Top Items:
Russell Berman / The Hill:
Why the Speaker capitulated to Obama — Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) abrupt decision to capitulate and hand President Obama a straightforward debt-ceiling increase resulted from simmering divisions that have virtually paralyzed his majority. — On an issue that once defined his Speakership …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Politico, Booman Tribune, Fox News and New York Times
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John Stanton / BuzzFeed:
Someone's Been Sending GOP Lawmakers A Bizarre Threat Over The Debt Ceiling — House Republicans have been getting a weird email in recent weeks: a threat over the debt ceiling vote that's been sent to the lawmakers' closely guarded personal email addresses. “It's got to be another member.
Discussion:
Daily Kos and Liberaland
Eric Posner / The New Republic:
Now That Boehner Has Backed Down, Let's Fix The Debt Ceiling For Good
Now That Boehner Has Backed Down, Let's Fix The Debt Ceiling For Good
Discussion:
American Spectator, Washington Monthly, Taking Note and ThinkProgress
Burgess Everett / Politico:
Ted Cruz: 60 votes or else on debt ceiling
Ted Cruz: 60 votes or else on debt ceiling
Discussion:
New York Times, Rush Limbaugh, Hot Air, Daily Kos, News Desk, Firedoglake, CNN and The Lonely Conservative
Gromer Jeffers Jr / Dallas Morning News:
Wendy Davis backs 20-week abortion ban that defers to women — Wendy Davis said Tuesday that she would have supported a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, if the law adequately deferred to a woman and her doctor. — Davis, a Fort Worth senator and the likely Democratic nominee for governor …
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Robert Draper / New York Times:
One sunny Friday morning in late January, Wendy Davis took me on a two-hour tour of the life she led just a decade or so ago, back when she was a city councilwoman and the world knew nothing of her or the pink running shoes she wore during her epic filibuster, or her ambition to be elected …
Discussion:
National Review and alicublog
Erick Erickson / RedState:
‘Impeach the President’ — You guys in the press who are reading this right now can be such shameless whores. I generally try to hold to the standard these days that if I wouldn't be outraged by George Chimpy McBushitler Halliburton and Darth Cheney doing something, I shouldn't be outraged by President Obama.
Tom Kludt / Talking Points Memo:
‘Morning Joe’ Panelist Outraged That Chuck Todd Didn't Praise Chris Christie (VIDEO) — A “Morning Joe” panelist was shocked to learn Wednesday that some people weren't as dazzled by Chris Christie's visit to Chicago. — NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd stopped …
Discussion:
Mediaite and Taylor Marsh
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New Jersey Online:
Chris Christie needs to step down as RGA chief: Editorial
Chris Christie needs to step down as RGA chief: Editorial
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Politico and CNN
Michael Barbaro / New York Times:
Christie Ridicules Democrats for Emphasizing Income Inequality
Christie Ridicules Democrats for Emphasizing Income Inequality
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Daily Kos, Hot Air, New Jersey Online, Talking Points Memo, No More Mister Nice Blog and TIME
Matt Friedman / New Jersey Online:
Christie in his element: Governor takes a break from bridge scandal at Q&A in Chicago
Christie in his element: Governor takes a break from bridge scandal at Q&A in Chicago
Discussion:
Post Politics, Talking Points Memo and ABC News
CNN:
First on CNN-Confidant's diary: Clinton wanted to keep records for ‘revenge’ — Fayetteville, Arkansas (CNN) - Shortly before Hillary Clinton's effort to pass health care reform died in the summer of 1994, the first lady asked a close friend and confidant for advice on “how best to preserve …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Talking Points Memo and Washington Free Beacon
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Krystal Ball / msnbc.com:
Don't run, Hillary. Don't run — I deeply admire and respect Hillary Clinton.
