TUESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Faisal Shahzad: “The suspect in a failed attempted to detonate a car bomb in Times Square has implicated himself and is cooperating with authorities in an investigation that is spreading overseas as investigators look for links to the plot in the would-be bomber’s native Pakistan.”
* A brief reprieve: “Shifting and easing winds on Monday bought time for weather-beaten crews to bottle up and burn off a massive slick of rust-colored crude oil before it fouls fragile marshes and sugary beaches across four Gulf Coast states.”
* Ouch: “The euro fell sharply on Tuesday and major indexes in Europe and the United States tumbled as the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the risk of contagion continued to hang over the market.”
* At least 29 people were killed in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky this week “by either floodwaters or tornadoes.”
* Biggest increase in nine years: “Orders to U.S. factories rose a surprising 1.3 percent in March with widespread gains in many industries offsetting a big drop in commercial aircraft.”
* Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), who trained Iraqi troops during the Bush/Cheney era, was disgusted by John McCain’s and Pete King’s demagoguery on Mirandizing the Times Square suspect today.
* One of Bush’s more ridiculous cabinet secretaries, HUD’s Alphonso Jackson, won’t be going to jail after all.
* Good post from Mark Kleiman on the Obama administration’s drug strategy.
* Not surprisingly, student loan defaults are increasing.
* Look for a new Supreme Court nominee next week.
* The Wall Street Journal editorial page, among others, would have us believe government employees are better paid than private workers. It’s not true.
* A worthwhile endeavor: putting an end to prison rape.
* Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R) has an odd sense of humor.
* Kent State, 40 years later.
* Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) ends his effort to give Virtus a modesty shield. Good move.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
