The Rise of the Modern Senate + the Crippling of American Democracy

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Join us on Thursday, April 15th at 5pm PT for a Book Club Talk with Adam Jentleson on his book, Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy, moderated by Spencer Pahlke and Amanda Sadra!

In partnership with The American Constitution Society chapters from Berkeley Law, Stanford Law School, and ASU Law, the Political & Election Empowerment Project, and Manny’s
You can register for the event at the link above!

About the Event

Why can’t we pass gun control legislation even after a horrific mass shooting? Why couldn’t Congress pass any civil rights legislation for 82 years after Reconstruction? What could prevent us from reversing the anti-democratic, anti-voting legislation coming from states like Georgia?

The filibuster.

But isn’t the filibuster a central part of the founder’s vision for our country? Doesn’t the filibuster protect minority rights? And doesn’t the filibuster encourage bipartisan legislating?

No. No. And not even close.

The modern filibuster is the result of more than two centuries of work by those who stood—and stand—in the way of equality, progress, and fairness. It is now a kill switch that allows a minority of the Senate, representing a minority of voters, to repeatedly block needed—and popular—legislation.

This drove Adam Jentleson, Sen. Harry Reid’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, to write Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy. The book is a history of the intertwining narratives and bad faith actors that delivered the Senate to its current anti-democratic condition.

Adam has been quoted just about everywhere of late, from the NYT to Politico to the Washington Post. He’s also a GQ columnist and frequent MSNBC contributor.

And—he will be joining us for a moderated Zoom discussion about Kill Switch and the filibuster on April 15 from 5-6pm Pacific.

If you’ve seen him in the news and want to ask him your question, or learn more about the filibuster, or you’ve already read the book and are a fan—this is the chance to meet Adam!

Please RSVP—and forward the link to anyone who would be interested, as well as post on social media!

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.