Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidThe Supreme Court vacancy — yet another congressional food fight Trump seeks to turn around campaign with Supreme Court fight On The Trail: Battle over Ginsburg replacement threatens to break Senate MORE (D-Nev.) gave his colleagues some parting advice in his farewell speech Thursday, including warning against overusing the filibuster.

"I do hope my colleagues are able to temper the use of the filibuster," he said during an 80-minute speech from the Senate floor. "Otherwise it will be gone."

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Senate Republicans have been publicly wary about nixing the filibuster next year, warning the move could come back to haunt them when they return to the minority.

But Reid predicted Thursday that without cooperation in the chamber, lawmakers will eventually change the filibuster rules first on Supreme Court nominations and then on legislation.

"It will be gone first on nominations, then it will be gone on legislation," he said. "This is something you have to work on together, because if you continue to use it the way it's been used recently, it's going to really affect this institution a lot."

The comments come after Reid told Politico that his colleagues shouldn't oppose everything President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE does, adding that the Senate rules would "erode"; it was just a matter of timing.

Reid said the "biggest change" he had seen during his congressional tenure was the use of the filibuster, which creates a threshold of 60 votes for passing legislation. He frequently accused Republicans of abusing the technique to gum up the works during President Obama's tenure.

Reid led Democrats in the 2013 decision to go "nuclear" and change the filibuster rules so that most nominees could be confirmed with a simple majority vote. Republicans denounced the move.

Before the presidential election, Reid had floated that Democrats would nix the 60-vote requirement for Supreme Court nominations next year if they were in the majority.

The Nevada Democrat also used his farewell speech to blast the influence of money in politics. He warned the country is on a path to becoming a plutocracy with "a few rich guys telling our leader what to do."

"The American people don't like it. They don't like this money. They don't like this partisanship," he said.

Reid gave his speech surrounded by mostly Democratic senators, as well as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) and GOP Sens. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (Tenn.), Lamar Alexander Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderGraham: GOP has votes to confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy This week: Supreme Court fight over Ginsburg's seat upends Congress's agenda MORE (Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style MORE (Ariz.), and Mike Rounds (S.D.). Reid's Nevada colleague, Sen. Dean Heller Dean Arthur HellerOn The Trail: Democrats plan to hammer Trump on Social Security, Medicare Lobbying World Democrats spend big to put Senate in play MORE (R), presided over the Senate.

Reid, not known for public displays of sentiment, has become increasingly nostalgic. He spoke at length about his childhood in Nevada and his love for the Senate.

"I care about it so very, very much," he said. "I've had such joy, and times of 'Wow, what are we going to do now?' ... The Senate has changed some for the good, some for the bad."

He also gave a shout-out to efforts to increase diversity, including boosting the number of women in the Senate.

"They've added so much to the Senate. The only problem we have now is there aren't enough of them," he said.

Reid will be succeeded by Democratic Sen.-elect Catherine Cortez Masto, who will be the first Latina senator.

He also turned his attention to the press during his farewell speech, urging reporters to be "vigilant" in the Trump era.

"We're entering a new Gilded Age. It has never been more important to be able to distinguish between what's real and what is fake," he said. "You have as much to do with our democracy as any branch of government. ... Criticize and oppose, please do that."