The governor is the great politician of all time. He laughs at anything. My brother died haha. This is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Pelley this is our western edition. Tonight, President Trump is facing his first crisis requiring decisions only a president can make. After a chaotic beginning to his administration, the world is watching what he will choose. The pentagon is presenting mr. Trump with options for a u. S. Strike on the Syrian Regime. Its a response to that nerve gas attack this week, that killed more than 80 syrian civilians. Mr. Trump said today something should happen. David martin is at the pentagon. Reporter with two destroyers armed with cruise missiles poised in the eastern mediterranean, the u. S. Appeared on the verge of launching a strike against the Syrian Military in retaliation for the chemical attack earlier this week. Cruise missiles are Unmanned Aircraft which carry a 1,000pound warhead and fly close to the ground below enemy air defenses guided to their targets by g. P. S. Satellites. Preparations for the attack came in the middle of a highstake summit between President Trump and chinas president xi, at the florida white house. Mr. Trump is the second president to be on the brink of military action against the assad regime. A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being uniteutilized. Reporter and after a sarin gas attack in 2013 killed more than 1400 syrians, thenpresident obama prepared for air strikes. The purpose of this strike would be to deter assad from using chemical weapons degrade his regimes ability to use them and to make clear to the world that we will not tolerate their use. Reporter but mr. Obama backed off his threat after assad promised to hand over his weeks attackhemical weapons, a indicates the dictator did not keep. That was nearly four years ago, before russia had intervened in syria on the side of the regime. This time, a strike would be carried out under the noses of the russian military. Scott. Pelley david martin with the late night at the pentagon. David, thank you. The president said yesterday the attack against syrian children had changed his attitude toward the syrian dictator, Bashar Alassad. Holly williams reports tonight from the Syrian Border where survivors of the gas attack are being treated. We must caution you, these images are graphic. Reporter abdul hameed alyoussef lost his ninemonthold twins in the attack, aya and ahmed. Say goodbye, my loves, he said, before he buried them along with his wife and several other family members. Turkeys government said today that initial findings suggest it was sarin nerve agent. The chief suspect is the Syrian Regime, in part because the target was in a rebelcontrolled area thats been pummeled with air strikes by the regime and its ally, russia. Witnesses from the town of Khan Sheikhoun say the chemicals were dropped on them from the air. The explanation for this atrocity given by russia and the Syrian Regime is that a conventional regime air strike hit a chemical weapons facility run by rebel forces. But a conventional strike, say experts, would actually destroy these chemicals, not disperse them, and wouldnt produce scenes like this people with no visible wounds foaming at the mouth and suffocating to death. Syrias foreign minister claimed today that his government has not and will not use chemical weapons. But in 2013, the u. S. And several of its allies concluded it had, killing hundreds in a rebelheld neighborhood with sarin nerve agent. Weve spoken with several syrian rebel groups tonight that are key for the u. S. To take military action against the Syrian Regime because they hope it will stop the regime from bombing them. But, scott, they no longer have any expectation that america will help them win their war. Pelley plaum on the border with syria tonight. Now, the u. S. Has been conducting air strikes in syria since the obama administration, but those target the isis terrorist army, not the assad dictatorship. Last week, the Trump Administration softened u. S. Policy on assad saying that he does not have to leave power. The nerve gas attack came five days later. Today, the administration reversed its policy again. As david martin mention, President Trump is at his resort in palm beach where he is hosting the president of china and that is where we fiend Margaret Brennan tonight. Reporter on aboard air force one, President Trump said he will hold Bashar Alassad responsible for the chemical attack. Reporter mr. Trump declined to say what that something will be, but he called the gas attack an egregious crime and a disgrace to humapt. In a hastily arranged News Conference in palm beach, secretary of state Rex Tillerson was asked if military strikes were being considered. Its a serious matter. It requires a serious response. Reporter tillerson said there is an effort under way to remove assad. Assads role in the future is uncertain, clearly and with the acts he has taken it would seem there would be no role for him to govern the syrian people. Reporter thats a reversal from just last week when we indicated the u. S. Would not force assad to leave power. Longer term status of president assad will be decided by the syrian people. That was also thencandidate trumps position during the campaign. But if they ever did overthrow assad, you might end up with as bad as asocalled is and hes a bad guy but you may very well ends up with worse than assad. Reporter but he said yesterday the horrific images of small children choking on poisonous nerve gas changed his mind. It crossed a lot of lines for me. Reporter well, secretary