memeorandum: Stay Cool. Call North Korea's Bluff. (Andrei Lankov/New York Times)

1:25 PM ET, April 10, 2013

Top Items:

The GOP's Gun Control Misfire — The filibuster threat is giving political cover to Senate Democrats. — 'This is about these families and families all across the country who are saying, 'Let's make it a little harder for our kids to get gunned down,'" President Obama declared Monday …

Discussion: Mediaite, Roll Call, CNN, National Review, The Huffington Post, Betsy's Page, The Raw Story and msnbc.com

Jennifer Bendery / The Huffington Post:

James Inhofe: Gun Debate Has Nothing To Do With Families Of Newtown Victims — WASHINGTON — Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Tuesday that the gun control debate doesn't have anything to do with the families of the Newtown, Conn., shooting victims, and that the only reason those families …

Discussion: Booman Tribune, ThinkProgress, Mediaite, The Raw Story, p m carpenter's commentary, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Moderate Voice, Daily Kos and Talking Points Memo

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Who likes taxes? Democrats, and no one else. — A clear majority of Americans have an unfavorable view of the federal income tax system, according to new Washington Post-ABC News polling. But, in a somewhat remarkable finding, a majority of Democrats view the tax system in a positive light …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Reuters, Business Insider and Ballot Box

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:

In Blow To NRA, Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement Expanding Background Checks — A bipartisan duo of senators with A ratings from the National Rifle Associated have reached a deal to expand background checks to private gun purchases that occur in commercial settings.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

John Gramlich / Roll Call:

Manchin, Toomey Prepare to Unveil Gun Deal — A bipartisan group of Senate negotiators signaled Tuesday night that it has reached a deal in principle on expanding background checks to include more gun sales, in what was widely seen as the major sticking point on the biggest gun control legislation to reach the floor since 1994.

Discussion: New York Times, Hot Air and Post Politics

Politico:

Senators reach deal on background checks — Sens. Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey will unveil a bipartisan deal to expand background checks for commercial gun sales at a news conference Wednesday morning, opening a pathway for the biggest change in U.S. gun laws in nearly two decades.

Discussion: CNN, The Spectacle Blog and Taylor Marsh

Politico:

Senators unveil deal on background checks — Sens. Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey unveiled a bipartisan deal to expand background checks for commercial gun purchases — including those at gun shows and online — Wednesday morning, opening a pathway for the biggest change in U.S. gun laws in nearly two decades.

Discussion: JustOneMinute, New Republic, CNN and Weasel Zippers

Ruby Cramer / BuzzFeed:

NRA Says Background Check Compromise Won't Work — Sen. Manchin's office said Wednesday morning that the gun lobby was “neutral” on their bill. But an NRA statement released on the heels of a Manchin press conference says background checks don't work. [Updated] — Senator Joe Manchin (D-WVA)

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon and The Hinterland Gazette

CNN:
Deal reached on background checks in Senate

Discussion: Politico and The Moderate Voice

Daniel Strauss / The Hill:
House lawmakers to offer background checks bill

Discussion: ThinkProgress, NRA-ILA News and CNN

Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:
Manchin, Toomey reach gun deal including background checks

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

New York Times:
More Senate Republicans Oppose Filibuster on Gun Bill

Discussion: The Week, NationalJournal.com, msnbc.com, Slate, Applesauce, First Read, The Caucus, Post Politics, Talking Points Memo, JustOneMinute, Daily Kos and Washington Post

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Reid plows ahead on gun control legislation

Discussion: CNN, Associated Press and Prairie Weather

Jonathan Van Meter / New York Times:

Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin's Post-Scandal Playbook — One day in early February, I met Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin for breakfast at the Gramercy Park Hotel, one of their regular joints, just a few blocks from their apartment on Park Avenue South. The first thing Weiner said when I sat …

David W. Chen / City Room:
Anthony Weiner Is Weighing a Run for Mayor

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Taegan Goddard's … and Guardian

Maggie Haberman / Politico: Anthony Weiner gives tearful confessional, eyes comeback

Lori Montgomery / Washington Post:

