 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 1: one reason why while a lot of people say it's 236 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: a good thing to have a filibuster because it protects 237 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: the minority from majority tyranny. Um, but having a filibuster 238 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: means that really just a fairly small group of senators 239 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: less than half can hold anything they want up and 240 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: just that that one simple filibuster, the presence of it 241 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: means that you can have any crazy nut who's a 242 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: senator hold anything up that he wants as long as 243 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: he's willing to stand there and talk. Ye. So there's 244 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:13,719 Speaker 1: some people who say we need to get rid of 245 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 1: the filibuster. There's others who say, no, the filibuster has 246 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: to exist. It's this accidental thing that the Framers didn't 247 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: put in there, but it was a happy accident that 248 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: it came about, and it proved it's worth as a 249 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: as a part of democracy. Uh. Well, you mentioned earlier 250 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: how who was who was the lady that Davis? Yeah, 251 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: Wendy Davis who you said she had to stay on 252 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: point because in Texas they say you have to stay 253 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: on point. But federally there are no laws, specifically are 254 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: rules that say you have to do so you just 255 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: have to talk, which is fairly ridiculous. Uh in hughe 256 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: p Long did such things as read Shakespeare and talk 257 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: about cooking fried oysters site recipes and I'll bet you 258 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: we Long had a pretty good fried oyster. Uh. It's 259 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: just crazy. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. 260 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: You know what, that you can say whatever you want. Yeah, 261 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: that literally, that is what our government is doing they're 262 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: up there talking about oyster recipes on the floor of 263 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: the Senate to block a bill being introduced. Perhaps I've 264 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: always equated filibusters with the senator standing up there reading 265 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: from a phone book. I think that that was another 266 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: common tactic too that Yeah, I don't know who did, 267 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: but that's definitely been done USA, right, And yeah, I 268 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,359 Speaker 1: think it'should kind of should leave a it is, especially 269 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: when it's not just at the very least, you should 270 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: have to stand up there and debate your bill, debate 271 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: your position and yes, and talk about what the issue 272 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: is at hand. And if you're willing to do that, 273 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: if you feel that passionate about that, then there's really 274 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: not a lot of criticism that slong at you. But 275 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: if you're staying out there talking oyster recipes, or in 276 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: my opinion, if you're just saying they're in filibuster, that 277 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: that that, to me is just that's hijacking. It is 278 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: it's piracy. It is. Uh So that is not the 279 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: only way you can waste time and block things from 280 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: happening in Congress. Uh you can. There are all these 281 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: little tactics that can be used. For instance, um, you 282 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: can introduce a lot of amendments to a bill. UM, 283 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: and instead of just saying waving the right and saying, 284 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: you know what, we're introducing this amendment. Everyone knows it. 285 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: We don't have to waste our time reading it, they 286 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: can demand, well, I'm gonna introduce forty seven amendments to 287 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: this bill, and we're gonna read each one in full. 288 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: It's just a time wasting measure. You can also add 289 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: on to that UM a roll call vote for each amendment, 290 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: so you have an amendment read and then you have 291 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: a role call taken for every senator to say whether 292 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: they vote yeah your name for each amendment yeah, which 293 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: would make it even more timely. Uh. Something called quorum calls. 294 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: Apparently that UM ascertains a number of senators present. I 295 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: don't know how that's different than a roll call. Role 296 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: call is what what you're voting, like, like, how do 297 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: you feel about this amendment? Are you present or not? 298 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: Because you have to have a quorum. I can't remember 299 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 1: how many makeup a quorum, but basically, like there has 300 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: to be a certain amount of people present for Senate 301 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: business to be conducted, So quorum would be to find 302 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: out if there's enough people present and if you're just 303 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: doing it delay time. They might be in their offices 304 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 1: or whatever. They might be having dinner and they're still 305 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: technically present. But if you call quorum call, then that 306 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: means they have to come in and say present and 307 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: then go back to dinner. Uh. There can be something 308 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: called an anonymous hold, which allows someone to block a 309 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: bill a man or woman in the Senate um when 310 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: it requires unanimous consent in order to be voted on. 311 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: But it's anonymous, which is kind of tricky because then 312 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: you don't know who's holding up the gumming up the works, right, 313 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: you know, then it turns into like a big game 314 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: of clue. So, yeah, Harry read did it in the 315 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: conservatory with the rope um. So filibuster reform surely something 316 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: this weird and hanky should be looked at and reformed 317 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: in order to retain the true spirit of of the filibuster. 