TUESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Wall Street seemed to react well to the Fed’s latest (and last) rate cut.
* Evidence of deflation may have had something to do with the Fed’s move.
* Construction starts fell in November to the lowest point since the government started keeping track in 1959.
* The attempted terrorism in Paris today looked pretty scary.
* It looks like some folks may end up owing Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) an apology. If he’s been working with federal investigators for months, then he’s helped catch a crook.
* Is Muntadar al-Zaidi, the shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist, being abused while in custody?
* What do you know, Cheney signed off on torture.
* Speaking of Cheney, the fact that he’s still confused about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction is kind of scary.
* Conservative Republicans in Congress seem to want the U.S. auto industry to collapse.
* The Securities and Exchange Commission was unbelievably slow in responding to doubts about Madoff’s business practices, which were apparently an elaborate Ponzi scheme.
* Speaker Pelosi will work with the Obama administration, but she’s putting limits on Rahm Emanuel’s influence.
* The Supreme Court has cleared the way for smokers to sue tobacco companies over the marketing of “light” cigarettes.
* Obama’s plan to build up the nation’s Internet infrastructure really is worthwhile.
* It’s hard to believe, but Bill O’Reilly’s replacement on Fox Radio is actually a step down: it’s John Gibson.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
