WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is now calling for Senate Republicans to do away with the filibuster, a congressional rule meant to keep the balance of power in the upper chamber, because it is one of the main obstacles in the way of passing a budget bill and ending the federal shutdown.

Trump said in a post on his social media site Thursday that “THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER.”

But despite Trump's insistent tone, most Republicans would prefer to keep the filibuster. Ending the rule is colloquially known as the "nuclear option" in Congress because it would have massive ramifications for the future of governance in the country.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and most members of his Republican conference have strongly opposed changin

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