* Jonathan Bernstein explains how the apparent House GOP decision to let a payroll tax cut extension pass without offsets continues a perennial tradition of talking tough on deficits until decisions have to be made.

* Clare Malone supplies a simple backgrounder on the crisis in Greece.

* Irin Carmon reports Justice Ginsburg’s reminiscences on the case that could have supplied a stronger foundation for reproductive rights–and women’s equality–than Roe v. Wade.

* Anne Kim reviews the impact of independent expenditures in 2010 Senate races.

* Dave Weigel reports the startling news that the person currently running second (with a booming 1% of the vote) to Barack Obama in Democratic primaries so far is none other than anti-choice looneytunes Randall Terry.

And:

* Julia Felsenthal reviews the ambiguous history of the sweater vest.

Tonight I plan to put aside all this silly political stuff and settle down with OMB budget documents. With the time left over, I’ll essay a fresh reading of Humanae Vitae.

Just kidding.

Selah.

Ed Kilgore

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.