RantCrush Top 5: April 4, 2017

Four additional Democrats announced yesterday that they are willing to block a vote on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, giving Democrats enough votes for a filibuster. Republicans could use the “nuclear option,” which would upend Senate rules and change the threshold for how many votes are required to end debate and hold a vote from 60 to 51. “I am not ready to end debate on this issue, so I will be voting against cloture unless we are able as a body to finally sit down and find a way to avoid the nuclear option,” said Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, who was the 41st Democrat to join the filibuster effort.

Bring on the filibuster! You can’t give away Merrick Garland’s seat without a fight. #mondaymotivation https://t.co/bJYBygcPsb

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 3, 2017

Republicans have vowed to confirm Gorsuch even if they have to “go nuclear,” which is viewed by many as a worst case scenario because it could come back to bite them the next time Democrats have a majority and there is an open seat on the court. The vote is set to take place on Thursday.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.