TUESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Wall Street responded very well to surprising news from Citi.
* Facing bleak prospects, Chas Freedman withdrew from consideration today. He was President Obama’s choice to be chairman of the National Intelligence Council.
* Bloodshed in Baghdad: “A suicide bomber took aim at a group of Iraqi army officers on their way to a reconciliation conference, killing 33 people on Tuesday and raising concerns about an increase in insurgent activity in Iraq. It was the second attack since Sunday to kill more than two dozen people.”
* Bernie Madoff to plead guilty. He faces life in prison.
* The Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 yesterday to narrow the protections of the Voting Rights Act.
* CNN: “Five Guantanamo prisoners accused in the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the U.S. staunchly defended their actions, calling the operation ‘blessed’ and ‘great’ and the accusations against them ‘badges of honor.’”
* You know what Michael Steele really needs right now? Yet another controversy.
* Did Howard Dean become a lobbyist? That’s what the Washington Post reported yesterday, but it’s not the whole story.
* It’s good to see Van Jones join the Obama administration.
* The Center for American Progress is launching a new war room? Sounds like a good idea.
* Scott Lemieux explains the nuances of the religious right’s media strategy.
* Some Republican senators aren’t impressed with John McCain’s misleading crusade against pork.
* The DNC is making progress on its Limbaugh-related billboard project. (My personal favorite: “Americans didn’t vote for a Rush to failure”)
* Mary Matalin has a very short memory, and a bizarre understanding of recent history.
* Is Ed Schultz in line for the 10 p.m. slot on MSNBC?
* Our very own Hilzoy gets immortalized (sort of) in a new novel.
* Joe Scarborough goes after Jon Stewart, despite the fact that the MSNBC anchor and former Republican congressman apparently is unaware of what “The Daily Show” actually is.
* Jon Stewart goes after Jim Cramer, and is fully aware of what’s on CNBC.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