Obama to unveil $3.77 trillion spending plan — President Obama plans Wednesday to unveil a $3.77 trillion spending plan that proposes modest new investments in infrastructure and education, major new taxes for the wealthy and significant reforms aimed at reducing the cost of Social Security and Medicare.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Post Politics, Wall Street Journal, Crooks and Liars, Ballot Box, msnbc.com, Politico, Wonkblog, The Hinterland Gazette, Patterico's Pontifications, Right Wing News, Hot Air and Shakesville

Brian Beutler / Talking Points Memo:
Obama's New Budget: A Final Gesture Of Good Faith To GOP

Discussion: The Plum Line, Prairie Weather and Daily Kos

Reuters:
Obama budget targets millionaires, replaces sequester cuts

Discussion: The Week

John Avlon / The Daily Beast: Obama Budget Catching Hell From Both Sides: Why That's a Good Sign

Aamer Madhani / USA Today:
On left and right, Obama's budget anticipated as a dud

Discussion: Politico, The Lonely Conservative, Hit & Run and National Republican …

Politico:
President Obama's budget targets smokers, wealthy

Discussion: Reuters, Taylor Marsh, The Huffington Post and CNN

Glen Stubbe Updated / Hot Dish Politics:

Photos: Bachmann aides hustle her out of Medicaid press conference — Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and State Senator Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge) held a joing news conference to discuss problems with Medicaid reimbursement rates paid to doctors in Minnesota. Both are introducing legislation increasing accountability and transparency.

Discussion: The Raw Story

Tom Kludt / Talking Points Memo:

Bachmann Hustled Out Of Press Conference When Asked About Ethics Problems — At a joint press conference Tuesday with a Republican state senator from Minnesota, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) was rushed out of the room by aides and shielded from reporters as soon as she was questioned …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Moderate Voice and FishbowlDC

Deirdre Walsh / CNN:

Cheney to GOP leaders: 'We're in deep doo doo' on North Korea — (CNN) - Republican leaders in Congress received a dire warning on Tuesday from former Vice President Dick Cheney on the ongoing crisis in North Korea. — “We're in deep doo doo,” Cheney told lawmakers, according to a GOP leadership aide.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Hill and Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Andrei Lankov / New York Times:

Stay Cool. Call North Korea's Bluff. — NORTH KOREA is a tiny dictatorship with a bankrupt economy, but its leaders are remarkably adept at manipulating global public opinion. In recent weeks, we have been exposed to yet another brilliant example of their skill.

Discussion: The Week, Global Public Square, The Hill, CNN and Guardian

Choe Sang-Hun / New York Times:
South Korea and U.S. Gird for Missile Test by North Korea

Discussion: BuzzFeed and americanthinker.com

Sara Murray / Wall Street Journal:

Senate Plan Sets High Bar On Border Security — Immigrants in the U.S. illegally would not gain green cards under a bipartisan Senate bill until law-enforcement officials are monitoring the entire southern border and stopping 90% of people crossing illegally in certain areas, according to people familiar with the plan.

Discussion: Yahoo! News, Hot Air and The Daily Caller

The Right Scoop:

Mark Levin goes NUCLEAR: An up and down vote on the 2nd amendment is UNCONSTITUTIONAL! — Mark Levin says that on Thursday the Senate intends to vote to change the 2nd amendment without any pretense of going through the amendment process, on a bill that hasn't even been written yet.

Discussion: protein wisdom, National Review and Doug Ross

Jeremy W. Peters / New York Times:

Sri Srinivasan Gets Strong Push for Appeals Court — WASHINGTON — With a coordination and an energy that echo a Supreme Court nomination fight, the Obama administration is pushing for the confirmation of a senior Justice Department lawyer to the country's most prestigious appellate court.

Discussion: SCOTUSblog, Washington Post, Applesauce, ACS Blog, News Desk and Post Politics

Lou Chibbaro Jr / Washington Blade:
Cuccinelli denied sodomy ruling rehearing

Discussion: Towleroad News #gay, Joe. My. God. and ThinkProgress

Jeffrey Goldberg / Bloomberg:

Was the Iraq Invasion Worthwhile? Ask an Iraqi — In a recent interview with the New York Times, the writer Toni Morrison said, “I dare you to tell me a sane reason we went to Iraq.” — Her request is not unreasonable. We've heard similar arguments a lot over the past few weeks, as we marked the 10th anniversary of the war.

Discussion: Hot Air