Last week, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) grilled White House budget director nominee Jim Nussle at Nussle's Senate confirmation hearing. The interchange, which you can watch here, was absolutely extraordinary. Sanders forced Nussle to go on record admitting that at a time the White House is trying to prevent better-funding children's health care programs, he supports giving the members of Wal-Mart's Walton family alone a tax break worth more than $30 billion.

Now, just today, the Associated Press reports that Sanders is using his filibuster power to block Nussle's nomination, putting his entire confirmation in jeopardy. The question now is whether Harry Reid will support the filibuster or buckle to the White House.