The Government Shutdown, the Senate and the “Nuclear Option”

by | Oct 22, 2025 | Opinions & Commentary

United States Senate chamber, Wiki Commons

The Government Shutdown, the Senate and the “Nuclear Option”

by | Oct 22, 2025 | Opinions & Commentary

United States Senate chamber, Wiki Commons

Senate Republicans are hoping we don't realize that they can actually open up the government any time they want. The shutdown has nothing to do with Democrats and never has.

If you are like me you’re more than a bit tired of hearing how Republicans in the Senate have voted for the eleventeenth time to open the government only to be stymied by the dastardly Democrats and their demand that 20 million people don’t get shafted on their health insurance.

The entire premise for this government shutdown is performance art, and it is really bad art—think “dogs playing poker on velvet”—that kind of bad.

The fact of the matter is that Republicans have all the votes they need to pass the current CR (Continuing Resolution) and open the government any time they want. They could have done so three weeks ago and they know it.

Here’s the deal. The Senate is currently deadlocked on the CR because of the filibuster rule. Here’s what that means:

For most legislation, a filibuster can be used by the minority party to block a vote by holding the floor or threatening to do so. This rule calls for a threshold of 60 votes to pass legislation in the Senate, requiring participation from both parties. And because Republicans don’t have 60 votes, they just keep taking symbolic votes trying to make it appear like they are trying to do their jobs. But nothing could be further from the truth.

What Senate Republicans are ignoring is something they know very well. It is called the “nuclear option:”

The “nuclear option” is a procedural tactic in the U.S. Senate to bypass the filibuster, which traditionally requires a 60-vote supermajority to end debate on most legislation and nominations. By invoking the nuclear option, the majority party can change Senate rules with a simple majority (51 votes) to allow a bill or nomination to proceed with a simple majority vote, thereby eliminating the minority’s ability to block it. This tactic has been used to confirm judicial and other executive nominees, but it has also been discussed as a way to pass legislation that is otherwise blocked by the filibuster.

Republicans have used the nuclear option in the past when they wanted something passed right away or wanted to stick it to Democrats that they were in the minority. So why not now? Why go through the charade over and over?

There is a possibility that there is no logic to their thinking at all. Maybe it is the fear that using the nuclear option will rebound on them later.

You see if the filibuster rule is changed for this situation, that is a change to the Senate rules and this carries forward. What happens if in November of 2026 Republicans suddenly become the minority party? This is a distinct possibility since their backing of Trump’s policies and actions is so unpopular it is hard to draw comparisons.

An estimated 12 million people turning out for the second No Kings day is a less than subtle hint that their popularity has been flushed and is still circling the bowl on the way down.

Facts are facts. Trump’s abuses of power and his utter disregard for the Constitution are aided and abetted by Congressional Republicans’ abdication of their duties to oversee and check the executive branch. Every member swore and oath to protect and defend the Constitution and there’s no evidence of Republicans honoring that oath.

Speculating on the collective motives of these seat warmers is probably a waste of time. But their collective dereliction of duty is as obvious as the Washington Monument.

So the job of protecting and defending the Constitution lands on our heads as citizens, since the representatives we elected can’t be bothered. So we have to act. No Kings Day was one thing. Here’s what we need to do now.

Call every Republican Senator’s office and remind them that no one is buying their story about the evil and intractable Democratic MINORITY. Invoke the nuclear option. Do your jobs. And while you’re at it, get off your duffs and get the House to impeach the senile nutcase who is right now literally bulldozing the White House. Then do what you failed to do twice before and convict him and remove him from office. Then get started on all of his destructive and insane appointees. You know who, you approved them.

According to Albert Einstein, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” But the situation is even worse in our Senate. They seem to like the “result” they are getting. 

Meanwhile the government remains in shutdown and futile voting performances will continue until morale improves.

Marty Kassowitz

Marty Kassowitz

Marty Kassowitz is co-founder of Factkeepers. As founder of Interest Factory and View360, he brings more than 30 years experience in effective online communications, social media management, and platform development to the site. He is a writer, designer, editor and long time observer of the ill-logic demonstrated by too many members of the species known as Mankind. After a long history of somewhat private commentary on a subject he totally hates: politics, Marty was encouraged to build this site and put up his own analyses as well as curate relevant content from other sources.

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