Senator Harry Reid struck a defiant and uncompromising tone on Monday ahead of a closed-door meeting of the Senate, suggesting that ending filibusters of executive branch nominations would “save the Senate from becoming obsolete,” reports the New York Times. According to The Hill, Reid said he will trigger the “nuclear option” this week unless Republicans allow votes on seven of President Obama’s pending nominees. Voting is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Reid insisted on Sunday’s Meet The Press the changes he proposes are very, very minimal. Politico reports on Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell’s bitter falling out.