President Trump urges GOP leaders to take unprecedented step of eliminating Senate filibuster to unilaterally end the government shutdown. https://t.co/KqoEUBG66G ...

President Trump urges GOP leaders to take unprecedented step of eliminating Senate filibuster to unilaterally end the government shutdown. https://t.co/59OW6iRXT8 ...

Political Landscape - The radical left Democrats are perceived as holding the entire federal government hostage [1] - Republicans require at least seven Democratic votes to pass a government funding bill due to the Senate filibuster [2] - With only 53 Republicans in the Senate, bipartisan cooperation is essential for passing legislation [2] Legislative Process - Since 1975, 60 votes are needed to guarantee passage of a bill in the Senate [2] - The "nuclear option" to eliminate the filibuster rule has been suggested but faces reluctance due to potential future repercussions [3][4] - The filibuster is considered a supermajority requirement that defines the Senate [4] Government Operations - Reopening the government necessitates a bipartisan deal, which appears challenging given the current Congress [5] - GOP leaders are wary of setting a precedent that could be detrimental when Democrats regain power [4]