WEDNESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* I guess those fears over inflation were wrong: “Consumer prices dipped unexpectedly in March, leaving prices over the past year falling at the fastest clip in more than a half-century.”
* The Fed thinks the economy may be leveling off. I’m not convinced.
* President Obama is headed to Mexico amidst growing drug violence.
* The results of the administration’s bank stress tests will, more or less, be disclosed to the public.
* Somali pirates tried to hijack another U.S. cargo ship today, but failed.
* Arizona State University clearly “blew it” when it came to an honorary degree for the president.
* Joe Klein explains how best to deal with North Korea’s latest tantrum.
* Some of those Tea Baggers sure are foolish.
* Off the air, Fox News’ Neil Cavuto saw about “5,000” people at a Tea Party he was helping promote. Once the cameras were on, that number grew rather dramatically.
* On a related note, a Fox News journalist told viewers, on the air today, “Guys, when are we going to wake up and start fighting the fascism that seems to be permeating this country?”
* Another Fox News journalist told viewers today they “need to” purchase Tea Party merchandise, “no matter what side of the issue you’re on.” [Update: My mistake. The reference was to a website that sells conservative merchandise, but also items for more liberal consumers. My apologies for the error.]
* Adam Serwer does a terrific job explaining where the White House has come up short, at least so far, on civil liberties.
* Robert Gates seems to realize “last gasp” was probably the wrong thing to say over the weekend.
* Dick Morris is very bad at math.
* The opinion page editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is “embarrassed” about publishing Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-Minn.) ridiculous op-ed last week.
* And finally, Stephen Colbert will not have a node named after him on the international space station. NASA will, however, name a treadmill after him. The equipment will be labeled the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
