By Michael O'Brien and Kasie Hunt, NBC News
A deal appears near to avert the "nuclear option" in the U.S. Senate and preserve the use of the filibuster in that chamber, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., suggested Tuesday morning.
Reid appeared on the Senate floor to announce that tensions had eased in the standoff between Democrats and Republicans over a series of President Barack Obama's nominees whose confirmation had been stalled for weeks in the Senate.
"We may have a way forward on this," Reid said in brief remarks. "I feel fairly confident, but as you know, that's why we need the time."
He added, without describing the nature of the agreement: "It is a compromise, and I think we get what we want, and they get what they want."

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/16/19502641-senate-deal-appears-near-to-avoid-nuclear-showdown


Wow. Didn't see that coming.