On days when big things are underway at the Supreme Court, I always search for buzzwords or insights from my long-ago legal education, but usually fail. Probably forgot most of what I learned within six months of graduation.
Here are some lawyered-up midday news and views treats:
* The Wall Street Journal has a live-blog available on today’s SCOTUS oral arguments in the Hobby Lobby case.
* General reaction to oral arguments is that decision will be close, with Kennedy the key, but also with Roberts and Breyer possibly supporting “half-loaf” on religious rights of corporations by limiting them to closely-held companies.
* Meanwhile, D.C. Circuit panel seems split on suit claiming Obamacare subsidies only authorized for state exchange participants. It’ll be a couple of months before ruling issued.
* Interesting Peter Beinart take on Putin as the Russian equivalent of the American neocons who are so alarmed by him.
* Prospect‘s Paul Waldman suggests people annoyed by early presidential cycle coverage just tune out.
* TPM’s Daniel Strauss has a useful update on the “messy” GOP Senate primary in North Carolina.
And in non-political news:
* More snow in the northeast!
As we break for lunch, those who marveled at Rosco Gordon’s performance with a rooster atop his piano will enjoy another cut from the same film, this time the appropriate “Chicken in the Rough.”
