WEDNESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Another rough day on Wall Street, with the Dow falling 245 points, the other major indexes down about 3% each.
* There was a brief break to the violence in Gaza earlier, allowing for some relief supplies to reach Palestinian civilians. Soon after, Israeli strikes and Hamas rocket fire resumed. Talk of a possible cease-fire continues.
* The annual budget deficit Obama will inherit from Bush will be $1.2 trillion.
* The staff of the Federal Reserve expects the economy to deteriorate further and for the recession to last through next year.
* Roland Burris expects to be seated “very shortly.”
* Oh my: “The coal ash pond that ruptured and sent a billion gallons of toxic sludge across 300 acres of East Tennessee last month was only one of more than 1,300 similar dumps across the United States — most of them unregulated and unmonitored — that contain billions more gallons of fly ash and other byproducts of burning coal.”
* Obama has asked Dennis Ross, Richard Haass, and Richard Holbrooke “to serve as his chief emissaries to world hot spots.”
* Nancy Killefer will serve as the nation’s first “chief performance officer.” Obama introduced her at an event this morning.
* The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is an excellent idea.
* The attack yesterday on Soapblox is completely outrageous, and worthy of FBI attention.
* It’s time to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
* Despite rumors she’d be replaced by the incoming administration, Sheila Bair will stay on as the head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
* Harry Reid’s support for Ted Stevens is very odd.
* Mitch McConnell keeps using the phrase “middle class,” but I don’t think it means what he thinks it means.
* Back when there were Koufax Awards, there was a way to honor a specific series of posts on a single topic. It’s a shame they’re gone, because I’d like to see Digby’s series on tazers get an award.
* Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) really shouldn’t challenge anyone to check his facts.
* So long, “digital rights management.”
* Ben & Jerry’s has an inauguration-inspired flavor: “Yes Pecan.”
* R.I.P., Peter Freyne.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
