| |  | | Brought to you by USATODAY.com | | Senate goes nuclear: Heads are exploding in Washington | | President Trump wanted as staunch a conservative as he could get confirmed for his first Supreme Court nomination. Enter Neil Gorsuch, THE guy – right ? Well, to make it happen, Republicans had to blow up some long-standing Senate rules to get to where they only needed a simple majority, 51 votes, to advance his nomination and move closer to getting him on the bench. (That's the nuclear option , in short.) The Senate, you may remember from civics class, is supposed to be the more contemplative chamber of the two houses of Congress. It's designed to keep a lid on the, ahem, hotheads over in the House. That's why changing the rules feels so unsettling. Surprising no one, each party blames the other for the tit-for-tat that led us here … but actually, the brawl has been brewing for decades. Gorsuch is expected to be confirmed Friday. | | Why Syrian President Assad is considered a war criminal | | Tuesday's chemical attack that killed at least 86 people, including 27 children, is the latest in a series of atrocities linked to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Images and video of the aftermath show the horror and are being widely shared on social media , including a wrenching photo of a father holding his dead twin babies. Sarin nerve gas, a banned substance, is suspected in the attack. This is not the first time Assad has triggered global condemnation. The United Nations previously accused his government of committing war crimes against the Syrian people. Here are some ways to help Syrians. | | There hasn't been a Masters without Arnold Palmer since 1955 | | It was an emotional Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. There was a white lawn chair with a green jacket draped over it. A moment of silence. Misty eyes. This country might not have a king, but Augusta National sure did: Arnold Palmer. The golf legend died last September at 87. If you're watching this weekend with a cool glass of iced tea mixed with lemonade, pour some out for "The King." More from the Masters: World No. 1 Dustin Johnson withdrew on Thursday shortly after practicing on the range, sadly saying he's too sore to swing. (He says he hurt his back after he fell down some steps in a freak accident earlier in the week.) And make sure to read USA TODAY Sports columnist Christine Brennan's take on the "bubble" in Augusta. Follow the leaderboard here. | | After failing to get 'A Streetcar Na_ed Desire,' 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant gets his redemption | | You know what they say: If you embarrass yourself on national television, go on 'Ellen.' After Kevin Haas' failed attempt to finish a puzzle on 'Wheel of Fortune' went viral Ellen DeGeneres gave the adorable dad a shot at redemption on her show . In a game called "Catapult of Fortune," Haas was asked to play a game of fill in the blank. If he got the question right he would advance; wrong and a mystery substance would be hurled at him. After correctly answering the first two questions Haas was asked what was the last name of America's 13th vice president, a question he (justifiably) got wrong. Lucky for him the "substance" was ... $5,000 in cash. Pay attention kids: Sometimes it pays to fail after all. | | This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY | |
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