TRIGGERED: Mitch McConnell goes nuclear, Chuck Schumer forgets who Harry Reid was

Led by Senate Majority Leader “Cocaine Mitch” McConnell, the Senate voted 51-48 to nuke the old rules and cut debate time for certain nominations from 30 hours to just 2 hours — great for confirming more judges.

Republicans used the “nuclear option” to change Senate rules that will allow them to confirm most of President Trump’s nominees at a much faster rate https://t.co/9JUgBMmQLL pic.twitter.com/9DdBBVLP2k

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 3, 2019

NUCLEAR OPTION TRIGGERED: Senate votes 51-48 to change the rules and cut debate time for certain nominations from 30 hours to 2 hours.

The move was led by Mitch McConnell; all Republicans except Susan Collins and Mike Lee voted to nuke the rules. Kamala Harris was absent.

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 3, 2019

McConnell, who is often mischaracterized as an institutionalist, has been willing to scrap Senate traditions/rules if there's a compelling ideological or partisan benefit (e.g. ramping up legislative filibusters, axing blue slips, and nuking SCOTUS filibuster & now debate time).

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 3, 2019

McConnell’s nuclear-style rule change lets him confirm Trump’s district court judge nominees 15X as quickly as he’s doing now. (The Senate has already confirmed 53 district judges during this presidency.)

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 3, 2019

We all know what you’re thinking … what does former Hillary Clinton aide Brian Fallon think of all this? Does he approve?

This should scare every progressive. McConnell's plan is to leave no judges for the next President to appoint, so the third branch of gov't remains reliably right-wing for decades. This is why a plan to reform the courts is so important to discuss in 2020https://t.co/2phq8HujjF

— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) April 3, 2019

This is a sad day for the Senate@SenateMajLdr McConnell brags about confirming more judges than anyone in a long time

But he wants to invoke the terribly destructive nuclear option to fast-track even more of President Trump’s ultra-conservative nominees https://t.co/pPHByGyaBp

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 3, 2019

First, you were part of triggering the nuclear option with Harry Reid in 2013. Second, you can regret your decisions over and over, but live with them Chuck…

— Doug Keith (@keith_doug) April 3, 2019

You can thank yourself, and Harry Reid, Senator.

— Anthony Ramirez (@anthramirez) April 3, 2019

Your grievance is with your ex-colleague Harry Reid, not with Mitch McConnell.#GoMitchGo

— PhilipTerzian (@PhilipTerzian) April 2, 2019

Like Harry Reed did?

— I’d rather be sailing! (@Tacking_Port) April 3, 2019

Harry Reid

— Gilford Crowell (@CrowellGilford) April 3, 2019

It’s called the #ReidRule for a reason.

— Eric Short (@ejs_1979) April 3, 2019

Thanks be to Harry

— Brian Barabash (@brainbadrash) April 3, 2019

Former Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada used the same approach in 2013 to lower the filibuster threshold on most nominations to a simple majority when faced with what Democrats said was GOP obstructionism. https://t.co/HFPSbqVpIS

— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) April 3, 2019

“But no one pushed the proverbial button until 2013, when then-Majority Leader Harry Reid invoked the nuclear option to lower the 60-vote threshold to 51 for approval of Executive Branch appointees…” #TheReidRule https://t.co/a4v34OsFrv

— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) April 3, 2019

Senate Dems have engaged in unprecedented obstruction of hundreds of @POTUS nominations making Washington more dysfunctional than ever. Republicans were forced to use Harry Reid’s precedent to end Democrat obstruction. Today's rule change was long-overdue. pic.twitter.com/J8XUjewHXL

— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) April 3, 2019