318 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: And over the years there's been a lot of talk 319 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: about reform, a little bit of action about reform, but 320 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: not a ton until recently. Uh. In the fifties there 321 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: was but one filibuster procession, and in two thousand seven 322 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: and two thousand eight there were one hundred and thirty 323 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: nine threatened filibusters affecting seventy of major legislation in two 324 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: thousands to seven two thousand, Right, is that amazing? Yeah, 325 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: so it obviously got out of hand and people were 326 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: abusing the power. I can't help but wonder also if 327 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 1: the the concept that both groups are coming together to 328 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: rule the country in a combined manner has become less 329 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: and less of a concept over the last few decades 330 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: as well. You know, is it? Is it? Or am 331 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: I just like making that assumption and it's always been 332 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: that way. There's always been that division. Is that the 333 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: case or no? It seemed to be like my opinion 334 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: is that it used to be checks and balances, and 335 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: now it's not so much checks and balances as it 336 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: in is just severe, severe digging in. It certainly seems 337 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: that way, But maybe it was always like that. I 338 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: don't know. I didn't grow up in the fifties. Yeah, 339 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: I don't know either. They probably felt the same way 340 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: that American people, did, you know, those jerks in Washington. 341 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: You know, Oh, I'm sure they did. But I wonder 342 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: if they had as much cause to say that as 343 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: we do today. Like it the way it's always actually worse. 344 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: I mean, the numbers would suggest that, you know. But 345 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: is it just that the numbers are showing that people 346 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: figure it out how to use a filibuster better than 347 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: they knew before, smarter, or they're they're more depth at 348 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: using it, or is government broken that much more to 349 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: where there was one a year each year during the 350 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: fifties and then there's a hundred and thirty nine a 351 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: year in two thousand eight. Yeah, it seems broken to me, 352 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:16,959 Speaker 1: but I'm definitely indicates that to me too. Yeah, I'm 353 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: fairly cynical about the state of modern politics, though I 354 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 1: am too. And the thing that gets me the most 355 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: about this is the idea that the government is broken 356 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: because the two sides can't agree, even though really, if 357 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: you get down to it, there's almost no distinction between 358 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: Democrats and Republicans Ideologically here they're a little bit, but 359 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: as definitely between liberals and conservatives, but between the Democrats 360 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: and the Republicans, I feel there's almost no difference any long, 361 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: like where the rubber meets the road, and not ideologically speaking, 362 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: And so the idea that the government still can't function 363 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: even when you have virtually one large mega party um 364 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: is I don't understand it. I don't understand what's going 365 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: on there. It's sad. It seems like it would be 366 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 1: functioning in a really smooth manner and steamrolling over us. 367 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: Silly boy. Uh So we've talked a lot about this 368 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: weird process, UM, but we should talk about reform right 369 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: after this message, right, okay, So back to it. We 370 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,439 Speaker 1: were talking before we went off on some of our 371 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: personally thinking's about that it stinks now about reforming filibusters. 372 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: But problems arise when you try to reform filibustering because 373 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: that can be filibustered. Yeah, you know, yeah, if you 374 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: have a proposals to reform filibustering, it's still a measure 375 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: and you exactly. UM. So that this this whole talk 376 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: of how to reform filibustering, some proposals came up in 377 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: two thousand ten. UM. There were three good ones. One was, 378 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: if you're filibustering, you can't threaten to filibuster any longer. 379 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: You have to get up there and you have to 380 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: talk play the part. That one that was shot down. 381 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: Another one was that UM over the length of a filipbuster, 382 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: the UM required number of senators to invoke clture just decreases, 383 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 1: so a filibuster could only go on for so long 384 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 1: before you get to like a simple majority. Now that 385 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,640 Speaker 1: was that was shot down. The third one you got 386 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: that one. Yeah, it would have banned filibusters on motions 387 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: bringing a bill to the floor, so you couldn't filibuster 388 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: like maybe something to perform filibustering. None of those were passed. 