AP: “Senate Republicans are ready to deploy the filibuster to block a commission on the Jan. 6 insurrection, shattering hopes for a bipartisan probe of the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol and reviving pressure on Democrats to do away with the procedural tactic that critics say has lost its purpose. The vote expected Thursday would be the first successful use of a filibuster this year to halt Senate legislative action. Most Republicans oppose the bill, which would establish a commission to investigate the attack by Donald Trump supporters over the election.”

“With Democrats in support but the Senate evenly split, 50-50, the tally is likely to fall short of the 60-vote threshold to launch debate. ‘We have a mob overtake the Capitol, and we can’t get the Republicans to join us in making historic record of that event? That is sad,’ said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the assistant Democratic leader. ‘That tells you what’s wrong with the Senate and what’s wrong with the filibuster,’ he said. Congress is at an inflection point as lawmakers and the country try to move past the horror of Jan. 6, when the former president’s supporters laid siege to the Capitol in a failed effort to overturn Joe Biden’s election. The House already approved the commission bill with some Republican support, but a potential filibuster by GOP senators is sparking fresh debate over whether the time has come for Democrats to change the rules and lower the threshold to 51 votes to prevent such brazen acts of obstruction. Trump has made it clear he opposes the formation of any panel to investigate the mob siege. With the former president wielding influence, Democrats are warning that if Republicans are willing to use the filibuster to stop an arguably popular measure, it shows the limits of trying to broker compromises, particularly on bills related to election reforms or other aspects of the Democrats’ agenda.”