- In Mexico City yesterday, President Barack Obama acknowledged the gravity of Mexico's drug war, but suggested he would not seek reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, instead insisting that the US just needs to step up enforcement of existing laws in the border region. Speaking alongside Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Obama said the US would work to curb drug demand in the US, and ask the Senate to ratify a treaty that would stem the flow of small arms over the border.
- The President is on his way to Trinidad and Tobago today for the Summit of the Americas, where the spotlight will fall on the US-Cuban relationship. Obama said yesterday that Cuba had the next move-- that the relaxation of relations rolled out by the White House earlier this week was as far as the US would go until Cuba made reciprocal gestures.
- Much to Dan's chagrin, President Obama will not be meeting one-on-one with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas.
Politics
- The Justice Department released a quartet of legal memos yesterday detailing harsh interrogation techniques used by the CIA, and the legal arguments used to defend the techniques. President Obama reportedly labored over the decision of whether to release them for weeks. He assured CIA officers that they would not be prosecuted for using the techniques.
- President Obama unveiled yesterday a national plan for high-speed rail. Chris Beam, at Slate, is less excited than me. The plan is too expensive, he says, and won't succeed anytime soon.
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has come out in favor of equal marriage rights for gay couples in New York. Proud of my home state. Good on ya', Senator.
- In New York's 20th congressional district, Democrat Scott Murphy is headed for a narrow victory, holding a 167 vote lead with more than half of the absentees counted.
- In other New York news, Politico announces that Eliot Spitzer is back. Welcome back, Eliot Spitzer.
Economy
- Paul Krugman is glad you're in a good mood, but reminds you that other shoes may still drop, and not to count your recoveries before they've hatched. I would add a caution that the fat lady might be crying wolf.
- Following JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo, Citigroup had a bully first quarter, with revenue up nearly 100%, and income over $1.5 billion.
- GE, on the other hand, had a pretty bad quarter, though not quite so bad as everyone expected.
International
- The NY Times reports that the Taliban has exploited class divides to advance their values and gain power in the Swat Valley. The article is accompanied by a photo of a Taliban biker gang, which is pretty cool, if slightly terrifying.
New From NDN
- Dan has a great New Tools post on a report just released by the Pew Internet and American Life project. The subject is the role of the internet in the 2008 campaign season. Interesting stuff.
One More Thing
- The Obamas pulled in a cool $2.6 million last year, coming mostly on royalties from Barack's books. Bo Obama, the newest member of the clan, has his own book coming out next week, cashing in on his newfound notoriety with Bo, America’s Commander in Leash. 2009 looks to be another fruitful year for the Obamas.
- President Obama is on his way to Mexico today, and on the eve of his trip, he stepped up his game against the drug cartels that are ravaging northern Mexico and threatening the southern US. He identified three cartels to be added to the federal list of "drug kingpins," supporting the Calderon government, and giving license to the US government to seize the assets of the cartels-- estimated in the billions.
- The LA Times notes that Mexico has risen quickly to become a major national security priority for President Obama. President Calderon will be looking for major commitments from Obama-- on trade, on immigration, and in fighting this drug war. After eight years of atrophy, there is much room for this relationship to grow and thrive.
- As the Obama Administration works to improve its relations in Latin America both in Mexico and later this week at the Summit of the Americas, the Chinese government has been stepping up efforts to expand their power in Latin America. Beijing has lent massive quantities of money to help with infrastructure and other projects, and is gaining sway in a region traditionally within the American sphere of influence.
Politics
- The National Security Agency has been wiretapping and monitoring American citizens in recent months, going way beyond the limits established by Congress last year. Most shocking-- the agency even monitored a member of Congress during an overseas trip.
- The CIA, on the other hand, is expected to hand over memos detailing a CIA interrogation plan and the legal rationale behind it. The administration is debating how to best handle the memos, which are likely to cause trouble for the Agency and the American government.
Economy
- Foreclosures were up 24% in the first quarter. Nearly 804,000 homes received at least one foreclosure notice between January and March of this year.
- The FT has an editorial explaining that this recession will not be over quickly. The government needs to "support demand," "keep people in their homes," and keep "workers in their jobs." This sounds awfullyfamiliar.
International
- Three Hundred Afghan women stood up to the Taliban yesterday, marching on Parliament despite opposition from an angry mob of nearly 1,000 men, and turning over a petition calling for the end to some of the government's misogynistic laws that impose harsh restrictions on women.
