When
Where
Why can’t we pass gun control legislation even after a horrific mass shooting? Why couldn’t Congress pass any civil rights legislation for 82 years after Reconstruction? What could prevent us from reversing the anti-democratic, anti-voting legislation coming from states like Georgia?
The filibuster.
But isn’t the filibuster a central part of the founder’s vision for our country? Doesn’t the filibuster protect minority rights? And doesn’t the filibuster encourage bipartisan legislating? No. No. And not even close. The modern filibuster is the result of more than two centuries of work by those who stood—and stand—in the way of equality, progress, and fairness. It is now a kill switch that allows a minority of the Senate, representing a minority of voters, to repeatedly block needed—and popular—legislation. This drove Adam Jentleson, Sen. Harry Reid’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, to write Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy.
The book is a history of the intertwining narratives and bad faith actors that delivered the Senate to its current anti-democratic condition. Adam has been quoted just about everywhere of late, from the NYT to Politico to the Washington Post. He’s also a GQ columnist and frequent MSNBC contributor. And—he will be joining us for a Zoom discussion moderated by Spencer Pahlke and Amanda Sadra about Kill Switch and the filibuster on April 15 from 5-6 PM AZ time. ACS President Russ Feingold will give introductory remarks. If you’ve seen him in the news and want to ask him your question, or learn more about the filibuster, or you’ve already read the book and are a fan—this is the chance to meet Adam!
Please RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfDuND91VVawT047nKfSM7-beylEs…—and forward this on to others who would be interested and post it on social media! This event is co-hosted by the ACS student chapters at Berkeley, Arizona St