Don't run, Hillary. Don't run — I deeply admire and respect Hillary Clinton.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Marist Poll and NewsBusters
Abby D. Phillip / ABC News:
Hillary Clinton Had ‘Contempt’ for First Lady Scrutiny, Documents Show
Hillary Clinton Had ‘Contempt’ for First Lady Scrutiny, Documents Show
Discussion:
CNN
John Podhoretz / New York Post:
No one can make ObamaCare work — I could rage on and on about Monday's gobsmacking announcement that the Obama administration is once again unilaterally delaying a key aspect of its health-care law and what this act of astonishing royalism suggests about the president and his fundamental disrespect …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
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Jenna Levy / Gallup:
U.S. Uninsured Rate Drops so Far in First Quarter of 2014
U.S. Uninsured Rate Drops so Far in First Quarter of 2014
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Plum Line and Wonkblog
CNN:
Exclusive: Stop the NSA while we still can — Editor's note: Rand Paul is a Republican senator representing Kentucky. Matt Kibbe is president and CEO of FreedomWorks. Ken Cuccinelli is former attorney general of Virginia and a former Republican candidate for governor.
Discussion:
RAND PAC, Guardian, The Verge, Towleroad News #gay and The Lead with Jake Tapper
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Jaime Fuller / Post Politics:
Rand Paul files suit against Obama, NSA Wednesday
Rand Paul files suit against Obama, NSA Wednesday
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh and Daily Kos
Mark Boxley / Courier-Journal:
Eight Corvettes swallowed by massive sink hole at National Corvette Museum — A 40-foot sink hole at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green swallowed eight of the sports cars on display inside the the facility's iconic Sky Dome Wednesday morning, said executive director Wendell Strode.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, The Raw Story and Shakesville
Andrew Wolfson / Courier-Journal:
Kentucky ban on gay marriages from other states struck down by federal judge — In a ruling that could open the door to gay marriage in Kentucky, a federal judge on Wednesday struck down Kentucky's ban on recognizing valid same-sex marriages performed in other states, saying it violates …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, KCTV, Liberaland, Advocate, Daily Kos, Towleroad News #gay and Right Wing Watch
Reporters Without Borders:
Biggest rises and falls in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index — The 2014 World Press Freedom Index spotlights the negative impact of conflicts on freedom of information and its protagonists. The ranking of some countries has also been affected by a tendency to interpret national security needs …
Discussion:
The Raw Story, Guardian, Hit & Run, RT, Liberaland, American Spectator, I Acknowledge, Mashable, Firedoglake and The Huffington Post, more at Mediagazer »
Associated Press:
Michelle Obama covers those famous arms in ‘$12,000’ Carolina Herrera gown at the White House state dinner — Michelle Obama chose Venezuelan-American designer Carolina Herrera for the gown she wore Tuesday to the state dinner honoring French President Francois Hollande.
Discussion:
AMERICAN DIGEST and Independent Journal Review
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Helena Bottemiller Evich / Politico:
The plot to make Big Food pay — Lawyers are pitching state attorneys general in 16 states with a radical idea: make the food industry pay for soaring obesity-related health care costs. — It's a move straight from the playbook of the Big Tobacco takedown of the 1990s …
Discussion:
Questions and Observations
Paul Steinhauser / CNN:
California GOP Rep. Gary Miller to retire — Washington (CNN) - California Republican Rep. Gary Miller announced Wednesday he would not run for re-election in November, giving Democrats a good chance to pick up his seat in the midterm election. — “It has been a great honor to spend …
Discussion:
Politico
Steven Greenhouse / New York Times:
Union Drive Doesn't Bother Management, but G.O.P. Fumes — As workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., prepare to vote this week on whether to join the United Automobile Workers, they are facing unusual pressure from the state's Republican legislators to reject the union.
Discussion:
Facing South, Los Angeles Times and PolicyShop
Chris Geidner / BuzzFeed:
Labor Department Isn't Protecting Trans Workers, Secretary Says Issue “Under Review” — Labor Secretary Tom Perez said the department is reviewing whether it will protect transgender employees of federal contractors from discrimination. Still unresolved after nearly two years.
Discussion:
Washington Blade
CNN:
Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin found guilty of corruption charges — (CNN) — Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was found guilty of federal corruption charges Wednesday after a two-week trial. — Nagin, famous for his desperate pleas for help during Hurricane Katrina …
Discussion:
Ed Driscoll