- E.J. Dionne begins to unpack the Obama Doctrine. It's about making choices. It's about shedding hubris. It's about working with other countries. It's "unafraid to deploy American power but mindful that its use must be tempered by practical limits and a dose of self-awareness."
One More Thing
- The NY Times takes up the all-important question of whether Bo knows he's the First Dog. Answer: No. Reminder: He's a dog.
- Last, I concur with the Secret Service that a box of teabags is a rather suspicious package:
- A new report finds that undocumented immigrants are having children at a much faster rate than previously suspected, creating a new dimension in the debate over immigration reform. The children born in the US have a right to citizenship, despite their parents' status, but many of them still live in poverty and without health insurance.
- The NY Times has a major piece on the flood of weapons from the US, over the border into Mexico. The guns are fuelling the drug war that is ravaging Mexico, as they are cheap and easy to acquire in the US. There is little regulation governing the sale of even very high-powered weapons.
- Simon has a new post up, making the case for passing immigration reform. He lays out seven clear reasons it is in our country's best interest to pass comprehensive this year.
Politics
- President Obama addressed the nation yesterday, delivering a "major speech" on the economy, in which he evoked the Sermon on the Mount, calling for America to rebuild its economy on a foundation of rock-- not sand.
- Scott Wilson writes in the WaPo that President Obama will likely face a lot of angry blame and finger pointing over the economy at the Summit of the Americas this week. Simon covered the same subject a two weeks ago after his trip to Chile, observing that America's persuasive power in the world had been seriously undermined by the global economic crisis.
- President Obama threw his weight behind the American bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. He said: "As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together." Viva futbol!
- The CS Monitor reports on Little Havana's reaction to our changing policy toward Cuba.
Economy
- The Obama administration is figuring out how to reveal the results of the stress tests they've conducted on banks in a way that won't incite panic among investors. We should be getting the news soon...
- Swiss mega-bank UBS will be cutting their global workforce by 11% this year. Having spent some time investigating UBS's facilitation of tax fraud in the US, I will shed no tears over their troubles.
- Martin Wolf asks if the US, by virtue of the terrible power of our financial oligarchs, is the new Russia. Incidentally, his answer is no, but that doesn't mean we don't need serious new regulation.
International
- Thai antigovernment protesters ended their sit-in of the capital yesterday, saying they hope to avoid violence. All tension still is not gone. Patrick Winn of GlobalPost has video along with his article.
- The North Korean government has informed the world that it is through with disarmament talks, and plans to restart its nuclear program.
- Another American ship was attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean yesterday; though no crewmen were injured, the ship was damaged by rocket fire. Ultimately, the pirates fled.
New From NDN
- Zuraya asks if immigration reform is vital to our country's economic recovery. I don't want to blow the suspense, but her answer is yes.
- Courtney hereby cordially invites you to an event we're holding in New York next week-- a breakfast discussion with Simon, Morley Winograd, and Mike Hais (the latter two are NDN Fellows and co-authors of Millennial Makeover).
One More Thing
- On Monday, President Obama met secretly with... the Grateful Dead. Not sure how I feel about that.
- Fran Drescher would like to run for office in my home state. Rumor has it that she would turn New York into a nanny state.
- Last, I could be wrong, but I think Texas just threatened to secede from the union:
- President Obama announced a new path forward in America's relations with Cuba yesterday, relaxing the travel ban for Cuban-Americans, and easing a host of other restrictions. American telecommunications firms will be allowed to work in Cuba, and Cuban-Americans will be able to send goods and money back to the Caribbean island.
- In his statement, President Obama explained that he believed this was the best policy to bring democracy to Cuba, as it would make Cubans less dependent on their government, and would allow Cuban-Americans to act as ambassadors of the U.S. in their visits. Somewhat predictably, President Obama has taken flak from the right and the left: Some argue that any engagement with Cuba is a concession to a wicked regime, while others call for an immediate end of the embargo.
- NDN, of course, has done a great deal of work on Cuba policy over the years, and Obama's policy very closely mirrors the policy we've developed. Simon congratulates the President on this step forward, and steps back to see if we can begin to understand the Obama Doctrine of foreign policy.
Politics
- The AFL-CIO and Change to Win, two major labor groups, have come to a compromise on immigration reform, supporting a policy that will include legalizing illegal immigrants currently in the U.S., but not supporting a guest worker program.
- Simon has the lead quote in Jennifer Ludden's piece on immigration for NPR's Morning Edition today. Simon makes the argument that overhauling our immigration system will be a vital element in our nation's overall economic recovery.
