Real Covid Stats Kill The CDC Narrative

<div><img class="ff-og-image-inserted" src="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/12/12-30-21-dec.jpg" /></div> <p><strong>The numbers provided by the government’s VAERS system are no longer debatable.</strong></p> <p>Even if only a fraction of the deaths reported from the Covid vaccines are legit, there are still too many.</p> <p>The CDC is leading as many lemmings as they can off the cliff while the information that their propaganda has desperately attempted to cover up has become widely available.</p> <br /> <br /> source <a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/real-covid-stats-kill-the-cdc-narrative">https://www.infowars.com/posts/real-covid-stats-kill-the-cdc-narrative</a>

news Real Covid Stats Kill The CDC Narrative

The numbers provided by the government’s VAERS system are no longer debatable. Even if only a fraction of the deaths reported from the Cov...

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Nancy Pelosi Buys Millions In Call Options In Google, Micron, Roblox, Salesforce And Disney

<p><strong>Despite a populist grassroots movement seeking to ban Congress members from trading stocks, one which has attracted bipartisan political support, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – arguably one of the most prolific Congressional traders – said two weeks ago that lawmakers should be allowed to make trades while serving.</strong></p> <p>“We’re a free market economy,” Pelosi told reporters during a news conference. “They should be able to participate in that.”</p> <p>Pelosi’s statement came days after progressive New Yorker, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, reiterated her support for banning lawmakers from the practice. Ocasio-Cortez and other members of Congress argue that lawmakers have access to information the public is not privy to and the ability to write and pass policy, they should abstain from buying and selling individual stock and other assets. She and other lawmakers support members of Congress investing in index funds.</p> <p>“I choose not to hold any so I can remain impartial about policy making,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>Pelosi’s statement also came in the wake of a series of scandals involving federal lawmakers, Fed and government officials making suspect trades throughout the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>Currently, Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.), is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for trades he made in the early days of the pandemic (Burr has said all of his trades were based on news reports, not non-public information), and other lawmakers were investigated by the Department of Justice for their trades.</p> <p>It’s not limited to Congress: In October the Fed announced it would ban officials from owning individual stocks and bonds after two officials – Dallas Fed president Robert Kaplan and Boston Fed president Eric Rosengren – resigned following allegations of insider trading.</p> <p>Members of Congress are theoretically barred from trading on nonpublic information thanks to the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge, or STOCK, Act, and during the press conference, Pelosi noted that lawmakers need to follow that law. “If people aren’t reporting [stock trades], they should be,” she said.</p> <div class="DBeLB89q"><a href="https://www.infowarsstore.com/specials-clearance/new-years-super-special?ims=cuzeh&utm_campaign=heronewyear&utm_source=Infowars+Hero&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=heronewyear" target="_blank"><img src="https://api.directus.libertycdn.com/uploads/_/originals/InfowarsNewyearsSpecial-hero-385.jpg" /></a></div> <p>We mention all of this because according to the latest <a href="https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/public_disc/ptr-pdfs/2021/20020106.pdf">Periodic Transaction Report </a>covering Nancy Pelosi’s latest trades, the California Democrat purchased millions worth of call options in companies from Alphabet, to Micron, to Roblox, Saleforce and Walt Disney. Unfortunately, the strike price of the options was not disclosed, although with maturities well into 2022 and in some cases 2023, this appears to be a long-term levered bet.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-142398" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" src="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/12/pelosi-trades.jpg" srcset="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/12/pelosi-trades-219x300.jpg 219w, https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/12/pelosi-trades.jpg 500w" /></figure> <p>And while the presumption is that there Pelosi did not trade on inside information, something tells us each of those trades will be profitable.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <br /> <br /> source <a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/nancy-pelosi-buys-millions-in-call-options-in-google-micron-roblox-salesforce-and-disney">https://www.infowars.com/posts/nancy-pelosi-buys-millions-in-call-options-in-google-micron-roblox-salesforce-and-disney</a>

news Nancy Pelosi Buys Millions In Call Options In Google, Micron, Roblox, Salesforce And Disney

Despite a populist grassroots movement seeking to ban Congress members from trading stocks, one which has attracted bipartisan political sup...

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WATCH: Bombshell Video That Got Dr. Malone Kicked Off Twitter

<div><img class="ff-og-image-inserted" src="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/12/malone352.jpg" /></div> <p><strong>Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of mRNA technology, was suspended from Twitter shortly after sharing a video explaining why Pfizer’s Covid jabs do more harm than good.</strong> <strong>See the video here:</strong></p> <p>Malone is scheduled to appear on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast Thursday following the sudden account suspension.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" readability="3.5374149659864"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">Robert Malone responds on Telegram following his suspension on Twitter. <a href="https://t.co/G53Y9jGTJP">pic.twitter.com/G53Y9jGTJP</a></p> — Jeffrey Peel (@JeffreyPeel) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyPeel/status/1476264140872241153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <p>Also check out <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://banned.video/watch?id=61b81831173ca41bd07c120a" target="_blank">Kristi Leigh’s recen</a><a href="https://banned.video/watch?id=61b81831173ca41bd07c120a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">t</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://banned.video/watch?id=61b81831173ca41bd07c120a" target="_blank">interview with Dr. Malone</a>:</p> <br /> <br /> source <a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/watch-bombshell-video-that-got-dr-malone-kicked-off-twitter">https://www.infowars.com/posts/watch-bombshell-video-that-got-dr-malone-kicked-off-twitter</a>

news WATCH: Bombshell Video That Got Dr. Malone Kicked Off Twitter

Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of mRNA technology, was suspended from Twitter shortly after sharing a video explaining why Pfizer’s Covid ...