389 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 1: And the reason why, like you would think that one 390 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: party would be like, well, we don't want filipbusters were 391 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: in charge. They you have to remember that eventually you're 392 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 1: not going to be in charge and you're gonna want 393 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: a filibuster. Both parties filibuster. The Democrats filibuster Reagan's appointments 394 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: and nominees in the eighties, just like the Republicans are 395 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: filibustering Obama's right now. Yeah, I will say though, in fairness, 396 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: it's record numbers now compared to even what Democrats did, 397 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying one is better than the other. No, No, 398 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: it's much more highly evoked in recent years, and it's 399 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 1: definitely been squarely on the shoulders of the Tea Party too. Yeah, 400 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: it's been since the Tea Party started to get some um, 401 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: some major seats for instance, I got a number for you. Uh. 402 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: It used to be fairly rare to filibuster a judicial 403 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 1: um presidential appointment. Like, it wasn't used that much for that. 404 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: It was more for like bills and things. Uh. And 405 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 1: there have been only about a hundred and eighty something 406 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: times in the history of this country that that's been 407 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 1: done and more than half of those have happened during 408 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: the past seven years. Wow. So it wasn't used that 409 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 1: much in the past, but in the past it's been 410 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: happened I think more than ninety two times in the 411 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: past seven years. Well you know what that suggests. That 412 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: suggests that before those things were used, um, like a scalpel, 413 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 1: and now they're just basically arbitrary. That's exactly what it was. 414 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: In the eight years that um Bush Jr. Was in office, 415 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: there was about a dozen of those nominees that were filibustered, 416 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:15,239 Speaker 1: as opposed to ninety two. And since Obama has been 417 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: in there, so it's definitely not surgical anymore. And again, 418 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: both parties use it, but it's being misused and has 419 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: been for a while. Yes, And if you if you 420 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: listen to the GOP, they're saying that Obama is trying 421 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: to pack the courts. If you listen to the Democrats, 422 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: they're saying, dude, nobody does this come on? Cool. So 423 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: the reason that all those bills failed, um or the 424 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: the reform failed in two thousand ten was because they 425 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: basically did a little handshake deal where they said, um, 426 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: all right, don't use filibustering so much to prevent these 427 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: bills from being introduced. All right, I won't do that. 428 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: And hey, you guys can add a bunch of amendments 429 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: if you want to. And no one's gonna use the 430 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: nuclear option. Are we all cool with that? Yeah, we're 431 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 1: all cool with that. And then the GOP went back 432 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: and started filibustering against so and so the Democrats use 433 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: a nuclear option, Yeah, they did, which was huge. I 434 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: remember Harry Reid threatened it and everybody's like, oh my gosh, okay, 435 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,360 Speaker 1: all right, UM, I can't remember what it was. There 436 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: was the GOP was blocking something that Harry Reid really 437 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: wanted to push through, and he said, I'm going to 438 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: use the nuclear option and it works. Have we even 439 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: said what that is? I don't think we have no. 440 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: So the nuclear option is, uh, it's the power of 441 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: the majority to use parliamentary procedures to change major rules, 442 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: in this case, specifically to remove the ability to filibuster. Yeah, 443 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:49,439 Speaker 1: just for that session. Just for that Yeah, just for 444 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: that session. I think. So I saw that in this article, 445 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: but I didn't see it elsewhere. Well, so, so here's 446 00:25:55,840 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: the thing. The majority holds the power to say, um, 447 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: we're all we need is a simple majority senators, which 448 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: we have as Democrats. Two change your rule, right, and 449 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: that rule that we're going to change is that you 450 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: don't need sixty senators to block a sixty one senators 451 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: to block a filibuster or sixty sentators. I'm sorry, you 452 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: only need which we the Democrats have simple majority. Yes, 453 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: so that this has been in the power of whoever 454 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 1: has been in the majority the whole time. But it's 455 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: such a polarizing thing. It's saying like, we're we're taking 456 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: away your ability to block what we want to push 457 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: through through filibustering because we're taking away your ability to filibuster. 458 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: We're gonna pass this rule with a simple majority, saying 459 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: it just takes a simple majority to invoke culture and 460 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 1: and debate and bring something to the floor. It's not saying, um, 461 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: it only takes a simple majority to confirm this nominee, 462 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 1: because that's already the case. So if you follow it backwards, 463 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: it takes a simple majority confirmed a nominee. Now it 464 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: just takes a simple majority to bring that nominee's confirmation 465 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: to a vote. And they did that by passing a 466 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: rule with a simple majority saying that we're going to 467 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: end filibustering. Yeah, and that was just a few weeks 468 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 1: ago on November twenty one, and it passed fifty eight 469 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: all Republicans and three Democrats hopped to the other side 470 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: and voted against it. And it was not for all filibustering. 