- USA Today has a special section on "Sharing" today, and it features an article on my civic generation. Needless to say, NDN fellows Morley Winograd and Mike Hais star in the piece.
- The NY Times profiles Luis Ubinas, an old friend and former advisor to NDN, in his work at the Ford Foundation, as he unveils the results of a two-year overhaul process there.
Economy
- Global spending on advertising is down 7% this year-- much more that expected. Newspapers are suffering particularly badly, though TV seems to be doing alright.
- The word on the Street is that Herb Allison, chief of Fannie Mae, will be tapped to head the Troubled Assets Relief Program.
- President Obama will be giving a major speech on the economy at Georgetown University this morning. Don't miss it.
International
- The Taliban is making connections with militant groups throughout Pakistan, including in the populous Punjab province. These associations have the potential to create a national network with the ability to upset the stability of the entire state.
- Tristan McConnell of GlobalPost looks at how we can stop pirates in the Indian Ocean. Easier said than done, he says-- the only viable solution is to fix the failed state of Somalia.
New From NDN
- Zuraya pens her Weekly Immigration Update, looking at cases of immigrants being victimized by our broken immigration system.
- Dan offers an early New Tools update-- America Votes has adopted Ning as a social networking platform. Cool.
One More Thing
- Brian Palmer of Slate explains how hard it is to shoot someone in a lifeboat when you're hidden on the fantail of a destroyer. Incidentally, I was sort of wondering exactly that.
- Last, tempting as it was to post the video of Columbia Professor David Buckner passing out on Glenn Beck's program, it's just too much of a freak show to even find funny anymore. Instead, we'll listen to Dan Restrepo, Obama's senior advisor on Latin America, speak Spanish from the White House press podium-- the first time this has ever happened:
- After a five-day standoff in the Indian Ocean, Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama was freed from the pirates that had taken him hostage yesterday. A trio of Navy SEALs saw an automatic weapon pointed at Captain Phillips, and when two of the pirates poked their heads out of a rear hatch in the lifeboat, the SEAL snipers took their shot. Three pirates were killed, a fourth surrendered, and Captain Phillips was rescued unharmed.
- Some fear that this action may change the game in Somali piracy, making it a more bloody enterprise. Already, some of the killed pirates' "colleagues" in Somalia have threatened to respond in kind, with violence, the next time they beseige an American ship. Unsurprisingly, this standoff and its aftermath has reignited the question of whether ships' crews should be armed; currently, out of concern about liability and the safety of crews, ship owners prohibit arms on merchant vessels.
- The Navy SEALs acted under President Obama's directive, taking down the pirates when they believed Phillips was in immediate danger. USA Today points out that this "marked the first time an American president had acted against maritime marauders since Thomas Jefferson ordered Marines to the shores of Tripoli to fight the Barbary pirates." From the halls of Montezuma...
Politics
- The NY Times reports on the coming congressional battle over student lending, which promises to be one of the most vigorous this year. President Obama wants to end federal subsidies of private student lending, and redirect the $94 billion in funds to expand Pell grants for the poorest students. The lending agencies and their congressional allies are readying to fight the plan.
- Frank Rich is skeptical that the financial whizards who set us up for this fall are the right people to be guiding us out of it. Rich kills it.
Economy
- The Treasury Department is instructing GM to be ready for bankruptcy by June 1st, despite protestations from the company that it could still find a way to restructure without government involvement.
- The Congressional panel charged with overseeing the federal bank bailout is investigating institutions that received funding from the government for raising rates and fees. The bailout was meant to make it easier for people to borrow money, but some of the interest rates banks are now charging are downright usurious.
International
- Anti-government protesters are threatening stability in Thailand, and though government forces have refrained from using lethal force, the escalating violence may soon get ugly. The protesters forced the cancellation of the ASEAN summit slated to take place over the weekend; the visiting heads of state were evacuated from their seaside resort.
- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator indicated yesterday that Iran would be open to dialogue with world powers about its nuclear program. It's just a first step, but it's a step in the right direction.
New From NDN
- Michael Moynihan published a new essay on Friday about the future of electric cars. Can the US capture any of the market, is it all China, all the way?
- Zuraya asks if cable news stations are selling racism to boost their ratings.