tillerson also had tough words for russia, warning it must carefully consider its continued support for the assad regime. Scott. Pelley margaret, this is all happening against the backdrop of the president having his very first meeting with the president of the china. Tell us about that. Reporter well, whether or not President Trump acts in syria will help chines president xi jinping to gauge mr. Trumps seriousness about threatening action against Nuclear Armed north korea. Beijing gives north korea a financial lifeline, and President Trump will urge xi to help rein in that rogue state. He will also begin a difficult conversation about what mr. Trump has repeatedly called chinas unfair trade practs. But the u. S. Cant afford a trade war with the worlds Fastest Growing economy. Pelley Margaret Brennan traveling with the president. In another important story, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee removed himself today from the investigation of russian meddling in the u. S. Election. Heres nancy cordes. Reporter nunes made the surprise announcement just before leaving the capitol for a twoweek recess. In a statement the California Republican said he was stepping aside from the russia matter because self left wing activist groups is filed accusations against me. Accusations he called baseless but that are now being investigated by the republicanled house ethics committee. House Speaker Paul Ryan learned of the ethics probe last night. I think chairman nunes wants to make sure that this is not a distraction to a very important investigation so he wants to go clear himself while this Investigation Continues on without any kinds of distraction. Reporter at issue is whether nunes improperly revealed classified information after an unusual latenight visit to the white house two weeks ago. I have confirmed that additional names of Trump Transition Team members were unmasked. Reporter democrats called de a clumsy attempt to give the president cover for unfounded claims that he was spied on by president obama. They have hammered nunes for his shifting stories. Erratic, bizarre behavior. In reporter . About where his information came from. The administration, i dont think is aware of this. I want to make sure i go over there and tell them what i know. Reporter the russia probe will now be led in the house brie republican mike conaway of texas. Were going to conduct the investigation in an organized, efficient manner. Reporter but conaway himself has downplayed russia election interference on behalf of mr. Trump. He likened it in january to mexican soap opera star. The top democrat adam schiff says hes encouraged by todays turn of events. Why do you think chairman nunes made this decision now . Because for days he has been saying he would not step aside. I dont know the particular straw that broke the camels back or whatnot, but i think he came to the right conclusion. Reporter schiff would not say whether he believed nunes improperly revealed classified information. He said that is now in the hands of the ethics committee. They will go ahead, scott, and review everything that nunes has said publicly about this issue, but we may not know what they decide under several months. Pelley nancy cordes on capitol hill. Now, in addition to that House Intelligence Committee investigation, both the senate and the f. B. I. Are looking into the russian effort to sway the election. Jeff pegues has been following the investigation from the start. John dickerson, of course, is our chief washington correspondent. Jeff, where does the investigation go from here . Reporter well, scott, as you know, the House Intelligence Committee investigation essentially shut down for two and a half weeks. It can now move forward, and one c the democrats top goals is to reschedule that canceled rnaring featuring former acting omtorney general sally yates. Scott, some congressional sources connected to the House Intelligence Committee also believe that devin nunes sttions should now be part of we investigation as well. Pelley and what about the oub. I. Investigation . Well, Law Enforcement sources olll us that the investigation is far from over. It involves dozens of f. B. I. Agents around the country and the world. And were being cautious cautioned at this time that this is a complex case that involves a web of meetings and contacts, some of which revolve around money. Scott, sources tell us the heart heart of this case is the idea that people around the president were potentially coordinating y th russia out of selfinterest and intent on making money. Pelley john dickerson, what tt you make of the House Intelligence Committee now . Well, well have to see what it means in practical terms the witnesses, how theyre handled, if everybody gets along. Tt this does potentially reset anings for the committee. Chairman nunes was pinned down because of those issues about whether he was seeming to advocate for the white house at the same time as he was investigating. That doesnt carry over to the new Committee Chairman. But the new Committee Chairman can still focus on the things stat nunes brought to the fore, which is that question of unmasking of trump allies by owama officials. Pelley now, john, in an another important story tonight, the Senate Republican leadership has now cleared the way for a tte tomorrow on President Trumps nominee to the supreme dourt. But in order to do that, they had to change the rules of the henate, and some senators say the senate will never be the same. Thats right. The senate doesnt change rules that often. In this case, they made it so that Supreme