McConnell starts clock on Neil Gorsuch nuclear showdown

CNN: Senate Republicans took their first procedural step Tuesday toward implementing the "nuclear option" to get Judge Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court over Democratic opposition when Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to end debate on his nomination.

A vote on that "cloture" motion will take place Thursday. Democrats can block ending debate -- what's known as a filibuster -- by mustering 41 votes against it, which they are expected to be able to do.

At that point, McConnell will turn to the nuclear option by essentially declaring from the Senate floor that from now on filibusters of Supreme Court nominees can be stopped with 51 votes not 60, as has been the case for decades.

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