One More Thing
- America, meet Bo, your new First Puppy. Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog, and his portfolio in the White House will include gnawing on t-bones and eating the tomatoes in the Obamas' garden. But seriously, the WaPo tells us that when the NY Times got an exclusive on the garden last month, the Post got super-pissed, and were promised an exclusive on the new puppy. Now, word has leaked outside the designated channels, and the Post is SoL. They do, however have a delightful piece, filled with puppy-love, on Bo's path to the White House.
- Last, Are we all in agreement that Glenn Beck is nothing more than crazy?:
- Everybody's talking about polls, arguing over how polarized the American electorate is. Former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson wrote in the WaPo last week that a new Pew poll shows a wide chasm between Democrats and Republicans in their support of President Obama-- wider than at any time since Richard Nixon lived across the street.
- As Morley Winograd and Mike Hais wrote on our blog yesterday, Gerson's interpretation of the data is dead wrong. The problem is within the Republican Party, where an ever greater number of people are either leaving the party, or have stopped identifying with its radical right-wing views.
- DemFromCT at DailyKos has his weekly poll roundup, backing up Winograd and Hais in his findings that Obama remains very popular while faith in the Republicans has all but disappeared.
Politics
- After yesterday's front page story in the New York Times that immigration reform is on the Administration's agenda for this year, the WSJ publishes an article that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, traditionally cautious on immigration, has become a major advocate for reform within the White House. CNN seems to think the White House won't push immigration reform this year.
- President Obama has asked for $83.4 billion in additional funding to continue military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's urged congress to approve the funding quickly.
- If you were to guess which government agency had the best blog, you probably wouldn't guess the TSA. But you would be wrong, says Christopher Beam of Slate.
Economy
- The WaPo reports that the recession seems to be easing up on banks and retailers, but workers and everyday people have a long way to go, as unemployment will likely continue to rise. The NY Times, likewise, reports that while stocks may be surging, the rise is, at best, a veneer over continuing mistrust running deep in the economy.
- Paul Krugman writes that it's time to make banking boring again-- it shouldn't be a thrilling, high-stakes game that pulls in the brightest young people with promises of million-dollar paydays.
International
- The pirate standoff in the Indian Ocean continues. A flotilla of US warships are in the neighborhood, but the pirates are still holding Captain Phillips hostage, and are threatening to fight back if they're attacked.
- North Korean President Kim Jong-Il anointed his brother-in-law as his successor, appointing him to a powerful military post. President Kim himself was re-elected President yesterday. The election was not very close.
New From NDN
- In addition to the new post from Winograd and Hais, Dan wrote his weekly New Tools post about apps for smart phones. Check it out.
- Rob Shapiro has a new essay calling into question even the half-heartedly optimistic articles from the WaPo and the Times (above). The economy, he says, is going to be down in the dumps for a while.
One More Thing
- The White House was attacked by a swarm of honeybees yesterday. The Obamas should be thrilled, as bees will help their new organic garden flourish. Chemical companies, meanwhile, are not thrilled by the gardening-- they're concerned that the Organic Obamas could make Americans think twice about the millions of gallons of chemicals poured on their produce.
- Governor Schwartzenegger bought himself a life-size bronze grizzly bear to sit outside his office and scare the crap out of visitors.
- Last, Jon Stewart thinks all this Republican talk about "fascism" is pretty crazy and hypocritical. Me? I just think Michelle Bachman is pretty crazy:
- An American cargo ship was taken by pirates off the Somali coast yesterday, and though the unarmed crew retook control of the ship (nobody knows yet how they did it), the captain has been taken hostage by the pirates. An American destroyer arrived on the scene early this morning, but an attempt at an exchange-- to trade a captured pirate for the captain-- was unsuccessful. The captured pirate was released, Captain Phillips was not.
- This incident is part of a broad trend of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the northwest Indian Ocean. Pirates attacked 122 ships last year, hijacking 42 of them. They generally do not harm the crew, and negotiate a ransom of $1 to $3 million for the ship and its cargo.
- From the LA Times: "[Captain] Phillips' sister-in-law, Lea Coggio, described him as 'easygoing, laid-back,' and added that she wouldn't be surprised if he was having a relaxed conversation with the pirates."
Politics
- The NY Times reports on a leak from within the White House suggesting that immigration reform is on President Obama's agenda for this year. He will raise the issue next month, and convene working groups over the summer to work toward a deal that will allow undocumented immigrants to become legal.
- Attorney General Eric Holder will take up the challenge of restoring the integrity of the Justice Department by hiring lawyers based on their experience, rather than their political connections. Mary Patrice Brown, a well-respected prosecutor, will lead the division that polices ethics within the Department.
