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Mitch McConnell, as Senate Minority Leader during the Obama administration, was known for blocking the President's legislative agenda, according to the U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (.gov) website. His strategies forced Senate Democrats to consider and eventually employ the "nuclear option" in 2013.

Here's a breakdown of the events:

Obstruction and increased filibustering: Senate Republicans, led by McConnell, frequently used filibusters to block President Obama's legislative initiatives and judicial and executive branch nominees. This strategy was particularly evident in the unprecedented obstruction of Judge Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court.

Democrats utilize the nuclear option for nominations (2013): Faced with Republican obstruction on numerous nominations, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat) led the effort to invoke the "nuclear option." This procedural move, executed on November 21, 2013, effectively lowered the threshold for ending debate (cloture) on most presidential nominations (excluding Supreme Court nominations) from 60 votes to a simple majority of 51 votes.

Republicans expand the nuclear option for Supreme Court nominations (2017): When Republicans gained control of the Senate, and with Democrats opposing President Trump's nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, McConnell deployed the nuclear option again in April 2017. This extended the simple-majority rule to include Supreme Court nominations, eliminating the 60-vote requirement for them as well.

McConnell's justification: McConnell defended the move by arguing that Democrats' increased use of filibusters had created gridlock and that the rules change was necessary to allow the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of advising and consenting on presidential appointments, according to NPR.

The use of the nuclear option has been a significant point of contention in American politics. It has been praised by some as a necessary tool to overcome legislative obstruction and criticized by others for eroding the traditions of the Senate and increasing partisanship.
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