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WALKERTON, IN — $57,135 of $45k — Raised by 1,612 people in 14 hours — Purpose: To relieve the financial loss endured by the proprietors' stand for faith. — Indiana Pizzeria Faces Backlash After Saying It Won't Cater Gay Weddings — NEW YORK (CBSNewYork.com) — There's no such thing as bad publicity right?
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The War on the Private Mind — In Indiana, in Arkansas, and in the boardroom — There are two easy ways to get a Republican to roll over and put his paws up in the air: The first is to write him a check, which is the political version of scratching his belly, and the second is to call him a bigot.
Discussion:
The Federalist, protein wisdom, Weekly Standard, The Hugh Hewitt Show, Hot Air and Washington Post


Angie's List rejects ‘religious freedom’ law fix, calls it ‘insufficient’ — CEO Bill Oesterle has called off expansion over controversial law — Angie's List calls the fix to the “religious freedom” law “insufficient,” becoming the first major local company to reject the deal hammered …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Huffington Post, Associated Press, Advocate, Raw Story, Towleroad News #gay and Daily Kos


Indiana Lawmakers Propose Change to Religious-Freedom Law … Indiana's top two legislators, both Republicans, announced Thursday morning a “fix” to their state's controversial religious-freedom law — a change that would preclude Indiana businesses from denying services to gays or lesbians.
Discussion:
BarbWire.com, The Daily Caller, Advance America, Towleroad News #gay, abc7news.com and Indianapolis Star


Christie breaks silence on Indiana ‘religious freedom’ law — Gov. Christie's 133rd Town Hall Meeting In Kenilworth — Gov. Chris Christie. (Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media) — TRENTON — Breaking nearly two days of silence over the controversial Indiana law that's ignited national debate …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Fox News Insider, Fox News, Towleroad News #gay and Business Insider


Indiana Pizza Place — Forced to Close Doors After Refusing to Cater Gay Weddings — INDIANA PIZZA PLACE — Forced to Close Doors — AFTER REFUSING TO CATER GAY WEDDING — EXCLUSIVE — Memories Pizza — the first Indiana business to declare it would refuse LGBT business …

The Next Steps in the Battle Over Religious-Freedom Laws
Discussion:
Salon, Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly and Indianapolis Star

Indiana Loses Its Game
Discussion:
Business Insider, RedState, Bloomberg Business, CBS News and The Week


Story About First Business to ‘Publicly Vow to Reject Gay Weddings’ Was Fabricated Out of Nothing
Discussion:
Power Line, Talking Points Memo, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Hit & Run, American Spectator, ABC57 News, abc7news.com, Business Insider, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Shot in the Dark, Instapundit, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Raw Story, Eater, The American Conservative, Zandar Versus The Stupid, The Elkhart Truth and SOOPERMEXICAN

Indiana pizzeria closes after threats
Discussion:
John Hawkins' Right Wing News, New York Magazine and The Daily Banter

Senate passes amended religious-protection bills
Discussion:
The Daily Banter


The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050 — Why Muslims Are Rising Fastest and the Unaffiliated Are Shrinking as a Share of the World's Population — The religious profile of the world is rapidly changing, driven primarily by differences in fertility rates …


Poll: Bush now tops GOP field; Clinton runs ahead of all Republicans — Former Florida governor Jeb Bush now leads the field of Republican candidates for the party's 2016 presidential nomination, but former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton enjoys a decided advantage over Bush …
Discussion:
Politico, US News, PoliticusUSA, Bloomberg View, Hot Air, Mediaite, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Reaction, The Week, Political Wire and Public Policy Polling
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The Note: Coming Up Next In Indiana
Discussion:
Bloomberg Business and The Week

The Misdirected Zeal of Same-Sex Marriage Converts
Discussion:
Commonweal Magazine, The Iowa Republican, Vox, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, Bloomberg Business and Hit & Run


Menendez: Resign and spare us the drama | Editorial — Star-Ledger Editorial Board By Star-Ledger Editorial Board — It is hard to fathom the lack of judgment: Why would he even dance close to this line? — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez now begins a fight for his political life that could last for years.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, msnbc.com, Asbury Park Press, Blue Jersey, Power Line, CBS New York, Associated Press, OnPolitics and Washington Post
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Bob Menendez backers brace for battle: 'We don't believe' charges
Discussion:
The Hill and Bloomberg Business

The Case Against Robert Menendez
Discussion:
Blue Jersey and Common Dreams


Senator Says Critics Of Indiana Should Get ‘Perspective,’ Be Thankful State Doesn't Execute Gays — Appearing yesterday on CNN, Senator Tom Cotton (R) urged critics of Indiana's “religious freedom” law to get “perspective,” suggesting the treatment of LGBT people in Indiana compared favorably to countries where gay people are executed.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Daily Kos, New York Times, Raw Story, Mediaite, Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times, CNNMoney and Outside the Beltway


Al-Shabaab ‘holding many Christians alive’ amid attack on Kenyan university — Al-Shabaab says they are “holding many Christians alive” after claiming responsibility for an attack at Garissa University in eastern Kenya Thursday that left at least 15 people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds of students unaccounted for.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Right Scoop and John Hawkins' Right Wing News
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Get Ready For the Munich Analogies — If the negotiators from the U.S. and other nations succeed in getting an agreement to restrain Iran's nuclear program, Republicans will of course object that the deal is terrible and gives away the store to the Ayatollahs.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Washington Post
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Is Iran a Totalitarian State?
Discussion:
The American Conservative


Durbin's job in jeopardy? — Sen. Dick Durbin's job as Democratic whip is in danger in the absence of a crucial endorsement from New York Sen. Charles Schumer, the incoming Democratic leader, say Senate aides. — Democratic aides say Schumer's backing could make or break Durbin's bid …
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Harry Reid Hopes to Ensure Democrats' Success as Tenure Winds Down
Discussion:
OnPolitics and Political Wire

Harry Reid wants his Senate deputies to “just relax”
Discussion:
Politico and JP Updates


Menendez charges put Iran legislation in doubt — Sen. Robert Menendez's (N.J.) decision to step aside temporarily as ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following his indictment on Wednesday could jeopardize Congress's chances of passing Iran legislation.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Algemeiner.com, John Hawkins' Right Wing News and Wall Street Journal


Ted Cruz Campaign Points to Hefty Donations — About $4 million flowed into coffers in eight days after he formally announced presidential bid — Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas raised about $4 million in the eight days after he formally announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination …
Discussion:
New York Times, Politico and The Right Scoop
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Taxpayers paid portion of Cruz's political trips — WASHINGTON — Two months after staging a marathon Senate speech to protest the growth of government spending, Sen. Ted Cruz took a New York fundraising swing highlighted by a visit with Donald Trump — and put it on the taxpayers' tab.
Discussion:
Washington Post and Mediaite


Boehner in Israel: ‘The world is on fire’ — JERUSALEM — John Boehner thinks the “world is on fire.” And America isn't doing nearly enough to stamp it out. — The House speaker's decision to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress last month sparked criticism …
Discussion:
Washington Post, New York Magazine and Washington Free Beacon