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Japan Faces Royal Dilemma As Ancient Monarchy Shrinks

<div class="ins_instory_dv"> <div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Japan Faces Royal Dilemma As Ancient Monarchy Shrinks" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-12/si3tsph8_japans-crown-prince-akishino-afp_625x300_30_December_21.jpg" title="Japan Faces Royal Dilemma As Ancient Monarchy Shrinks" /></div> <p class="ins_instory_dv_caption sp_b">Japan's Crown Prince Akishino (C) with his son Prince Hisahito (L) and his daughter Kako (R).</p> </div> <b class="place_cont">Tokyo, Japan:</b> <p>Japan's imperial family is facing extinction due to a shortage of eligible emperors, but some experts say the ideas floated in a government inquiry for boosting the dwindling number of royals are out of touch.</p> <p>With women barred from the throne under male-only succession rules, the place of Emperor Naruhito, 61, will one day be filled by his nephew Prince Hisahito instead of his only child Princess Aiko.</p> <p>But if 15-year-old Hisahito does not have a son, the royal family, whose history dates back more than 2,600 years, will run out of male heirs to continue the bloodline.</p> <p>Polls show the public broadly supports the idea of a woman taking the role of emperor -- one that holds no political power under Japan's post-World War II constitution but carries huge symbolic importance.</p> <p>However, pressure to stick to long-held tradition from conservative lawmakers and voters, who revere the royals as the perfect example of a patriarchal Japanese family, makes female succession unlikely any time soon.</p> <p>Officials are brainstorming possible solutions to the dilemma, and last week a specially commissioned panel submitted two suggestions to the government.</p> <p>One is to allow royal women to keep their title and public duties when they wed outside the family. Currently, they must leave the family, as former princess Mako Komuro did in October after marrying her university sweetheart.</p> <p>The second is to allow men from 11 former branches of the royal family abolished in post-war reforms to "rejoin" the direct line through adoption.</p> <p>The panel's report recommends that male lineage rules are preserved at least until Prince Hisahito becomes emperor.</p> <p>But its ideas are "not at all based on the current family system in Japan or ideas about gender equality", Makoto Okawa, a history professor at Chuo University in Tokyo, told AFP.</p> <p>"I think the public is wondering what's wrong with Princess Aiko succeeding the throne," said Okawa, who researches the imperial system.</p> <p>Although traditionalists say Japan should not sever the "unbroken imperial line", their logic is flawed, Okawa argued, because Aiko -- who turned 20 this year -- is both the emperor's direct descendent and older than her cousin Hisahito.</p> <p><strong>Exacting standards</strong></p> <p>Hideya Kawanishi, associate professor of Japanese history at Nagoya University, warned that the panel's proposals "will not solve the problem fundamentally".</p> <p>Some married women might not want to live a restricted royal life, while the adoption of male family members who grew up as regular citizens would be complicated, he said.</p> <p>The issue has been debated for years -- after Aiko was born, a government panel concluded in 2005 that imperial succession should be decided in order of age and not gender.</p> <p>However, these discussions lost momentum after Hisahito's birth in 2006, meaning the male bloodline could continue.</p> <p>The latest panel report said it was necessary to discuss possible changes to succession rules in the future but, unlike in 2005, did not use the words "female emperor".</p> <p>This means that for the wives of male royals like Hisahito, "there will be pressure to conceive boys to keep the line going," Kawanishi said.</p> <p>Royal women have long walked a difficult path in Japan.</p> <p>Naruhito's wife Masako, a former high-flying diplomat, struggled for years with a stress-related illness after joining the household, which some have put down to the pressure of producing a male heir.</p> <p>Younger royals are also held to exacting standards.</p> <p>Mako and her husband Kei Komuro, both 30, were plagued by tabloid gossip over allegations that Kei's family had run into financial difficulties, leading the former princess to develop complex post-traumatic stress disorder.</p> <p>An empress is not an alien concept in Japan, with the imperial family itself said to be descended from the legendary sun goddess Amaterasu.</p> <p>There have been as many as eight empresses throughout history, although their rule has often been temporary. The last, Gosakuramachi, was on the throne about 250 years ago.</p> <p>The divine status of the imperial family was renounced after World War II following Japan's militaristic sweep across Asia in the name of Emperor Hirohito.</p> <p>Since 1947, royal succession has been dictated by the Imperial Household Law, and issues surrounding it remain a delicate topic tightly bound with ideas of national identity.</p> <p>Nowadays, politicians are "scared of changing the system" while they are in office, Kawanishi said.</p> <p>But after Mako's wedding garnered huge attention, one way the debate could be pushed forward is "if the public becomes more interested in the subject, and pushes for discussions", he said.</p> <p><i>(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)</i></p> <br /> <br /> source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/japan-faces-royal-dilemma-as-ancient-monarchy-shrinks-2678962">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/japan-faces-royal-dilemma-as-ancient-monarchy-shrinks-2678962</a>

news world Japan Faces Royal Dilemma As Ancient Monarchy Shrinks

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino (C) with his son Prince Hisahito (L) and his daughter Kako (R). Tokyo, Japan: Japan's imperial fa...

