Thanks to the Tea Party, today's vote to extend the Patriot Act failed to pass. It had been introduced on the suspension calendar and needed 2/3rds to pass. When the Tea Party bloc broke with Republicans, there weren't sufficient votes to pass it.
It is expected to be reintroduced on the regular calendar next week and brought up for a vote again, this time with only a majority needed for it to pass, but with opportunities for longer debate and amendments.
