The Senate has begun confirming long-stalled presidential nominees after rolling back the use of the filibuster. On Tuesday, Democrats approved Rep. Melvin Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Patricia Ann Millett to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Historic changes approved by Democrats last month lower the threshold for ending filibusters of presidential nominees from 60 votes to 51 votes. That means a minority vote can no longer block a majority’s support for a nomination. In retaliation, Republicans used Senate rules to make Tuesday’s votes as drawn-out as possible.