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WATCH: Kid Gets Trampled By Queen’s Royal Guards

<div><img class="ff-og-image-inserted" src="https://api-assets.infowars.com/2021/12/royalguard534.jpg" /></div> <p><strong>Cameras were rolling when a British Royal Guard at the Tower of London trampled over a child who was in his way.</strong></p> <p>Viral footage uploaded to TikTok showed two Guardsmen marching about, as one shouts, “Make way!” while proceeding to trample a little boy.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" readability="3.3712121212121"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">🚨 | WATCH: A kid gets trampled by the queen’s guards <a href="https://t.co/xzv7W8I2F5">pic.twitter.com/xzv7W8I2F5</a></p> — News For All (@NewsForAIl) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsForAIl/status/1476195393235001348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>A crowd of onlookers gasped at the incident, as the boy’s mom came to his aid. The boy quickly got back to his feet, seemingly unharmed.</p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10353195/Queens-Guardsman-flattens-child-stepped-path-Video.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a> to the <em>Daily Mail</em>, the Ministry of Defense defended the guardsman’s actions, saying the visitors had been warned of the march ahead of time.</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote" readability="12"> <p><em>‘The Guardsmen on duty warned members of the public that a patrol was approaching but the child unfortunately ran out in front of the soldier unexpectedly. </em></p> <p><em>‘The soldier tried to step over the child and continued on his duty.</em></p> <p><em>‘Following the incident, the soldier checked on the child and was reassured that all was well.’ </em></p> </blockquote> <p>Debates ensued online as to whether the soldier could have avoided the situation, or whether the boy or his parents’ negligence prompted the mishap.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <p><a href="https://banned.video/watch?id=61c9f6f8153b4036f71fa714"><em>UK Health Service Offers “Do Not Resuscitate” Orders For Mentally-Challenged COVID Patients</em></a></p> <br /> <br /> source <a href="https://www.infowars.com/posts/watch-kid-gets-trampled-by-queens-royal-guards">https://www.infowars.com/posts/watch-kid-gets-trampled-by-queens-royal-guards</a>

news WATCH: Kid Gets Trampled By Queen’s Royal Guards

Cameras were rolling when a British Royal Guard at the Tower of London trampled over a child who was in his way. Viral footage uploaded to...

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The enduring vision of Harry Reid

