Part I is more historical and is called “Rise of the Filibuster” while Part II is a bit more focused on recent events and is called “Tyranny of the Minority.” I found Part I more focused as it took a more narrative and linear (although not fully so) approach to the early development of the filibuster. The book is timely, as it provides insights into a key aspect of American governance in recent times: the shift of the US Senate, an already counter-majoritarian body due to the way seats are allocated to the state, into a body that essentially requires 60 votes for actions other than nominations and budget reconciliation. Jentleson served as Senator Harry Reid’s (D-NV) deputy chief staff, so he has direct knowledge of Senate operation, but also a partisan point of view (although I do not think it affects his analysis–he does not come across as partisan in the text, although he clearly has a point of view on this topic). It focuses, specifically on the development and growth of the filibuster. Adam Jentleson’s 2021 book Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy is an extremely readable and worthwhile look at the evolution of minority rule in the US Senate.
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