471 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: It was just filibustering on executive branch nominees and judicial nominees, 472 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 1: but not Supreme Court, not yet other than the Supreme Court. Um. 473 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 1: So it wasn't like, you know, for introducing a bill 474 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: or whatever. But earlier this year they reached a compromise 475 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,639 Speaker 1: on some reform. Both sides worked out a bunch of 476 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: new rules that changed the process somewhat. But I guess 477 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: that wasn't enough in the case of Member twenty feet 478 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: Harry Reid, because I kind of threw down the gauntlet 479 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: which no one thought would ever happen. No, it's been 480 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: an option for many, many years and no one's ever 481 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: exercised it. So Harry read either said this is this 482 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 1: is ridiculous, is out of control, or government's broken or 483 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: Harry Reid was drunk with power, depending on who you 484 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: talk to. Well, it kind of came down to the 485 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 1: um or. This particular sticking point was about nominating UH 486 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: judges to the United States Court of Appeals for DC, 487 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: and Republicans said that, you know what, the d C 488 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: circuit has really underworked, and they said that they could 489 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: save a million dollars a year cut costs basically um, 490 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: which is pretty preposterous considering the amount of money that's 491 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:48,240 Speaker 1: leaked away every second in Washington. Just that a is 492 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 1: the argument makes the whole thing smell fishy to me. 493 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: It's a little bit shallow um. And then Democrats said, no, 494 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: you know what, you guys didn't have these concerns when 495 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: Bush was appointing these nominees, and we need to maintain 496 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: this court because in the size of it, because it's 497 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 1: UH really complex, like this particular court is so I 498 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: heard um. The Democrats tried to block appointments to that 499 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: same court when Bush was in office, sure did string Yeah, 500 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: So like apparently both sides just completely flip flop the 501 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: same point. Yeah, and and took entirely one another's point 502 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: when the when the presidency was well, it depends on 503 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: who's in office and who has the majority on what 504 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: your beliefs are. It seems like ye wishy washy is 505 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: what I call that USA so um. As of November 506 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: of this year, Obama presented seventy nine nominees who received 507 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: culture votes. Bush had thirty eight in the eight years 508 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: that he was in office. But we should say that 509 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 1: most of those culture votes UM ended the debate and 510 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: most of those nominees did clear the filibuster, right be 511 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:04,320 Speaker 1: You used to have a filibuster that required sixty senators, 512 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: but a confirmation only required fifty one. So now it's 513 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: fifty one and fifty one. And in the meantime, regular 514 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: old Americans are out there like having real troubles and 515 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: senators are on the floor talking. Actually that was I 516 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: can't keep talking about the oyster thing, but still cathetering 517 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: up in some cases. I'm pretty sure she had a catheter. Really, 518 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: that's crazy, uh and uniquely American, I guess. So you 519 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: got anything else. I got nothing else. I hate to 520 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: sound so jaded about all this stuff, but it's kind 521 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: of hard not to. I don't. I think you would 522 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: be a drooling automaton if you didn't like get worked 523 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: up about and just say it like this is how 524 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 1: government should work. Yeah, if this didn't make you cynical, 525 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: you know, it doesn't matter what party you're affiliated with 526 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: or whether you're conservative or liberal. If you think things 527 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: are working right now, there's you need to completely reevaluate 528 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: your life. Yeah, it's hard. Did you hear Russell Brand 529 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 1: go off a few weeks ago in the interview It's 530 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: it's interesting, it's an interesting take, But don't go vote. Yeah, Like, 531 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: it's hard to make an argument that your vote really 532 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: matters these days. And I mean, like, if you're in 533 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: a red state, deeply read state, and you're a Democrat, 534 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 1: like there's really no reason for you to go vote 535 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: states your vote might matter. And then and then and 536 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: then those are the states that the the candidates go 537 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: to and that the senators have more power than others. 538 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: It's it is a broken system. But how many politicians 539 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: in this country are out there truly like pure and 540 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: chaste in their and their motives. I don't think there's 541 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: a single one that's pure and chasing their motives, but 542 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: I think some there are still some good ones out 543 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: there now there are, and I guess I don't know. 544 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 1: They believe in their own side. Things that go on 545 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: behind closed doors you have to look out for. Are 546 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: the ones that don't believe in their own side. They're 547 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: just exploiting one side to get themselves into power. Those 548 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: are the ones that are truly bad. At least, if 549 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: you believe in your own side, you have conviction. Whether 550 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: I agree with your convictions or not, at the very 551 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: least respect the fact that you are convinced of your convictions, 552 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: you know. But if you're just like, if you don't 553 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: have any convictions and you're just out for power, then 554 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 1: to tell with you, pal, buddy, lady, all of you. Yeah, 555 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: so we're gonna move to Costa Rica. Do they have 556 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 1: government there? Yeah? Government? There are there any islands, tropical 557 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: islands that have no government. There's tons of uninhabited islands. Okay, 558 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: that's what we need. And I'm not going to believe 559 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: in anarchy. Would just be nice to move to an island. Well, 560 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 1: there's not a bunch of jerks wasting your time and 561 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: taking your money. Yeah, I don't know. Anarchies looking more 562 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: and more attractively. We should do a podcast on anarchy. 