<p>Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader who distinguished himself as one of the Obama-era Democratic Party’s premier political strategists, died Tuesday at the age of 82.</p> <p>Reid, who had pancreatic cancer, led an uncommonly colorful life for a United States senator. But despite his vast power and influence, he was never a high-profile public figure. Reid wasn’t known for his stump speeches, was a relatively rare presence on national television, and, despite his occasionally pungent language, wasn’t a go-to source of quips on Capitol Hill, either.</p> <p>But perhaps more than any other Democrat of the 21st century, he took a clear-eyed view of the structural transformations of American politics and believed in accepting the world as it was while fighting hard and playing to win.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839050_7584_3902501" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13663843,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qHJTKntqC_9yFt-9YF8iDFh5Hj8=/0x0:3000x2000/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eE4ddOs7EUc7sViOkBgR0Cod4Mc=/0x0:3000x2000/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D6EXQdD6r6WT6XIYkikVft6BgZ4=/0x0:3000x2000/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q2PtetWocBhSbv7zKF_ieQ__Www=/0x0:3000x2000/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZWoEpOz6AUFDLDSJOEOFx5FqfKQ=/0x0:3000x2000/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dmAxfK8kgIhtA8HahwlGf4KvZCc=/0x0:3000x2000/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HpW6gXiNEK33sg5k2qUjEgrcpMA=/0x0:3000x2000/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QlCoANuTrRfwt2r6NVYHTzvS8Qk=/0x0:3000x2000/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UfE9CoEVGqQM_Apl73JSch8_CVQ=/0x0:3000x2000/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D-NV), pause for photos as they arrive for a meeting with the Senate Democratic Caucus on July 31, 2013." data-upload-width="3000" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RVqFAqmXSd6yj9w0crmkSZ0KJdM=/0x0:3000x2000/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xGBoFMi541W8LyvdBzCvx6FGWAc=/0x0:3000x2000/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NJ19J6pxOzK16tIRq3vk8LshJzo=/0x0:3000x2000/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d-3IWIrFpQSxf9qBlO6FOX0a5dk=/0x0:3000x2000/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KCIP1IltHqOoBrhNK1JX5H4hn4Y=/0x0:3000x2000/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zfjnk7MJHJZ3pyRZAU42jBJPOcA=/0x0:3000x2000/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lv1ew_z3oDkHoGq3L9ASLdNzveA=/0x0:3000x2000/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/djfhIwsW_sJCdlP-gm9K3_sKfTE=/0x0:3000x2000/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T_c0EETDp7aMfX1CtZQ-_5TfFEY=/0x0:3000x2000/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZLlEM4zz3oTr0dHtS4nbsx5ihqw=/0x0:3000x2000/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13663843/GettyImages_175084346.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pause for photos as they arrive for a meeting with the Senate Democratic Caucus on July 31, 2013.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images</cite></span></figure> <p>Like most successful legislative leaders, Reid was more of an organizer and a consensus-builder than a policy visionary. But unlike his Republican counterpart Mitch McConnell, he leaves a substantive legacy of positive achievements rather than tactical blocking moves.</p> <p>And in his home state of Nevada, he’s known as the architect and maestro of what’s probably the contemporary Democratic Party’s most successful exercise in party-building. Early in his Senate career, Reid was a moderate representing a mostly Republican state. By its end, he was a solidly progressive senator from a blueish state and the leader of a “Reid Machine” whose record of political successes outlasted him and now has locked down state offices up and down the board.</p> <p>Reid grew up poor in the Depression-era mining community of Searchlight, Nevada.</p> <p>His parents lived in a small shack with no hot water or telephone, and he had to go stay with relatives 40 miles away in Henderson to attend high school because there wasn’t one in Searchlight. He went to Utah State University, where he was a boxer, met his wife, and converted to Mormonism, before moving to Washington, DC, where he attended law school while working as an officer with the US Capitol Police to support his family. After moving back to Nevada, he quickly entered the state legislature; after a single term he became the state’s youngest-ever lieutenant governor at the age of 30.</p> <p>That led to a failed US Senate run in 1974, followed by a failed run for mayor of Las Vegas in 1975. But two years later, he scored an appointment as chair of the Nevada Gaming Commission that helped revive his political career. In 1978, he was offered a bribe by a man named Jack Gordon. Reid reported the attempted bribery to the FBI. They set up a sting, but Reid ended up going off-script and choking the criminal as he was about to be arrested.</p> <p>”You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!” Reid said.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839050_8984_3902502" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668263,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WzXtLkJDYTSjmEp8n7UDog09GPs=/0x0:2936x1958/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YMvUzwuKqxsMp39U9WBImM8FYdo=/0x0:2936x1958/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h12NG7jHbJB7Mr3yKxKs_Pd6gRc=/0x0:2936x1958/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qHNFWyXhKoE-pZVMCCKzyAM8xww=/0x0:2936x1958/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MruVGTOaIX3jHZrdioBUBPllB8s=/0x0:2936x1958/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LMPFKXscuvHUwgkhsHAo2st_lSM=/0x0:2936x1958/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uukyek_YNfrW61rya1x6M5EzV8Y=/0x0:2936x1958/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aDx9_6fMPgNMc1PinxlCbSFtpWo=/0x0:2936x1958/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K4cBTt0tT4txxJ6dzuyJIJCRl4M=/0x0:2936x1958/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="2936" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U0bMjz2L3FcmTcWOUrvBAVCH0Hg=/0x0:2936x1958/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/19ZO4iKMqFMmbWEcPvS6TRaVRKA=/0x0:2936x1958/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sKjJ9DvtbTY2U1Kl1Ix5BghZRbI=/0x0:2936x1958/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oGH2-ipkgXgAtz0g8RP2KZIbzJM=/0x0:2936x1958/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QdIS1fASGV6tUYMTOqIBLLaPtOA=/0x0:2936x1958/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D8Zfa5DImFeTSzm8wICtSr_N5MY=/0x0:2936x1958/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gIrGmen89iC_jBf8hRSaJSFu8mc=/0x0:2936x1958/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ISAAEKydEWmLwfwr1Xlb115IpCE=/0x0:2936x1958/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vmp3434_BotbbfVSlRL_lbPQpq4=/0x0:2936x1958/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NnOsqjP_xyKvJ7oysN5lhADiiPQ=/0x0:2936x1958/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2936x1958):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668263/GettyImages_674220540.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) with wife Landra and son Key, at an NCAA Championships reception on March 3, 1994.