wsj.com
www.wsj.com

The top-level post uses a gift link with a view count limit. When it runs out, an archived copy of the article is available. I’ll note that the article has been substantially expanded since initial publication, and the archived copy captures the expanded version, and not the as-initially-published version.

To summarize, what’s going on is that while many nominations only require 50 votes to end debate, diplomatic posts have generally relied on unanimous consent to end debate, and Senator Brian Schatz has announced that he will not be agreeing to unanimous consent on any of them, forcing a day or two debate in order to get them confirmed. Since the US has an ambassador to almost every country in the world, debating them all means spending a year or so doing ambassadorial confirmations, which is completely impractical, and unlikely to actually happen.

    • silence7@slrpnk.netOP
      31·
      17 hours ago

      It is, but this is the first of the Democratic Senators to actually start doing it, probably in response to constituent pressure.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      20·
      17 hours ago

      The filibuster only comes up when it’s a reason why 50 D senators and a House majority wasn’t enough for Biden to do anything…

      Now that it’s one of the last lines of defense against fascism Schumer would prefer everyone forget it exists

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      16 hours ago

      Yes. The real thing to watch for is which Dem gets the job of disavowing this guy for being divisive and unrealistic.

  • Snowclone@lemmy.world
    25·
    17 hours ago

    He better. And if Trump gives in, he better not stop, and just keep making more demand. We gotta learn from Republicans, this isn’t a game, win then throw a fit and demand more.

    • silence7@slrpnk.netOP
      8·
      15 hours ago

      If it’s like mine, their main DC phone numbers is perpetually saturated, and the voicemail is full. You need to be looking up district offices and calling those, or better yet, showing up in-person with a bunch of other people

      Edit: Per Senator Markey, there are now technical problems with the Senate phone system:

      We are aware that phones are experiencing technical issues across the U.S. Senate system. Please bear with us as we work to quickly address the issue and get our phones back online.

      Makes showing up in-person at district offices incredibly important.

      • notabot@lemm.ee
        7·
        15 hours ago

        Show up in person and explain exactly what you want to see from them, and why it would benefit them. Then let them talk to the next person, who does the same. Make sure your representatives hear the same message again, and again, until it’s easier for them to do what you’re asking than not.

      • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
        3·
        14 hours ago

        Hmm Musks people have been in all of the governments systems since last, and the phone don’t woke now?

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
    3·
    5 hours ago

    This is the thing? The CIA front getting defunded? Not any of the other thousand things? OK.

    • echolalia@lemmy.ml
      2·
      10 hours ago

      There’s an avian flu epidemic forcing the culling of birds. Should we save the CDC/USDA/FDA? Nah, silence from the democratic party.

      There have been terrible airplane accidents. Should we get more staff for ATC and make sure the FAA has a director in a time of crisis? Nah, silence

      Should we allow anti-intellectuals and political agents police the language of science? Should we stop them from purging completed projects and scholarly papers? Nah, silence

      Should we do something about a madman firing 12 inspector generals without following process? Nah, silence

      Anything to protect career civil servants, keeping our government running and providing services to the people? Nah, silence.

      But the CIA front is where we draw the line.