memeorandum: Democrat in NY-20 now leads by 35 (Aaron Blake/The Hill)

Pirates Demand Ransom After U.S. Ship Captain Tries to Escape — A Somali negotiator said Friday pirates holding American ship captain Richard Phillips hostage want a $2 million ransom and are ready to kill Phillips if attacked. — The Navy is moving a huge amphibious ship closer to the scene of the standoff.

Discussion: The Jawa Report, Atlas Shrugs and Jihad Watch

CNN:

Hostage, 2 pirates killed in French rescue operation — (CNN) — A French hostage and two pirates died Friday in a rescue operation off Somalia, the French president's office in Paris said Friday. — Four hostages, including a child, were freed from the hijacked yacht after almost a week of captivity, Nicolas Sarkozy's office said.

Discussion: The Jawa Report, War Is Boring, Blue Crab Boulevard and Associated Press

James Bone / Times of London:

US Navy misses chance to rescue American captain held hostage by pirates — The US Navy missed a chance to rescue the American captain held by Somali pirates on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean when he tried to escape by jumping into the sea. — Captain Richard Phillips fled through a back door …

Discussion: American Thinker, Flopping Aces and Tammy Bruce

Guardian:

Hostage killed as French storm yacht — • Four freed as two Somali pirates are killed in ocean raid — • Operation highlights plight of US captain Richard Phillips — A French military operation to free a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates backfired yesterday when one of the hostages …

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, AMERICAblog News, PoliGazette, FP Passport and Pajamas Media

bmj.com:

China's excess males, sex selective abortion, and one child policy: analysis of data from 2005 national intercensus survey — Wei Xing Zhu, professor1, Li Lu, professor and head of department2, Therese Hesketh, senior lecturer3 — 1 College of Law, Political Science and Public Administration …

Sharon LaFraniere / New York Times:

Chinese Bias for Baby Boys Creates a Gap of 32 Million — BEIJING — A bias in favor of male offspring has left China with 32 million more boys under the age of 20 than girls, creating “an imminent generation of excess men,” a study released Friday said. — For the next 20 years …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

AFTER THE SEGMENT.... It was a very special episode of Glenn Beck's Fox News show, when he pretended to douse a colleague in gasoline while talking about setting himself on fire, but what I found especially interesting is what happened immediately afterwards. — You may have seen this clip already.

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The Huffington Post and No More Mister Nice Blog

Little Green Footballs:
At Glenn Beck Tea Party: ‘Burn the Books!’

Discussion: New York Times, Oliver Willis, Media Matters for America, The Impolitic, Whatever Is Right, No More Mister Nice Blog, Riehl World View, Balloon Juice, Founding Bloggers, American Street and American Power

Alex Koppelman / Salon:
Should we be worried for Glenn Beck?

Discussion: Wonkette

Monica Langley / Wall Street Journal:

Volcker Assumes Smaller-Than-Expected Role With Obama — WASHINGTON — As an early supporter of Barack Obama, Paul Volcker gave the young presidential candidate gravitas and advice. He frequently sat by Mr. Obama's side at key economic events, and started carrying a cellphone for the first time …

Discussion: Commentary, CapitalBeat and The Big Picture

Aaron Blake / The Hill:

Democrat in NY-20 now leads by 35 — Republican Jim Tedisco has cut Democrat Scott Murphy's lead slightly, to 35, in the special election for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's (D-N.Y.) former House seat, as absentee votes continue to be counted. — Murphy took the lead Friday morning after more than 1,400 …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, DownWithTyranny!, Daily Kos and Capitol Confidential

Alejandra Owens / ShAARP Session:

AARP Responds To Progressive Bloggers' Advertising Complaints — There's been a recent debate in the blogosphere about who - or more importantly, who's not - advertising on various political blogs. AARP is a non-partisan organization that strongly supports all reaches of the online community …

Discussion: Moe_Lane's blog and Founding Bloggers

New York Times:

Obama to Appeal Detainee Ruling — WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Friday that it would appeal a district court ruling that granted some military prisoners in Afghanistan the right to file lawsuits seeking their release. The decision signaled that the administration was not backing …

CNN:

Two killed in Michigan college shooting — (CNN) — Two people were shot and killed Friday at a community college in Dearborn, Michigan, in what police believe was a murder-suicide, an official said. — A man and woman were found dead in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College …

Lynn Sweet:

Ma Nishtaneh in the White House? Who's Who at the Obama seder. Brisket and kugel — (White House photo) (See below for ID's) — President Obama and his family hosted a seder at the White House on Thursday, the second night of Passover. Last year Passover fell during the Pennsylvania primary …

Discussion: Writes Like She Talks, The Moderate Voice, Ben Smith's Blog and Newsweek Blogs

Ben Meyerson / Los Angeles Times:
Obama hosts a Seder: Who was invited?

Discussion: Writes Like She Talks

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:

Karen O and the Future of Whiteness — Via the Democratic Strategist, I was interested to read Alan Abramowitz's informative article on the demographic shifts undergirding America's political coalitions. This is a topic also usefully explored by Ruy Teixeira in his recent report on “The New Progressive America”.

Discussion: Unfogged

Andy Barr / The Politico:

Deadlock: Rise of the endless election — As the Minnesota Senate recount drags into its sixth month and the March 31 New York special election looks likely to remain undecided for at least another week, now may be the time to ask: Why can't voters pick a clear winner anymore?

Discussion: Outside The Beltway

Peter Baker / New York Times:

With a Reunion Planned, Bush Eases Back Into the Public Eye — WASHINGTON — Condoleezza Rice will be there. So will Karen Hughes and Dan Bartlett and Michael Gerson. And George W. Bush himself. — The old gang is getting back together next week in Dallas for a reunion of sorts …

Discussion: Emptywheel, TIME.com and Think Progress

Mike Allen / The Politico:

Obama may get ASU honor after all — Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University, tells POLITICO that the school is reconsidering its widely mocked plans not to give President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement on May 13 and will “honor him in every way possible.”

Discussion: Boston Globe, TIME.com, Hot Air, The Huffington Post, Greg's Opinion, Democracy in America and Washington Post