The United State Senate has just voted to use the "nuclear option" to proceed toward the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

DETAILS: What exactly is the nuclear option?

The parliamentary maneuver essentially allows Republicans to move to an up-or-down vote on Gorsuch with a simple majority, rather than with the 60 needed to break the Democrats' filibuster.

#BREAKING Senate detonates #NuclearOption Votes 48 yeas 52 nays against chair's ruling. Establishes a new precedent — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) April 6, 2017

By rule, 30 hrs of debate are permitted after ending debate on an issue. Confirmation vote for Gorsuch around 7 pm et Friday #NuclearOption — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) April 6, 2017

Four Democrats have said they will join with the 52 Republican senators to support Gorsuch.

On "Outnumbered" today, Democrat Marie Harf had some cautionary words for Republicans about establishing this new precedent on a SCOTUS nominee.

The former State Department communications official predicted that the GOP, perhaps when they're no longer the majority party, will look back and realize they "really blew it."

"It will come back to bite them. When you change procedures like this, it has long-term consequences and it's for short-term gain," said Harf.

She noted that both parties have taken "unprecedented steps" to get to this point on Gorsuch and said she offered the same advice when Democrats were in power.

Meghan McCain said she sees it as "bad behavior all around," criticizing Democrats for opposing Gorsuch simply as revenge for Republicans refusing to give Merrick Garland a Senate hearing last year.

She called it a "Hail Mary pass" for then-President Obama to nominate Garland in his final year in office following Justice Antonin Scalia's death.

"The comparison between those two situations is deeply unfair," said McCain, adding that Gorsuch was confirmed to the federal Court of Appeals in 2006 with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Watch the full debate above.

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