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BumRushDaShow

(160,105 posts) Tue Sep 9, 2025, 07:37 AM Sep 9

Senate Republicans eye 'nuclear option' for rules change to speed up Trump nominees

Source: NBC News

Sept. 8, 2025, 5:30 PM EDT / Updated Sept. 8, 2025, 9:22 PM EDT

WASHINGTON — Republican leaders are moving closer to implementing a major change to Senate rules that would allow them to confirm scores of President Donald Trump’s nominees in batches, rather than vote on each one individually.

Republicans are making the change to speed up votes on Trump’s nominees after having complained that Democrats are slow-walking them en masse. Meanwhile, the Senate's top Democrat warned them not to “go nuclear” in service of advancing Trump’s loyalists.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., rolled out a package of 48 Trump nominees Monday that will serve as the vehicle to establish a new rule, although the process is expected to continue into next week before the rules change enables confirmation of the first bloc of nominees.

Republicans plan to use the “nuclear option,” in which the party in power can overturn standing order to set a new precedent, effectively changing the rules with a simple majority. The tool has previously been used by both parties to weaken the 60-vote filibuster rule for judges and to reduce debate time for nominees.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-nuclear-option-rules-change-trump-nominees-rcna229877

We went through this before but with the GOP obstructing -

Senate Democrats launch effort to bypass Tommy Tuberville's hold on military promotions

The above was a "temporary suspension of the Rules" resolution that eventually wasn't needed when Tuberville finally gave up his circus act and went home.

But in Thune's case, he apparently wants to ditch the Rule, the change which only requires a "simple majority"... and we didn't have a similar majority to do the same due to the usual 2 (who are no longer in the Senate).

Thune might make it more limited to not completely ditch the 60-votes but perhaps (as they indicate) to allow "batches", I expect for more minor appointees.

10 replies

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Highlight:

Senate Republicans eye 'nuclear option' for rules change to speed up Trump nominees (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Sep 9 OP

The repubes grovel onward for Epstein's BESTIE (r) BoRaGard Sep 9 #1

In a package of 48 Trump nominees, how many should we expect will be unqualified? William Seger Sep 9 #2

Go for it!! Username1234 Sep 9 #3

Only confirmation here is Republicans STILL don't know what's happening to the USA /nt bucolic_frolic Sep 9 #4

The frightening aspect of this is putting even more putrescent players in office. mpcamb Sep 9 #5

My thinking is, IF they do vote for the Nuclear option that tells me that they are bluestarone Sep 9 #6

I think the "nuclear option" is misnamed. Queso Delicioso Sep 9 #7

Republicans want to remember when the republianmushroom Sep 9 #8

Pushing through extreme judges worries me the most, Bayard Sep 9 #9

MaddowBlog-Republicans go 'nuclear' to help Trump nominees, invite Democratic backlash LetMyPeopleVote Friday #10

BoRaGard

(7,526 posts)

1. The repubes grovel onward for Epstein's BESTIE (r)

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 07:47 AM

Sep 9

they are an utter disgrace, like the alumni of West Point who just pissed all over their own Cadet Honor Code to submit to a draft-dodging felon rapist bully who consistently BEARS FALSE WITNESS.

What is it about "tolerate those who do" that the republicons don't get? As all of my long-line of honorable ancestors who proudly served America would agree, choosing DISHONOR is a sucky way to go through life.

William Seger

(11,810 posts)

2. In a package of 48 Trump nominees, how many should we expect will be unqualified?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 07:54 AM

Sep 9

And how many will prove to be dangerously incompetent? Judging by his track record, we're fucked.

Username1234

(15 posts)

3. Go for it!!

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 08:01 AM

Sep 9

Every senate Republican knows the filibuster is far more valuable for them than for Dems. Call them on this! The filibuster has been used to stop progressive legislation for 150 years. Do it!!

Short-term pain for long-term gain.

