Ah, the Senate. Anything you think should be simple never really is. Democrats there are trying to figure out what to do about the extended absence of Sen. Dianne Feinstein from committee work. But they cannot just replace her temporarily, as they sought to do this week. Why? Because the Senate is a continuing body subject to organizing resolutions that the chamber has to pass. And it is very easy to grind things to a halt in the Senate, even on something that seems routine.

Show Notes:

• Replacing Feinstein can be complicated, Senate history shows
• GOP blocks attempt to put Feinstein substitute on Judiciary
• Feinstein will retire rather than run again in 2024
• Feinstein to temporarily step down from Judiciary Committee after calls to resign
• McConnell returns to Senate, urges Biden to ‘stop wasting time’ on debt ceiling