Skip to content

David Hawkings’ Whiteboard: What’s a Filibuster?

By David Hawkings and Thomas McKinless

Loading the player...

With President Donald Trump continuing to call for an end to the legislative filibuster following yet another bruising defeat on health care, senior editor David Hawkings takes a look at what exactly a filibuster is, how the term’s origin comes from “pirating” the Senate’s debate, and what the implications of removing it would be.

Recent Stories

Former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman on the Supreme Court, dies at 93

Members want $26 billion for programs the Pentagon didn’t seek

Expelling bee — Congressional Hits and Misses

Appeals court rejects Trump push to dismiss Jan. 6 suits from lawmakers, police

Photos of the week ending December 1, 2023

House expels Rep. George Santos