Senate’s Flagship Rule Is on Shaky Ground After ‘Nuclear’ Move

The Senate’s pattern of going nuclear could eventually blow up the legislative filibuster too.

Republicans worked over the last two weeks to jump through procedural hoops to lower the 60-vote filibuster threshold to a simple majority to allow them to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominees in batches. The partisan process, known as “going nuclear,” refers to changing the chamber’s long-held rules with just a simple majority.

Senators on both sides of the aisle blamed each other for the move. Democrats say the GOP will come to regret the decision to weaken the minority’s power on nominees, while Republicans argue ...