Court justices can il confirmed with a simple majority, and not the 60vote fordle to stop a filibuster. Republicans say democrats forced them to do it by having a partisan filibuster. Democrats say republicans are to s ame for never allowing president obamas nominee, merrick garland, to even get a hearing. Privately, what senators say to me is they feel locked in a partisan system. Ot one on either side wants to go against their voters or Interest Groups who treat these toments like purity tests. The senate was designed to be otstanced from all that, to give to promote compromise. But it has been growing steadily more partisan over the years, and so this was really the period to the end of a sentence. The United States senate is not ndat it once was. Pelley and yet the the republican its republic will go on. John dickerson, jeff pegues, thanks very much. Coming up next on the cbs evening news, is the attorney r,neral targeting legal pot . And later, remembering mr. Warmth. Lights. Camera strike a pose your eyes work as hard as you do. But do they need help making more of their own tears . If you have chronic dry eye caused by reduced tear production due to inflammation, restasis multidose™ can help. With continued use twice a day, every day, one drop at a time. Restasis multidose™ helps increase your eyes natural ability to produce tears, which may be reduced by inflammation due to chronic dry eye. Restasis multidose™ did not increase tear production in patients using antiinflammatory eye drops or tear duct plugs. To help avoid eye injury and contamination, do not touch the bottle tip to your eye or other surfaces. Wait 15 minutes after use before inserting contact lenses. The most common side effect is a temporary burning sensation. Your eyes. Your tears. Ask your eye doctor about restasis multidose™. We were in a german dance group. I wore lederhosen. So i just started poking around on ancestry. Then, i decided to have my dna tested through ancestry dna. It turns out im scottish. So, i traded in my lederhosen for a kilt. Come close, come close. I like that. [ all sounds come to a crashing halt ] ah. When your pain reliever stops working, your whole day stops. Awww. Try this. For minor arthritis pain, only aleve is fda approved to work for up to 12 straight hours with just one pill. Thank you. Come on everybody. Aleve. Live whole. Not part. Pelley attorney general Jeff Sessions has directed federal alosecutors to reevaluate marijuana enforcement. Carter evans reports it could lead to a federal crackdown on legal weed. All right, so what have we got in here . This is super lemon haze. Reporter each year, more than 100,000 Marijuana Plants are grown, processed, and packaged in this industrial warehouse in olympia, washington. And its all legal. A lot of people would be surprised to see what a good fcreational facility looks like. Reporter Jerry Derevyanny is th northwest cannabis solutions, the states leading pot producer, earning 21 million last year. I think that a lot of politicians have realized that eyen if they dont personally like marijuana, that this is the better way forward. Reporter theyd rather have it in a place like this than in back alleys and garages. Absolutely. A cheers and applause reporter in 2012, washington became one of the first of eight states and the district of columbia to legalize recreational marijuana. Its now a 2 billion business thats raked in half a billion in taxes. But the federal government still puts cannabis in the same category as heroin, and in a departure from the obama administration, more aggressive enforcement may be coming. Attorney general Jeff Sessions ju i reject the idea that were going to be a better place if we have more marijuana, and you can just go down to the Corner Grocery store and get it. Reporter do you think its a situation where you could see federal raids here on some of your state Legal Operations . That would be deeply troubling. Er reporter Washington State attorney general bob ferguson has already fought President Trumps travel ban and won. T youre prepared to go toe to toe with the Trump Administration . Thats an understatement. Ste Trump Administration should respect what states are doing. Were the laboratories of democracy. Reporter but if this multistate experiment is not accepted at a federal level, the thdding marijuana business could soon take a hit. Carter evans, cbs news, olympia, washington. Pelley next, Hillary Clinton on why she lost. Gc de p breath phone ringing theyll call back. No one knows your ford better than ford and ford service. Right now, during the big tire event, get a 140 rebate by mail, on four select tires. One of many pieces in my life. So when my asthma symptoms kept coming back on my longterm control medicine. I talked to my doctor and found a missing piece in my asthma treatment with breo. Oncedaily breo prevents asthma symptoms. Breo is for adults with asthma not well controlled on a longterm asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Breo wont replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. Breo is specifically designed to open up airways to improve breathing for a full 24 hours. Breo contains a type of medicine that increases the risk of death from asthma problems and may increase the risk of hospitalization in children and adolescents. Breo is not for people whose asthma is well controlled on a longterm asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Once your asthma is well controlled, your doctor will decide if you can stop breo and prescribe a different asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Do not take breo