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They don't actually have the ability to pass general bills without Republican support though. Outside of budget reconciliation, neither party has had the power to pass legislation without at least some bipartisan support since Ted Kennedy was replaced in 2010.

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They do have the ability to pass general bills without Republican support, actually. They can pass a separate bill to suspend the filibuster on another bill, and suspending the filibuster only requires the 50 Democrat Senators and the VP.

They tried to do so in January but Manchin and Sinema voted against it.

So, they don't have the ability to pass general bills without Republican support. They'd need to change the rules to have that ability.

What a silly distinction. The rules aren't an actual obstacle; they can change the rules whenever they want, if all 50 Dem senators agree.

In fact they've already done so at least once:

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/585192-senate-passes-bil...

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