The United States Senate, a few minutes ago, passed an amendment to it's filibuster rules. Now, only a simple majority (51 votes) are needed to end a filibuster.

Before today, a super majority of at least 60 votes were needed to invoke cloture. Senate majority leader, Sen Harry Reid (D) justifies this seismic shift in Senate rules, citing Republican obstruction of President Obama's judicial nominees and other Presidential nominees to other agencies. Some nominations have been held up for more than a year- a case in point being Elizabeth Warren, whose confirmation to head the Consumer Protection Bureau was held up by Senate Republicans.

Have a strong feeling that this will backfire on the democrats at next year elections