What's the filibuster and why does Trump want to get rid of it during the shutdown?

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., right, during a lunch with Republican Senators on the Rose Garden patio at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON – Seemingly frustrated by the government shutdown and Democrats' unwillingness to accept a Republican funding bill, President Donald Trump is once again demanding that the Senate eliminate the legislative filibuster.

The filibuster is a longstanding parliamentary tool that halts action on most bills unless 60 senators in the 100-member chamber vote to move forward. Over the years, it has stymied policy priorities for Democrats and Republicans alike, and Trump has been c