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Laura Patterson/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images</cite></span></figure> <p>Later, in 1981 <a href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/jane-ann-morrison/mystery-remains-over-reid-car-bomb">a car bomb was found in Reid’s family car</a>. The culprit has never been identified, but there has long been speculation that it was related to Gordon or other organized crime figures Reid tangled with as gaming commissioner.</p> <p>In 1982, Nevada went from having one House district to two, and Reid was able to win the Democratic nomination to represent the newly drawn Democratic-leaning district centered on Las Vegas. After two terms back on Capitol Hill — this time as a Congress member rather than a cop — he ran for Senate and won in a national Democratic sweep in 1986. There, he established a mostly low-key presence as a moderate Democrat until emerging as a Democratic leader in the mid-aughts.</p> <p>Reid took the reins of a battered Democratic Senate caucus in January 2005 after his predecessor, Tom Daschle, lost his reelection bid. Democrats lost four seats on net in the 2004 cycle, and George W. Bush was reelected as president with the only GOP popular vote victory between 1988 and today.</p> <p>Even as Republicans were beating them at the polls, Senate Democrats had roused the fury of progressive activists by spending Bush’s first term striking a largely accommodationist posture. It’s difficult to imagine in today’s era of hyperpartisanship and routine filibustering, but Bush’s 2001 tax cuts passed with <em>12</em> Democratic votes, and even the 2003 sequel was supported by two Democratic senators.</p> <p>The 2002 vote authorizing the use of military force in Iraq had, of course, been supported by many Democrats, including then-Majority Leader Daschle. And in 2003, not only did two Democratic senators join most Republicans to back a Medicare reform plan, the Democratic caucus simply opted not to filibuster the bill even though they had the votes to block it.</p> <p>For Democrats eager to see a rebirth of fighting spirit, Reid seemed like an unlikely champion.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839050_3786_3902503" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668280,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q-DUOfGFlbBrZYOZ46eDwTyewDA=/0x0:2918x1945/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Uf6qr4TlLdZzEuOt5mibxJskRus=/0x0:2918x1945/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bzmbcpLqh9Wth1_oNcPhnjL7lu4=/0x0:2918x1945/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/34_5AYdczsbJTcdzkQE1u7ftiaE=/0x0:2918x1945/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x9TMagYtumaWgcovYR_l2TY7sRE=/0x0:2918x1945/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ntQwzvjFG-VYqPXrc6A9i_lXSVg=/0x0:2918x1945/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lpbR3IbF5hTzmo2pxs9VP8klwHs=/0x0:2918x1945/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7ZBKH9mNm60rtR0bVpXl528QMPM=/0x0:2918x1945/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MlUvMmMydjb4QRUVZTI7XGYm4aU=/0x0:2918x1945/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="2918" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ujk-WbzOBqsY-NfwMnlrfGiL1XA=/0x0:2918x1945/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/elJKjQasMzxGRCGEf1iRLMcrTQo=/0x0:2918x1945/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VQKDm8p4PDMkK_jgqesAEG70KWM=/0x0:2918x1945/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i0knyk04lgGyPSvlrJ3wE7HyBOE=/0x0:2918x1945/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5iIwoy8RTf0logRsG2ZXll_TbSs=/0x0:2918x1945/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lcaYAAek0fHmyqUNmlkstPvNY6U=/0x0:2918x1945/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R14RpRrHrD998SndskasqxPwTok=/0x0:2918x1945/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sQGaqWRdPp5DCyUnTC8-XQYqxVM=/0x0:2918x1945/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NEAxL1A-d5h1s1_Ria-mRz45o2U=/0x0:2918x1945/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DDncsKKE_9MW_WKKuKRGEPXYQLg=/0x0:2918x1945/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2918x1945):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668280/GettyImages_1164529.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">President George W. Bush shakes hands with Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) after addressing a joint session of Congress September 20, 2001.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Alex Wong/Getty Images</cite></span></figure> <p>“Reid is a Mormon, and differs with most of his Democratic colleagues on social issues,” <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/08/08/minority-retort">Elsa Walsh reported for the New Yorker in 2005</a>. “He is opposed to abortion, gay marriage, and gun control, and supports the death penalty.”</p> <p>But placed in the leader’s chair, Reid swiftly proved to be a gritty, effective fighter. His political team was one of the first to try to actively court online “netroots” activists, and he joined with Nancy Pelosi in the House to craft a strategy of <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/11/21/18103325/nancy-pelosi-social-security-privatization-bush-plan">root-and-branch opposition to Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security</a>.</p> <p>All Social Security legislation is subject to filibuster, so if Senate Democrats held together in opposition, nothing could pass. This made House Republicans gun-shy about taking unpopular votes on bills that would be DOA in the Senate, which eventually led to the entire privatization effort collapsing in a burst of infighting with no actual bills ever voted on in either house of the legislature.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839050_4564_3902504" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668306,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WWRY7zlpbpNMOik0UJGIJGR2Czw=/0x0:2879x1920/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VdRY9jZjOy7a865j0l2JZVs7Usg=/0x0:2879x1920/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5X37m8_1b4zNjn9LAMzK1DTmyVo=/0x0:2879x1920/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hOEkpgQB7zah-28gQJkpmM7--5U=/0x0:2879x1920/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jIJg00NM_a31yxGBu0-7IHqo05E=/0x0:2879x1920/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ljYlPaOviYVLNJVF5ZybozHzDxw=/0x0:2879x1920/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZFAlY2uXZu5kbNMDknGgx_gmcgU=/0x0:2879x1920/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qsvfc120_84j0nBVLF2IoY1lCNs=/0x0:2879x1920/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gehWnFPBFf1QZFedtbYuS6_xL4E=/0x0:2879x1920/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="2879" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8cxtWDfixB-8lmyHHxs-QootQKM=/0x0:2879x1920/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8PsIJo8XZnDvLttoA_f2Drk90JM=/0x0:2879x1920/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZeTw605fh6Ika7EjoABzDw7cits=/0x0:2879x1920/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nbsoE0Nu10wySEWy1ffADJ4HP94=/0x0:2879x1920/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nbvL5JEQEfxPAEg4uSb29F7u8rU=/0x0:2879x1920/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BMZw2F6KlElsYBtTfF9FWe9VQ8o=/0x0:2879x1920/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TxSkTBqz2B6Mp2C35krCqHBDlDU=/0x0:2879x1920/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V9H0Pp5o-SnmG3E5d4SVsS1N5xo=/0x0:2879x1920/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WaGYITnoc__-t-cH4RqrX0fxRhw=/0x0:2879x1920/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4n0-ZY89PPx5XhCVEZ_CW8xeid0=/0x0:2879x1920/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2879x1920):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668306/GettyImages_56616061.