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Pirates of the Senate

Feb 10, 2022

In this engaging discussion, political scientists Sarah Binder and Gregory Wawrow unravel the complexities of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate. They explore its historical roots and transformation from a tool of debate to a modern weapon of obstruction. The duo debates how the filibuster impacts democracy, especially during pivotal legislative moments, while raising critical questions about reform and political standoffs. Their insights shed light on the ongoing struggle between legislative efficiency and the rights to dissent in a divided political landscape.

52:32

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Episode guests

Gregory Wawrow

Sarah Binder

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Filibuster: A Historical and Tactical Exploration

7min

The Filibuster: A Double-Edged Sword

4min

The Origins and Evolution of the Senate Filibuster

10min

The Evolution and Challenges of the Senate Filibuster

2min

The Senate: A Historical Perspective on Governance and Partisanship

3min

The Evolution of the Cloture Rule and Filibuster

12min

The Shift Towards the Nuclear Option in the Senate

2min

The Filibuster's Fragile Evolution

10min

10.

Conclusion and Listener Engagement

2min

The fight over the filibuster brings up some deeper questions that we as a country are facing. How do we make space for disagreement without ending up at a stalemate? Can we use the tools given to us by previous generations without turning them into weapons? And how do we decide which parts of our system should be changed – and when it's time to change? The filibuster can hold legislation hostage, stop bills from ever reaching the Senate floor, and lead to hours-long speeches in Congress, but it can be hard to understand what a filibuster actually is, why we have it, and how it impacts the country. In this episode, we look at how the ongoing battle over the filibuster's future is in some ways a battle over its past.

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