“Best Wishes, Donald Trump”: A Future President's Letter to Vanity Fair  —  The Donald has inveighed (in Sharpie!) against our intrepid blogger.  We found his comments so delightful, we had to share.  —  It was with great delight and a sense of kinship that we at Vanity Fair read Donald Trump's letter …

A Debt Ceiling Hostage Rescue Strategy  —  As Jon Chait and Josh Marshall write this morning, the way the tax cut deal and the appropriations deal went down makes it clear that the White House needs a better hostage rescue strategy heading into the debt ceiling fight.  Fortunately, I think one is available.

Statement & Account of Ramona Kitzinger, Waukesha Board of Canvassers member since 2004:  —  (Waukesha County Democratic Party)On Tuesday night, I received a voice message from someone in the office of Clerk Kathy Nickolaus informing me of a Wednesday canvass meeting, which I returned …

Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home  —  To encourage healthful eating, Chicago school doesn't allow kids to bring lunches or certain snacks from home — and some parents, and many students, aren't fans of the policy  —  A Little Village Academy student cringes at an enchilada dish served at his school.

Michele Bachmann stares down heckler in Iowa  —  IOWA CITY, Iowa — Michele Bachmann said again Monday that the American intervention in Libya was a mistake — but this time she had to talk over a heckler who shouted vulgarities at her.  —  Jenny Watkins, 22, shouted at Bachmann …

REPORT: U.S. Military Spending Has Almost Doubled Since 2001  —  A new report released today by SIPRI, a Swedish-based think tank, reveals that U.S. military spending has almost doubled since 2001.  The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade.

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO OFFER THE LOW-WAGE WORKFORCE FOR FOREIGN COMPANIES.... Ikea's labor dispute in Southern Virginia should be a bigger story. … It's quite an ordeal.  Workers are forced to work overtime, often with little notice, and those who don't go along face disciplinary action.

WHAT PAUL RYAN'S CONSTITUENTS THINK, AND WHY IT MATTERS.... Rep. Paul Ryan's (R) Wisconsin district isn't competitive.  Over the last decade, his most competitive race was the one he won by “only” 26 points.  Last year, the margin was 38 points.  —  But when the Associated Press checked …

Revolver  —  Why do some of the most capable public servants in America, people like economist Peter Orszag, keep circling back from Washington to Wall Street?  One guess.  —  When Peter Orszag left his post as White House budget director last summer, it made perfect sense, on several levels …

The President Is Missing  —  What have they done with President Obama?  What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected?  Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn't seem to stand for anything in particular?  —  I realize that with hostile Republicans controlling the House …

Democrat in Missouri to Oppose Health Care Law  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri's Democratic attorney general broke with his party on Monday and urged a federal judge to invalidate the central provision of the new health care law.  —  The filing of the court brief by Attorney General Chris Koster …

Appeals court upholds Justice challenge on Ariz. immigration law  —  A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a lower court decision that blocked the most contested provisions of Arizona's immigration law from taking effect.  —  A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals …

Gas Prices Climbing Toward $5 Per Gallon  —  CHICAGO (CBS) - At one time, $5 per gallon gas seemed like a farfetched idea, but that is no longer the case.  —  As CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports, as of Monday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the Chicago area is $4.11 …

Jonathan Alter out at Newsweek  —  The final member of the “Newsweek Six” has left the building.  —  Jonathan Alter, the only remaining member of the gang of television-loving newsweekly scribes so dubbed by Slate's Jack Shafer, is no longer with the publication.

What's Really Going On With Gabby Giffords?  —  The untold story of the congresswoman's struggle, her husband's faith, and their long, hard road to recovery.  —  PHOTOS: According to doctors, Sen. Gabrielle Giffords has made significant advances.  But they caution that injuries to the brain …

His students know ‘squat’  —  What's next, extra credit for going freegan?  —  An eccentric SUNY Purchase art professor held a “class” yesterday in SoHo where he instructed his hipster students on how to illegally squat in condos around the city.  —  Chris Robbins organized the seminar …

Pakistan Tells U.S. It Must Sharply Cut C.I.A. Activities  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan has demanded that the United States steeply reduce the number of Central Intelligence Agency operatives and Special Operations forces working in Pakistan, and that it put on hold C.I.A. drone strikes aimed …

Where Hippie Punching Gets You  —  Jonathan Cohn makes the good point that Obama's speech on Wednesday is unfortunately going to be seen as the left most position in the debate which makes a compromise between his plan and Ryan's the “juuust right” sweet spot.

Romney slogan was once Kerry's  —  Mitt Romney's launched his exploratory committee today with a dynamic new slogan: “Believe in America.”  —  If that slogan sounds a little familiar, that's because it was the title of John Kerry's cross-country tour in August of 2004, as CNN reported a two-week …

Republican lawmakers sour on 2012 field  —  A presidential primary favorite is emerging among the ranks of congressional Republicans: none of the above.  —  The dissatisfaction with the likely GOP field — long whispered among party activists, operatives and elected officials — is growing more audible in the House and Senate.