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) at a press conference to unveil the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act on January 18, 2006.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images</cite></span></figure> <p>Reid quietly encouraged Barack Obama to challenge Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primary, calculating both that Clinton was likely to be a relatively weak election performer and that a charismatic African American who’d voted against the Iraq War was perfectly positioned to take down a daunting frontrunner.</p> <p>He spearheaded Obama’s first-term legislative efforts, somehow along the way stopped being pro-gun rights and anti-abortion, and distinguished himself as a down-and-dirty street fighter in a legislative body traditionally known to prize decorum and tradition.</p> <p>Reid, along with his GOP counterpart Mitch McConnell, presided over a dramatic shift in Senate norms during a period where the partisan polarization that characterizes American society writ large came with full force into a legislative body whose rules really weren’t designed to accommodate it.</p> <p>The decision to simply pre-commit to filibustering a Social Security bill rather than use the potential of a filibuster as leverage to start a negotiating process was unexpected at the time. And deeper into 2005, Reid-led Democrats took the then-unprecedented step of filibustering some of the Bush administration’s most extreme judicial nominees.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839050_4436_3902505" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668328,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kglLSuOC-uDWYqvkGAkLuGIx3DA=/0x0:2767x1845/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GoRKxmFTFZk7WD6zfT1_fr-euUQ=/0x0:2767x1845/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YQMAzw_8_8q-LwqGnz9s1VbiqcQ=/0x0:2767x1845/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PG11cMGH-_339KP9XCbIaDsSYh4=/0x0:2767x1845/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/294pEnA_YLvQACTIu9nHhQf91xc=/0x0:2767x1845/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AS2fe3qXsIkRbfdeobLHOvNuLls=/0x0:2767x1845/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_DnVv7xRnjXFw26BntwzcBlYJKs=/0x0:2767x1845/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fu4BCyoqjj0YtTKaOq1qigV7sEA=/0x0:2767x1845/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JP4eAsDW6Y715dfvNlBvRACQQE8=/0x0:2767x1845/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="2767" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NAbkWfS6Lk_S6HV7cJjTUoIMMtc=/0x0:2767x1845/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/whIGB6UNjEPA-XXr0wwxOH20Yic=/0x0:2767x1845/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dXc3xWqY0LrgBAin-lXSH_BhsuI=/0x0:2767x1845/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LNp32ca4h9BFs4E070I7lRgibvw=/0x0:2767x1845/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9fYScpH-zoNVpjGOWSfKEEtUbuw=/0x0:2767x1845/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N8qR5qpskLtY5uqhpCFx9f-PxvI=/0x0:2767x1845/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jputabLsazTAYymhbdd2YKWIFso=/0x0:2767x1845/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oatFlDiSoGvgL3_LdcJDvcBabhc=/0x0:2767x1845/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UpRLVleQIFTjlTGN_bR4-TPKlwQ=/0x0:2767x1845/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_u9AbvF3PireZnJ4XPpVqzt3FwE=/0x0:2767x1845/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2767x1845):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668328/GettyImages_99295207.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid spoke with House and Senate Democrats, presenting a united front against the proposed changes to the filibuster rule by Republicans on May 18, 2005.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Chris Maddaloni/Roll Call/Getty Images</cite></span></figure> <p>Republicans, outraged by this use of obstruction tactics, threatened to change the rules of the Senate to prevent judicial filibusters. <a href="https://t.co/0pVYxzw8am">Some of us argued at the time</a> that Democrats should take the opportunity to make a high-minded deal to eliminate filibusters altogether, but instead a compromise was reached in which the filibuster remained, a couple of Bush’s nominees were withdrawn, and Democrats implicitly agreed to be sparing with blocks of future nominees.</p> <p>Then, after Democrats swept into the majority in the 2006 midterms, Republicans began routinely filibustering every piece of legislation, making it tough for Democrats to pass popular message bills that Bush would veto. And early in 2009, McConnell made it clear that no piece of legislation, no matter how pressing, was going to move forward without 60 votes. Reid responded to this by routinely deploying a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filling_the_tree">previously rare legislative tactic known as “filling the tree”</a> (don’t ask) to curtail senators’ ability to offer amendments to legislation.</p> <p>The upshot of this tit-for-tat was to turn the Senate into a House-like, leadership-driven body that isn’t much fun for back-bench members but that also featured a supermajority requirement for getting things done.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839050_5699_3902506" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668343,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VZakdjEiB0CX9YIwtWyWomjK8l4=/0x0:4330x2887/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cBC_-WSQUWEx9uJ5gY6KXVYq9ak=/0x0:4330x2887/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/b4J4Ft9baBB4FAESsBxaY9yb9NI=/0x0:4330x2887/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YcmdeXyXR8zdvnKGE8GB4w_V-2E=/0x0:4330x2887/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ooure0LUSuCtFM-JabVYiIOa6a4=/0x0:4330x2887/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YQ2VBITfNDbRiwnyeeJN0EP6WIA=/0x0:4330x2887/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IuTgGQc1V2PAskdA1-var7itYvE=/0x0:4330x2887/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/g_3IU1qVkYCZLKnmEir5zH9e1YE=/0x0:4330x2887/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AwKNeOxfa8U-vJbozpcme5471V8=/0x0:4330x2887/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="4330" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sYNMMbSWmFZTMc_ugPoXbdVmBnI=/0x0:4330x2887/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_9qE50EVvN7NYbe1GkrXRiTTjzU=/0x0:4330x2887/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qhhqc93whw0SNzSEw8gJEW4IrSY=/0x0:4330x2887/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EN-LPDzhJB1fDaLZe8hKUHpeVSc=/0x0:4330x2887/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GfFi1v6LpYABWcO3prZOHnqzp3I=/0x0:4330x2887/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fRV4Kf-1S7UXScEhG9EIgLEzVxA=/0x0:4330x2887/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9XoMd_s4CbYbtQx5hp2BCynHVO8=/0x0:4330x2887/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Tzh1ZQvyIBkjc_42z13xL_ym4l4=/0x0:4330x2887/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UUomfeB9bwLuxhNkBGYlNOUcGUQ=/0x0:4330x2887/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NnYaL5hyL-ccC9a8JUek-jSN6LY=/0x0:4330x2887/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4330x2887):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668343/GettyImages_162798237.