That's if there's a single Democrat anywhere in the party who can think more than one step ahead. Maybe Schumer, who seems poised to capitulate once again, should have a strategy session with Mamdani or a few lefty podcasters to figure out what they should do..?

bucolic_frolic

(52,392 posts)

4. Only confirmation here is Republicans STILL don't know what's happening to the USA /nt

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 08:01 AM

Sep 9

mpcamb

(3,136 posts)

5. The frightening aspect of this is putting even more putrescent players in office.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 09:42 AM

Sep 9

Clones of Noem, Gabbard and Hegseth. Judges like Aileen Cannon.
A backlash might be building - enough toes have been stepped on(trampled)- by the outcomes of trump's stupid policies and pronouncements, so they may see it as their last chance to slip in a fresh batch of repugnant unfit loyalists.
This needs to be resisted with more than Schumer's “working in good faith with Republicans on a nomination package”.

bluestarone

(20,284 posts)

6. My thinking is, IF they do vote for the Nuclear option that tells me that they are

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 09:57 AM

Sep 9

100% sure their plan for 2026 election is Guaranteed to keep both houses. Be ready folks!!

Queso Delicioso

(82 posts)

7. I think the "nuclear option" is misnamed.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 11:19 AM

Sep 9

In the real world, a nuclear option entails a nuclear response, which generally leads to both sides going up in mushroom clouds. In this case, one side launches a nuclear broadside and the other side (us) has no commensurate response.

republianmushroom

(21,371 posts)

8. Republicans want to remember when the

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 12:01 PM

Sep 9

Democrats old guard is gone, ti will be tic for tac.

Bayard

(26,974 posts)

9. Pushing through extreme judges worries me the most,

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Sep 9, 2025, 12:14 PM

Sep 9

And then you can't get rid of them. I said before, I hope our 3 Supremes stay healthy.

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,760 posts)

10. MaddowBlog-Republicans go 'nuclear' to help Trump nominees, invite Democratic backlash

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:07 PM

Friday

GOP senators have now triggered the “nuclear option” three times (and counting) in the last eight years. The consequences are likely to matter.

Republicans go â€˜nuclearâ€™ to help Trump nominees, invite Democratic backlash

https://www.europesays.com/2406089/

For many on the left, the Senate Democratic minority simply hasnâ€™t gone far enough to stand up toâ€¦
— EUROPE SAYS (@europesays.bsky.social) 2025-09-12T14:30:57+00:00

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-go-nuclear-help-trump-nominees-invite-democratic-backlash-rcna230778

Senate GOP leaders have complained bitterly for months that Democrats have used unprecedented tactics to delay confirmation votes for many of the president’s nominees, including picks for lower-level offices. Those Republican complaints are rooted in fact, and Democratic leaders have largely conceded the point, arguing that Trump is a uniquely radical president; that his nominees tend to be uniquely unqualified; and so these picks require unique scrutiny, regardless of the traditional process.

On Thursday, the Senate GOP majority took a dramatic step to overhaul how the institution functions. NBC News reported:

Republicans triggered the ‘nuclear option’ to change the rules of the Senate on a party-line basis Thursday, a move that will allow them to speed up confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominees for key executive branch positions. The vote was 53-45 to establish a new rule that allows the Senate to confirm an unlimited number of nominees en bloc, rather than process each one individually.

Ordinarily, changing the rules of the Senate involves a long and laborious process that requires bipartisan support. But the “nuclear option” expedites matters, as one party uses its majority to overrule the chair, set a new precedent and effectively establish a new rule.

Going forward, senators can now vote to confirm nominees (including sub-Cabinet picks and ambassadors, but not judicial nominations) as a group, which will naturally expedite the overall process. NBC News’ report added, “Republicans say they’ll allow their own senators to object to individual nominees in any given block, but the rule will strip away the power of the minority party to do the same thing.”.....

Which leads to the other angle worth keeping in mind: The Senate has become slow, stagnant, ineffective and sclerotic. Significant reforms are, by most measures, absolutely necessary.

Rewriting institutional rules is profoundly difficult in the chamber, but the more both parties see value in going “nuclear” and making changes quickly, the easier the path for reforms that would make the Senate a better, more efficient body.

The Democrats may eliminate the filibuster entirely when they take power.

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