563 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: We really should. Uh. If you want to know more 564 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: about filibustering, you can type that word into the search 565 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 1: bar how stuff works dot com. And since I said 566 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 1: search bar, that means it's time for listener mayl. All right, 567 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna call this one. Uh, let's see if we 568 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: can help out some heroin addicts. It's not funny, that's 569 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 1: funny how I said it though. Hey, there, guys, thanks 570 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 1: for keeping me entertained insane. Um, I'll explain the same part. 571 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: I will let you know what's been up with me 572 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: and how you guys have helped me in the past 573 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 1: few months. I am a twenty five year old living 574 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: in Santa Monica, California, and I'm a part of the 575 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: huge homeless population there. Most nights of my girlfriend I 576 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: end up staying in a motel in Venice, in l A, 577 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: where we are both homeless. It is my fault we 578 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: ended up this way. We were both addicted to heroin 579 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:48,479 Speaker 1: and it was because of me. Each day my girlfriend 580 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 1: I have to go out and come up with a 581 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 1: hundred and ten dollars in order to afford our heroine 582 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: and our room since their daily habit each day, we 583 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: have to do this. It is an awful way of 584 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: life and we both feel horrible to been to get 585 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: detox meds through the county clinics. But the waiting list 586 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 1: to see a doctor to get into rehab like that 587 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: has uh is a very long list. Indeed, unfortunately, there 588 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: are not a lot of resources out there for drug 589 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 1: addicts as far as detox is concerned. Um, what is 590 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:17,279 Speaker 1: that Switzerland? And actually there are not a lot of 591 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: people are institutions that are willing to help unless the 592 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,240 Speaker 1: addictive person has insurance or money to pay for treatment. 593 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: We're not bad people, um, just looking at it. In fact, 594 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:27,440 Speaker 1: you wouldn't know that we were addicted to heroin. We 595 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 1: both have had jobs in the past and homes in 596 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,279 Speaker 1: the past, and she is even a college graduate and 597 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,719 Speaker 1: is certified to do special effects makeup. The reason why 598 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,960 Speaker 1: why I'm writing you guys, is because you can imagine 599 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,399 Speaker 1: this lifestyle is very stressful. It's a lot of pain, 600 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: shame and guilt on a daily basis. Uh. In about 601 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: three or four months ago, I came across your podcast, 602 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 1: and it's really helped me get through some of the 603 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:50,879 Speaker 1: tough times. I found that listening to you when I'm 604 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:53,759 Speaker 1: gonna fight with my girlfriend or stressed or sad really 605 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 1: helps me turn around my mood. So thanks for this, 606 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 1: and thank Jerry as well. And this is from t J. 607 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: And I told t J that we would put a 608 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 1: call out, and I don't know if it will work 609 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:08,760 Speaker 1: or not, but if anyone in southern California has a 610 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,840 Speaker 1: resource for t J and his girlfriend to kick heroin, 611 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 1: then we'd love to hear from you and we will 612 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 1: put you in touch the email. Uh, t J, if 613 00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 1: you're listening. I don't know if this is gonna work, 614 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 1: and this is about as far as we can take it, 615 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,399 Speaker 1: but um, if someone writes in, we will definitely put 616 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:27,359 Speaker 1: them in touch and uh see if we can get 617 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:30,399 Speaker 1: you guys off the junk. Yeah. So thanks for writing, 618 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 1: and I'm glad we can help in some small way. Yeah, 619 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:34,319 Speaker 1: I'm glad we're doing something to help out you know. Yeah, 620 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: we'll see. Um well, I mean like also turning his 621 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:40,320 Speaker 1: mood around. Yeah. True. But if you are a resource 622 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: and can help these guys, email us um at our 623 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 1: stuff podcast at Discovery dot com email just putting the 624 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:50,440 Speaker 1: subject line I can help the heroin addict. I think 625 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:53,560 Speaker 1: that's a great subject line. Uh. And until then, t 626 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 1: J and girlfriends stay safe. Please, if you need some 627 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 1: help that you think Chuck and I can help you 628 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: out with, you should get in touch with us. You 629 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: can tweet to us at s Y s K podcast. 630 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 1: That's on Twitter. You can join us on Facebook dot 631 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:12,120 Speaker 1: com slash stuff you Should Know. You can send us 632 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:15,759 Speaker 1: an email to Stuff Podcasts at Discovery dot com, and 633 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:17,399 Speaker 1: you can join us at our home on the web, 634 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:25,279 Speaker 1: it's Stuff you Should Know dot com. For more on 635 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:28,080 Speaker 1: this and thousands of other topics, visit how Stuff Works 636 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: dot com.