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Barack Obama attend a statue unveiling ceremony for civil rights activist Rosa Parks in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall on February 27, 2013.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call</cite></span></figure> <p>That in turn came under pressure in 2013 when McConnell began not just filibustering particular nominees but blocking <em>any</em> appointment to fill certain key offices. His hope was to deny the National Labor Relations Board a quorum it needed to conduct business, prevent the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from operating, and prevent Obama from installing a Democratic majority on the DC Circuit Court.</p> <p>Reid responded to this by changing the rules to bar filibusters of presidential appointees — the very change that’s made Donald Trump such a potent judge-appointer — which many have suggested was perhaps a mistake on Reid’s part, but for which he made no apologies.</p> <p>Apologizing was really not Reid’s thing in general.</p> <p>Back in the pre-Trump days, when politicians were typically expected to at least pretend to be nice to each other, <a href="https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2009/09/reid-called-bush-liar-stood-by-comment-update-021261">he flatly called Bush a “liar”</a> (and said <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/harry-reid-retires-best-insults-116450">his dog was fat</a>), referred to Alan Greenspan as a “<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2005/3/3/96762/-">political hack</a>,” and brusquely confessed, <a href="https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2008/08/reid-i-cant-stand-john-mccain-011129">“I can’t stand John McCain.”</a></p> <p>And in a noteworthy turn of the 2012 campaign, he claimed to have sources (intimated to have been obtained through his connections to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) who knew that Mitt Romney had paid no income tax for the past several years. This successfully baited Romney into releasing his actual tax returns, which showed that Reid was wrong, but also illustrated that Romney, as a rich guy able to take advantage of tax preferences for investment income, paid a lower marginal rate than many middle-class people.</p> <p>Asked later by CNN if he had any regrets about this, Reid replied, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYBSjAivUEs">“Romney didn’t win, did he?”</a></p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839051_9093_3902507" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668371,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-XXOZ7DBQ1q9Lui_PzrDU3kBgbk=/0x0:4950x3300/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GP8Am5ymgVvYHTXRfsweG0QOyx8=/0x0:4950x3300/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P5P0NsEUxHLKWquQxD_HLt6maY8=/0x0:4950x3300/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/O14uS-WJUSpUd3SO4WCj58g3T9Q=/0x0:4950x3300/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hgo0TSB5piE76TK86CXFE8Mce_Y=/0x0:4950x3300/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zgFcEEhtzjrmlJJ9OQWoSJ7S1Xc=/0x0:4950x3300/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HAMBl0Jm2KMc4_WsZCTO-5c80Gg=/0x0:4950x3300/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oOjnip4tQGRhjfH6qngnnCffOwc=/0x0:4950x3300/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P5IVmY2wEnbQmIy4WppTLRZK72E=/0x0:4950x3300/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="4950" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1rkD2NQXxBa6KEltY29SroKBG18=/0x0:4950x3300/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0YKAVBB8Jb0tpXAN-RvxOIsc7Ik=/0x0:4950x3300/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FlBSal_Lk2ogv6tYjco4tejy1m8=/0x0:4950x3300/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yb9EFCynMJUfTMkfSpJ1S9SMkoY=/0x0:4950x3300/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Kzt0kWjuhy5yKJ_uWa61hTbuCUU=/0x0:4950x3300/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z97-XfRukr9-E6LxaFHHph5G32M=/0x0:4950x3300/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RYb1elzmeONMGkKrhlcLs5hAFAg=/0x0:4950x3300/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4iNOzi38DMpjWxNKZkp-PRK7ZCA=/0x0:4950x3300/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZdAkcbCd7MhLv-gkiZ7FUa7MzLs=/0x0:4950x3300/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xZZjjY0UxhS9HcTMwgFT2rVkhhc=/0x0:4950x3300/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4950x3300):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668371/GettyImages_512259226.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid holds a news conference demanding that Senate Republicans hold confirmation hearings when President Obama names a news Supreme Court justice nominee, on February 25, 2016.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images</cite></span></figure> <p>Just a short time after that interview, however, the 2016 presidential campaign was upended by then-FBI director James Comey’s decision to announce that new emails relevant to the Hillary Clinton server investigation had been discovered on Anthony Weiner’s laptop. These turned out not to be new emails at all, just additional copies of the same emails that had already been reviewed.</p> <p>Reid attempted to push back on the ensuing media email frenzy with a sternly worded letter that <a href="https://www.vox.com/2016/10/30/13473444/harry-reid-letter-comey">accused Comey of sitting on “explosive information” about Trump and Russia</a>.</p> <p>In retrospect, Reid was correct about this. The FBI had an ongoing counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign — information that was clearly more relevant to the campaign than the discovery of new copies of old emails. Had Comey released that information at the time Reid demanded, it’s easy to imagine that Clinton would have won.</p> <p>But at the time, Reid had a reputation as a guy who made a false statement about a previous GOP presidential candidate to try to win an election, so he wasn’t taken as seriously as, in retrospect, he should have been. It made for a sour endgame for what was overall a very successful career as a party leader.</p> <p>When Reid retired at the end of 2016, Democrats did not have a great year politically.</p> <p>One place they did have a good year, however, was Nevada, where Reid’s handpicked successor, Catherine Cortez Masto, won his Senate seat. Her opponent, then-Rep. Joe Heck, vacated a House seat to run against her, and <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/congressional-candidate-jacky-rosen-a-newcomer-unknown-to-most-southern-nevadans/">Reid recruited a little-known computer programmer named Jacky Rosen</a> to run for the newly open seat. She won and then two years later beat incumbent Republican Sen. Dean Heller to complete an extraordinarily rapid political ascension.