- Rosa Brooks writes her last column for the LA Times before heading into the Defense Department, and urges the government to "bail out journalism." In related news, the imperiled Boston Globe may be scaling down or closing up its DC bureau.
Economy
- Jeff Sachs has an op-ed in today's NY Times arguing that as the administration prepares to hand out more than $1 billion in aid to promote agricultural growth in poor countries, it should solicit plans from the countries themselves, to empower recipient governments in their own development.
International
- A relaxation of relations with Cuba, including an end to the travel ban, is quickly becoming a very real political possibility.
New From NDN
- Simon pans the attitude of Wall Street bankers represented in a NY Times piece today that reports on the possibility funds to rescue the financial system that will be open to all investors. Their hubris and disconnection from reality is all to apparent, and hampering our economic recovery.
- Michael Moynihan responds to Tom Friedman's column yesterday favoring a carbon tax over a cap-and-trade system. Both ideas, he thinks, deserve a hearing.
One More Thing
- President Obama will host the first Passover Seder to ever be held in the White House. Jews near and far are irked that they weren't invited.
- He picked UNC to win, but had a pretty shoddy record in the first few rounds, and President Obama lost the White House NCAA pool to-- who else?-- David Axelrod.
- Two mainstays of my youth-- Flat Stanley and the New York Yankees-- both visited the White House recently. Presumably my invitation will be coming soon...
- Two of the three "Obama Fried Chicken" restaurants in New York have elected to keep their name, despite protestations. The third whited out the first and last letters, settling for "Bam Fried Chicken."
- Last, Republicans are learning to use the Twitter, but, as it happens, are using the Twitter to destroy themselves:
- Defense Secretary Robert Gates introduced sweeping new changes to the Defense budget, pulling funding away from "exquisite" weapons systems, and pushing it toward weapons and programs to benefit troops in counterinsurgency situations. The most high-profile cut is the F-22 fighter jet program, which will be capped at 187 plane-- four more than the current number. Also, President Barack Obama won't be getting his new Presidential helicopter.
- Even though the final defense budget is up four percent from last year, Gates and Obama can still expect a fight in Congress, where the final decisions will be made. Politico outlines the six major voting blocs that will decide what gets funded and what doesn't.
Politics
- Surprise! President Obama has stopped in Baghdad "on his way home" from Turkey.
- White evangelicals-- not typically Obama's base-- are confident that the President will get relations with the Muslim world "about right." In other news, 11% of Americans still think Obama is Muslim.
Economy
- The American people are apparently feeling rather chipper about the economy, compared to the gloom in which they were mired just a few months ago. A new NYT/CBS poll finds that public support of President Obama has been quite durable, and many people are feeling more optimistic, if still cautious, about the economy.
- The NY Times reports that the credit market are showing signs of an awakening. A more sober analysis looks at the country's means of production sitting unused, and concludes that it will take time to get the workers, factories, rail lines and everything else back up to capacity.
International
- The death toll from the earthquake that rocked Italy yesterday has climbed over 200, with another 1,000 injured. Tens of thousands have been left homeless by the quake.
- At a townhall meeting in Istanbul yesterday, President Obama called for a Middle East peace accord. Meanwhile, Marc Lynch looks at reactions in the Arab media to Obama's speech before the Turkish Parliament, and sees overwhelmingly positive respones.
New From NDN
- Zuraya offers her Weekly Immigration Roundup, looking particularly at how the 2010 census will affect immigration reform.
- Jake wrote a pretty frightening piece of economic analysis this morning. It appears this Great Recession looks a lot more like the Great Depression than anyone realized.
- Last, Joe Biden got to have a little fun at the Orioles opening day game yesterday. Unfortunately, CC Sabathia got rocked in his first start in pinstripes, and the Yankees lost:
- North Korea attempted to put a satellite into space on Sunday-- an act that has been universally understood as a test of a new, long-range missile. Despite a braggy report from Pyongyang that a satellite was in orbit, broadcasting music singing the praises of President Kim Jong-Il, and his father Kim Il-Sung, the NY Times reports that the test was a failure, with the missile's payload splashing into the Pacific Ocean. Still, the test was a marked improvement over the DPRK's previous failed missile test in 1998.
- Speaking in Prague yesterday, President Barack Obama condemned the launch, and insisted that the UN Security Council do the same. In an emergency session, the UNSC couldn't agree on language for a condemnation, and will meet again to discuss it further. Meanwhile, President Obama has proposed a new global effort at arms control, with the goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
Politics
- As Barack and Michelle's excellent adventure continues into Turkey, President Obama addressed the Muslim-majority country and spoke in favor of Turkey's accession to the EU. A new poll finds that most Americans support his outreach to the Muslim world.
