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A.M. Headlines

(Reuters): "Internet monitoring must have proper limits, Merkel tells Obama" (New York Times): "Extending a hand abroad, Obama often finds cold shoulders" (The Hill): "House passes late-term abortion ban" (Talking Points Memo): "Nate Silver: Politico co-founders lack 'curiosity for the world outside the bubble" (USA Today): "Journalist Michael Hastings dead at 33"

Morning Joe Bleeps The Late Michael Hastings Calling Out Hillary Spox's 'BS' On Benghazi

Who was Morning Joe protecting: the sensitive ears of its viewers, or Hillary Clinton? During a discussion of the death of the feisty and fearless reporter Michael Hastings, Morning Joe bleeped out Joe Scarborough's reading from an email from Hastings to Philippe Reines, Hillary's personal spokesman during her Secretary of State tenure. Show More Summary

Wednesday Jukebox: Franco-tastic Part II

Apparently, I’m making this a series. There was some pretty good Rap and Hip Hop that came out of France in ’90s. The seminal act was probably IAM. This is one of their hits, La Saga, which featured members of Wu Tang. Not only is it...Show More Summary

NBA Draft News and Notes: Could Alex Len go #1?

Next Thursday, NBA bottom dwellers will finally get the chance to add some fresh talent to their roster and the teams that fell out of the postseason earlier than desired will have the chance to find a missing piece of the puzzle. Leading...Show More Summary

Big Government Republicans now bullying Asheville on local elections

They way Republicans in the General Assembly are interfering in local governments, it's hard to understand why every elected official in every city and town in North Carolina isn't participating in civil disobedience on Moral Mondays. This kind of ridiculousness is simply beyond the pale.

Lamestream Media Death Spiral… Confidence in Newspapers and TV News Trends Downward

Still good for fishwrap Lamestream Media death spiral… Americans continue to lose confidence and newspapers and television news. Via US News and World Report: Continuing a decades-long downward trend, fewer than one-fourth of Americans have confidence in newspapers, according to … Continue reading ?

The Pressure Is on Bernanke

Bernanke is in the spotlight today, as a Federal Reserve policy statement and forecast will be scrutinized for clues as to shifting sentiment inside the Fed, criteria for paring its bond-buying program and whether the Fed chairman will serve another term.

Journalist Michael Hastings Dies

The journalist Michael Hastings, best known for a Rolling Stone story that led to the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, died early Tuesday in a car crash in Los Angeles, his employer said. In a single-car crash that occurred about 4:25 a.m. Show More Summary

Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: NSA leaks and other arguments

WaPo on new ABC/WaPo poll (above graphic): Americans are divided when it comes to charging Edward Snowden with a crime for leaking portions of the National Security Agency’s sweeping surveillance of phone records and Internet activity, but they clearly want to know more, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Show More Summary

Michael Hastings, reporter who brought down Gen. McChrystal dies at 33

Ted Cruz MOCKS Obama’s Support For Syrian Rebels Who Are Allied With Al-Qaeda

There’s no word yet on whether Barack Obama will be bowing to Al-Qaeda’s allies in Syria, but he does plan to work with them to get rid of that country’s dictator. In other words, we’re going to be funneling billions in tax dollars to...Show More Summary

Obama to call for U.S., Russia to cut nuclear warhead supply by one-third

(CNN) - President Barack Obama will ask Russia to join the United States in slashing its supply of strategic nuclear warheads by about one-third, a senior administration official said. Obama will announce the goal during a speech Wednesday in Berlin - a city rife with Cold War history.

Detroit Goes Under: “There Is No Way Out But Collapse”

Though most Americans go through their day thinking everything is now returning to normal, the fact of the matter is the situation is anything but stable. With crime rates skyrocketing, home prices dropping to under $500 for a house,...Show More Summary

The Secret Message in This Rand Paul Pic

The New Republic's profile of Sen. Rand Paul is well worth a look—and so is the remarkable cover photograph, which captures the Kentucky lawmaker crossing his fingers: The New Republic The amazing photo set off a round of accusations that the image had been Photoshopped to make Paul look bad. Show More Summary

On Wednesday’s Radio Show…

• Author John Shelby Spong talks about his book The Fourth Gospel, in which he claims the last gospel is not a literal account of the life of Jesus. • Columnist John Derbyshire defends his claim that women serving in combat roles are “outliers” will commit “hoaxes.”

MAP: Border Security Spending Is Often Wasted

As the Senate immigration bill enters its second week of floor negotiations and the House begins marking up its bill, much of the debate will center on how border security can be further expanded and better enforced. That means more deal-making. Show More Summary

Good Morning

Two day brighteners to go with your morning coffee: ...and you thought you needed to spend a lot of money on toys:

Paranoia Strikes Deep: The Press and Rand Paul

The absurd lengths journalists have gone to portray the Kentucky senator as if he's hiding something dangerous.

Drop the Pimp Talk

In the Food section of today’s Washington Post you can find a recipe for “Dad’s Pimped-Out Gin and Tonic.” We’re supposed to think this is cute, as we were invited to chuckle at the HBO show “Pimp my Ride,” or at the 2005 Academy Award for best movie song to “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” Pimps aren’t funny or cute. Show More Summary

"The 35 Most Spectacular Wildlife Photos From The National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest."

#30 made me laugh. #5 is my favorite. But don't take my word for it. I've been up since 4 a.m., woken by birds, the usual pre-dawn twittering racket having been made unusually wacky by an intermittent bass line contributed by an owl...