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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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politics lead
GOP senator on rule change: Democrats 'desperate' to change the subject
(CNN) - The Senate on Thursday voted on a controversial rules change, which essentially takes away the Senate minority's right to filibuster.
Democrats invoked the so-called nuclear option out of frustration over Republicans who have been blocking President Barack Obama's nominees.
Republican Senator Dan Coats, of Indiana, said Democrats just want to change the subject.
"They are desperate for something – they call it nuclear war. They want us to push – send missiles back the other way. We're not going to do that," said Coats.
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politics lead
Democratic senator on rule change: Obama entitled to have his team in place
(CNN) - The Senate on Thursday voted to invoke the so-called nuclear option out of frustration over Republicans who have been blocking President Barack Obama's nominees.
The controversial move is a rules change that could make a partisan environment even more divisive, because it takes away the Senate minority's right to filibuster.
"Really, this is going to be good for the country. We are going to be able to let the president have his team in place," said Democratic Sen. Tom Udall, of New Mexico. "Any president, Democrat or Republican, is entitled to have their team in place."
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politics lead
How Chris Christie took over the Republican Governors Association
Phoenix, Arizona (CNN) - There wasn't room for the two of them.
In the fall of 2012, with the presidential race in full swing, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, two prominent Republican governors with well-known national ambitions, were engaged in a different kind of campaign.
Behind the scenes, both men were aggressively jockeying for a plum political gig: The chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association, a coveted post for any aspiring presidential candidate.
politics lead
Senators sang a different tune on the 'nuclear option' back in 2005
America is now living in the aftermath of a nuclear strike – metaphorically speaking, of course.
The Senate Democrats changed the rules Thursday so that now it only takes a simple majority vote of 51 to break a filibuster on executive and judicial nominees, instead of 60 votes under the old rules.
It's referred to as the "nuclear option."
Democrats pulled a "Dr. Strangelove" out of frustration over Republicans blocking President Barack Obama's nominees to an unprecedented degree. And today's action did not require both parties turning the launch keys.
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sports lead
'Mr. Cub' Ernie Banks presents Obama with Jackie Robinson's bat
(CNN) - 'Mr. Cub' Hall of Famer Ernie Banks came into the major leagues with a spirit of positivity, possibility, and that unmistakable smile that gave Chicago Cubs fans faith.
He continued to blaze a trail that Jackie Robinson started when he broke baseball's color barrier. And though Banks never won a World Series, never even played in the playoffs, he now has something bigger than the most blinged-out championship ring.
Today, Banks received the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom, standing alongside 15 other recipients – among them former President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
Banks let CNN in on a little secret. During the ceremony, he gave President Barack Obama something very special to him.
"I presented him with the Jackie Robinson bat. Jackie Robinson was my idol, as you know, and he was the first black to play in the Major Leagues," said Banks. "My life is really in a happy moment."
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