- The WaPo profiles our pal Alec Ross, and looks at the new role he'll play at the State Department, as senior advisor on innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
- Some absentee and military ballots have yet to be counted, but the special election to fill the House seat from New York's 20th district is currently... tied. 77,225 to 77,225. How cool is that?
Economy
- The CBO revised upward their estimate of how much the government's rescue of financial institutions would cost US taxpayers. The new estimate is $356 billion-- almost double what it was previously.
- Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner suggested that he would force the ouster of top executives at banks that require "exceptional aid" from the government. Expect Wall Street to find that a little worrying.
- American consumers are now learning to save, not spend, and the WSJ reports that this habit could outlast the recession. Perhaps not such a bad thing...
International
- An earthquake in central Italy has killed at least 92 people, and some mountain towns have been destroyed.
- Anti-American vitriol doesn't carry quite the same weight in Venezuela that it used to, apparently. Hugo Chavez has said it's time to "hit the reset button" on US-Venezuelan relations, and bring things back to a "rational" level.
- President Obama has a long way to go in Pakistan, if he is to convince the people and the leadership that fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban is, in fact, a mutual interest.
New From NDN
- Simon wrote Friday about President Obama's speech from Strasbourg, and how it marks what may be the beginning of Obama's new role as a world leader.
- Andres wrote on Friday about the weapons trade that goes along with drug trade in fueling the unrest south of our border. Responsibility cuts two ways here, he says.
One More Thing
- Last, David Axelrod responds to Dick Cheney's assertion that Barack Obama's policies have made America less safe:
- The leaders of the G-20 nations exceeded many expectations yesterday as they arrived at an agreement to commit over $1 trillion to stem the global economic slide, with a much of that to be distributed through the IMF. The attendant nations also agreed to avoid protectionism that would push this recession to greater heights. Among many others, Jeff Sachs was impressed with the summit, and with its results.
- Still, there was no clear resolution on how to deal with the toxic assets at the root of the crisis, nor is there a global commitment to fiscal stimulus, as the US government was advocating, nor a global financial regulatory system, as France and Germany wanted.
- In his debut as a statesman, President Barack Obama dazzled critics, projecting an image of an America very different from the domineering hegemon represented by George W. Bush. Obama personally mediated a disagreement between France and China, working with them to find mutually agreeable language for a resolution.
Politics
- The House and the Senate each passed a version of a $3.5 trillion budget. The House bill tracks closer to Obama's blueprint; the Senate bill, which calls for $221 billion in cuts from Obama's appropriations requests in the next five years, is a rather status quo document, reports Politico.
- Crooked Rod was hit with charges on 16 counts of felonious corruption. He was in Disneyland when the indictment was unsealed. Rumors persist that he has been in Disneyland since about 2002.
Economy
- You should read Simon Johnson's excellent piece in the Atlantic, The Quiet Coup. He unpacks the ways our financial oligarchy led us to this collapse.
- Guess whose economy hasn't suffered much in the economic downturn? New Orleans, of all places, as they're still coasting on government dollars paying for rebuilding. Glad the Big Easy finally seems to have caught a break.
- The Washington Post has a slightly damning profile of Tim Geithner, looking back at his time as chairman of the New York Fed. It's ever more clear that our Treasury Secretary had the chance to put the brakes on this financial crisis early, and failed.
- The unemployment rate rose again in March, to 8.5%, as another 663,000 jobs disappeared.
International
- President Obama will be at the NATO summit in Strasbourg tomorrow, and spoke in the city today to a huge crowd, calling for renewed partnership between the US and Europe.
- Avigdor Lieberman, the far-right-wing foreign minister of Israel, has faced hours of questioning over the past few days for suspicions of bribery and money laundering.
New From NDN
- Michael Moynihan published a new essay yesterday, Carbonomics, in which he explores the relationship between gas prices and fuel economy.
Some Rights Reserved 2008 - Present, NDN. 
Leader: From Mexico City to Port of Spain
Leader: Our Southern Border
Leader: Hola, Amigos!
Leader: The Man in the Iron Maersk
Leader: Poll Land
Leader: Piracy on the High Seas
Leader: Less Exquisite Weapons
Leader: Nukes for Kooks
Leader: G-20 Thumbs Up