</p> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839051_5381_3902508" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668431,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Nxn8cqEoueeMwek9S_hOL2_MDBo=/0x0:4920x3280/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ncxdVdFWWlvzsOa4PPTKw2gKJyM=/0x0:4920x3280/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Nu9RC5pMnvrQKrNrQEZFOWWCROY=/0x0:4920x3280/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qCYQsjhqurMiawkuOSjAUYnd52I=/0x0:4920x3280/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vthKFj92lMHY80KnLG2DP56R4Mc=/0x0:4920x3280/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HKjrwfiBoZKKS2GqdFVLwghpbTE=/0x0:4920x3280/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Wum9GBv0HYH4Fz0Mm2tmF8PeVdE=/0x0:4920x3280/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hNIaqUFff6VzLYN9n8qcR1W8wPE=/0x0:4920x3280/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vUPRrKCHjSZURFDfcqMP_urzch4=/0x0:4920x3280/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="4920" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uVY3otKxWWlkjdq20NkFUZq2hIo=/0x0:4920x3280/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OW8tCyuMxJDHIt6lsRmeATQsQ5k=/0x0:4920x3280/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z-YN0cLfa68-encElPs-GJ5Qxpk=/0x0:4920x3280/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OuUftRv8h6TCvFIRDtyF6hlDZps=/0x0:4920x3280/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6bHaRURY9dkcmmE5tbixk4Dc-1k=/0x0:4920x3280/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j7KPhtxkw5cSVeYs_eCJNW9cP3s=/0x0:4920x3280/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r_9Q-kIX70mN9DssFM557A-nARE=/0x0:4920x3280/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LiMOosHDJymch7yu-3S5B0En7Nc=/0x0:4920x3280/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kq3A_CpVvrktHqPM-5QHaJsDvY4=/0x0:4920x3280/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/USNd9TIMsh4-ffFyJzDr38BlCbc=/0x0:4920x3280/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4920x3280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668431/GettyImages_628757096.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid with his family during his portrait unveiling ceremony on December 08, 2016.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call</cite></span></figure> <p>Democrats also flipped both houses of the Nevada state legislature in 2016. Two years later, Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak (Reid’s choice for the nomination, naturally) was elected governor as part of a <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nevada/articles/2018-11-27/nevada-democrats-narrowly-miss-sweep-of-statewide-offices">near-sweep of statewide offices</a> that also saw Democrats take over as lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, and controller.</p> <p>The refashioning of Nevada into a blue state has a fair amount to do with demographic changes. But it’s also a considerable organizing achievement that has largely been a partnership between Reid and the <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/10/11/17864706/harry-reid-jacky-rosen-dean-heller-nevada">Vegas-based Culinary Union</a>, which represents workers at many of the city’s hotels, restaurants, and casinos. The Culinary’s very existence is an organizing triumph as a rare private sector labor union to successfully organize workplaces and grow membership in a right-to-work state.</p> <p>Details vary from place to place, but the party Reid built in partnership with his state’s Latino community and its largest union (many of whose members are, of course, Latino) is in many ways an important template for the overall trajectory of the Democratic Party — grounded in voters of color <em>and</em> union organizing, and relying on appeals to bread-and-butter economic issues without tilting either to socialism or vacuous “wokeness.”</p> <p>The deaths of George H.W. Bush and John McCain in recent years reminded Americans mostly of bygone styles and political eras.</p> <p class="c-end-para">Reid, on the other hand, was very much a man of his times, but also a forward-thinking political strategist whose legacy has more to offer as a vision of the future than as merely a nostalgic reminder of the past.</p> <div class="c-wide-block"> <figure class="e-image"><span class="e-image__inner"><span class="e-image__image" data-original="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1640839051_9879_3902509" data-cdata='{"asset_id":13668442,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bqtlwhZBo_JHFml1piDgPkc1zPA=/0x0:3000x2000/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3rRHIEaQspi_RjzQKoaPFcJ0mZY=/0x0:3000x2000/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kGeDL7nn-0PeBrnR2zyYK08tdUo=/0x0:3000x2000/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fXMgzHbJdjCgV9tntrD3aZaqmeA=/0x0:3000x2000/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zlNQMi1zYQUqKU4W7hTtGNt1R3E=/0x0:3000x2000/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UBQK1ois6kp30koBYFsWYgULCiU=/0x0:3000x2000/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SJK7YvNvtRMtM2En5sVOpReOKfE=/0x0:3000x2000/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w9SemKWRhmxrM7OCptLpYbHfsmk=/0x0:3000x2000/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pPD8WJwrtvdHJFasVcSiC7TYY0s=/0x0:3000x2000/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1920w" sizes="90vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="" data-upload-width="3000" sizes="90vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/geCcOtFsuvFwKDXSydc6Z_y-2Y8=/0x0:3000x2000/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p0Crcmsgz9aqNSnWWNqRU_IntpQ=/0x0:3000x2000/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iWrWeJbmvgA8rkBBm61VvirVsuk=/0x0:3000x2000/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DduXGBbgBkt9A_iCzB28-Z6mpEI=/0x0:3000x2000/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/f2UehUxi9ec0G_mKasy8ZOfePT4=/0x0:3000x2000/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oQu4d1n4MGfqdbEAuCgXzpdeldY=/0x0:3000x2000/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c9o80vQVrmSqwxeIXhW-3w7iutM=/0x0:3000x2000/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M1_j2sGNzdJWCEhjPQDuJ_8uC7s=/0x0:3000x2000/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fdcb9tXrZe-uzISTWVmQUk7qRnQ=/0x0:3000x2000/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lMqPU5L1iyAaqjfu8qRbNM0jvaI=/0x0:3000x2000/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13668442/GettyImages_674220554.jpg 1920w" /></picture></span></span> <figcaption><span class="e-image__meta">Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) in May 1990.</span></figcaption> <span class="e-image__meta"><cite>Laura Patterson/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images</cite></span></figure> </div> <hr class="p-entry-hr" /> <p><em>Matthew Yglesias is a cofounder of</em> <a href="http://vox.com/"><em>Vox.com</em></a> <em>and the founder of</em> <a href="https://www.slowboring.com/"><em>Slow Boring</em></a><em>.</em></p> <br /> <br /> source <a href="https://www.vox.com/18165142/harry-reid-dies-obituary">https://www.vox.com/18165142/harry-reid-dies-obituary</a>

vox The enduring vision of Harry Reid

Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader who distinguished himself as one of the Obama-era Democratic Party’s premier political strateg...

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