Joe Biden leaves door open for Senate change to pass agenda

President Joe Biden at his first news conference on Thursday left the door open to pushing for fundamental changes in Senate procedures to muscle key elements of his agenda such as immigration and voting rights past firm Republican opposition “if there’s complete lockdown and chaos.”

President Joe Biden at his first news conference on Thursday left the door open to pushing for fundamental changes in Senate procedures to muscle key elements of his agenda such as immigration and voting rights past firm Republican opposition "if there’s complete lockdown and chaos". The 78-year-old president also, for the first time, said his "plan is to run for re-election, that is my expectation". Biden at first backed a modification — but not elimination — of the filibuster. But he then suggested, at least on certain issues, he would go further. “If there’s complete lockdown and chaos, as a consequence of the filibuster, then we’re going to have to go beyond what I’m talking about,” he said.