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It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service. Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity …
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I Saw Trump's Tax Returns. You Should, Too. — In January, Donald Trump had this to say when he was asked about whether he would release his tax returns: “I have very big returns, as you know, and I have everything all approved and very beautiful and we'll be working that over in the next period of time.”
Discussion:
Slate, The Week, Politico, Hullabaloo, Washington Post and Associated Press


Donald Trump: I'll release tax returns after audit — (CNN)Donald Trump said Wednesday that he plans to release his taxes when an IRS audit is completed, despite telling the Associated Press the previous day before that he would not release his tax documents.
Discussion:
Breitbart, Associated Press, Raw Story, Media Matters for America and Media Matters for America

George Zimmerman's gun up for auction — LAKE MARY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who was acquitted in the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2013, is selling his gun. — The 9mm pistol that Zimmerman said was used to shoot and kill Trayvon Martin on February 26 …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Atlantic, NPR, New York Times and AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog …
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George Zimmerman puts gun that killed Trayvon Martin up for auction — SALE: One .9-mm pistol — and whatever's left of George Zimmerman's bankrupt soul. — The Florida neighborhood watchman who fatally shot unarmed teen Trayvon Martin in 2012 is putting the killer handgun up for auction — and hoping to fetch at least $5,000.
Discussion:
Hot Air and twitchy.com

George Zimmerman to auction off gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin — George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, then acquitted by a Florida jury on July 13, 2013.

George Zimmerman Says He's Auctioning Off His Gun from Trayvon Martin Shooting
Discussion:
Latest from Crooks and Liars, AOL, WFLA-TV, Raw Story, Mashable and New York Magazine

Trump: Muslim ban was ‘just a suggestion’ — Donald Trump has demoted his proposed Muslim immigration ban to a mere “suggestion.” — In a radio interview with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade on Wednesday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee softened his call to temporarily prohibit Muslims from entering the United States.
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Arizona Republic, The Hill, Betsy's Page, Hot Air, Hit & Run, CNN, mrctv.org/videos, Vox and Fox News Insider
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Trump: Muslim ban ‘just a suggestion’ — Washington (CNN)Donald Trump, who issued a December press release “calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” said Wednesday such a ban “hasn't been called for yet” and it was “only a suggestion.”
Discussion:
The Week, Politicus USA, Gothamist and RedState


House GOP warns Ryan to back Trump
Discussion:
Bloomberg, AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog … and Hot Air

Billionaire T. Boone Pickens Backs Donald Trump, Muslim Ban
Discussion:
Politico, ThinkProgress and Weekly Standard


Will Miami's Republican mayor vote for Trump? ‘Of course not’ — Tomás Regalado said he won't vote for Clinton, either — The mayor was an early Rubio supporter — Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado remembers walking to school as a young man in Miami and getting heckled.
Discussion:
Politico and Washington Post
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Bernie Sanders, the Zombie Candidate — When he first decided to run for president, Bernie Sanders had a goal in mind: to start a political revolution by getting big money out of politics. — If he wants to do it—if Sanders wants to build a lasting movement to fight money's outsize influence …
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Wasserman Schultz's liberal challenger set to announce $1M haul
Discussion:
Raw Story, Washington Free Beacon and Mediaite

The middle class is shrinking just about everywhere in America — The great shrinking of the middle class that has captured the attention of the nation is not only playing out in troubled regions like Rust Belt metros, Appalachia and the Deep South, but in just about every metropolitan area in America …
Discussion:
Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center's … and Marginal REVOLUTION
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Glenn Makes Wild Prediction About Trump — Donald Trump has faced consistent pressure and scrutiny from Glenn, so his prediction Wednesday on The Glenn Beck Program came as a surprise. — “I'm going to make a prediction about Donald Trump,” Glenn said. “I could say he's going to be the nominee of the Republican Party.
Discussion:
Pirate's Cove, The Hill, Hot Air and Fire Andrea Mitchell!


Dem meeting boils over with Reid-Grayson confrontation — A routine meeting of liberal Democrats grew heated on Wednesday when Rep. Alan Grayson — (D-Fla.) confronted Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid — (D-Nev.) over the ethics charges dogging Grayson as he vies for the Senate.
Discussion:
Political Wire and Hot Air
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Harry Reid to Rep. Alan Grayson: ‘I want you to lose’
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Week and Talking Points Memo


Producer defends film on Reagan's Alzheimer's — A producer linked to a controversial movie about former President Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's disease says backlash over its subject matter is unfair. — “I've never been close to a movie like that where so little information became such a tidal wave …
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Adam McKay on ‘The Iron Virgin,’ the Rise of Trump, and His Aborted Reagan Alzheimer's Project
Discussion:
Mediaite and The Daily Caller

Biden wanted Warren as his VP — Joe Biden took months to decide he wouldn't run for president — but he was sold on Elizabeth Warren as his running mate from the start, people familiar with the situation told POLITICO. — And he still thinks the Massachusetts firebrand …
Discussion:
ABC News


Malaysian Leader Najib's Stepson Allegedly Funded U.S. Property Deals With 1MDB Money — At least $50 million allegedly diverted from state investment fund was spent on luxury real estate in the U.S. — At least $50 million allegedly diverted from a state investment fund in Malaysia …


Woody Allen Slapped With Rape Joke at Cannes Opening Night Ceremony — “You've shot so many of your films here in Europe and yet in the U.S. you haven't even been convicted of rape,” said Laurent Lafitte — French comic Laurent Lafitte helped the 2016 Cannes Film Festival kick off to an awkward start …


Flashback 2012: Trump Endorses Hillary — RUSH: I found the YouTube last night, and I'm gonna play this for you and I'm curious to know how Trump supporters react to this. Because this is gonna be in an ad, too. This may end up being an ad. It may be chopped up and edited into an ad, but it's gonna be an ad.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Washington Times
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Cruz Running for Re-election in 2018 … *Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout. — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is officially running for re-election in 2018. — Cruz filed paperwork Wednesday afternoon to seek a second term, adding some clarity to his political future …
Discussion:
The Hill, CNN, Off the Kuff, The Week, Independent Journal … and The Last Refuge

Think Pieces About MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE And How I Could Possibly Be Wrong — I'm tired of reading think pieces about WHY WE ALL THOUGHT DONALD TRUMP WOULD LOSE (I'm looking at you, Chait). First of all, we all didn't, you and your circle jerk did. Secondly, I don't care what your prior beliefs about the Republican party were.
Discussion:
Mother Jones and New York Magazine


Italy Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions — ROME — After decades of struggle by gay rights groups, and months of contested political negotiations, the Italian Parliament on Wednesday evening gave final approval to a law recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples.
Discussion:
Washington Blade, The Atlantic, The Week and Guardian


‘We could have been there’: Squadron member speaks out on stalled Benghazi response — His squadron got the alert: a “real world mission was going down.” — The team - at Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy - raced to the field and was briefed, as planes were armed and prepared to launch.
Discussion:
BizPac Review