Zimmerman Talks To Sean Hannity, Not His Lawyers
Mitt Surrogate: Obama Waging ‘War On Women’
GOP’s Dream Of Hispanic VP May Be Fading
TPM Editors’ Blog Opinions, Context & Ideas from TPM Editors
Time to Get New Lawyers
For those inclined to have a negative opinion of George Zimmerman, this was something of a banner day. Already armed, Zimmerman was portrayed by his attorneys as under duress and perhaps mentally unstable, and opening up communications with none other than Sean Hannity, which in this moment of Culture War Crazy is perhaps just slightly better than choosing John Derbyshire to be his new spokesman.
Read More →Fool for a Client
George Zimmerman’s lawyers bow out of the case after he – among other things – stopped talking to them and starting talking to Sean Hannity.
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Hillary In Da House!
Hillary Clinton meets the “Texts From Hillary” creators who we wrote about yesterday.
Things Get Weird
George Zimmerman’s (former) attorneys have just held a remarkable press conference in which they announced they would no longer represent the man who shot and killed teenager Trayvon Martin.
They said their client hasn’t answered their calls or text messages since Sunday, and as such have decided they cannot represent a man who does not want their services.
And in the most bizarre bit of the theater – they said their ex-client had reached out to Fox News’ Sean Hannity directly for an off-the-record conversation against their advice.
More as we get it…
Breaking
Initial reports from CNN said George Zimmerman was about to speak to the press. Now it’s his legal team. We’re following the story.
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Can It Work?
Top Romney surrogate tries to turn the tables, claims President Obama is waging “real war on women.”
Big News from Santo?
Rick Santorum is about to hold an event/press conference in Gettysburg. There’s some chatter to the effect Santorum might be getting out. But there’s no confirmation of that. And most of that seems like tea leaf reading at this point. You can watch the event live in a few moments here. So we’ll know soon enough.
A bit more evidence Santorum may be getting out.
Update: 2:02PM Rick Santorum is expected to suspend his campaign.
Picture of the Day
Obama appears at White House with furry visitor of unknown origin.
Obama’s Big Numbers
New WaPo/ABC poll shows big numbers for Obama.
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Daguerreotype Getting Back In The Game, Too
Instagram competitors using Facebook’s $1 billion acquisition to try to poach users.
About That Netflix Boycott …
Netflix to TPM: “We’ve seen some coverage somehow linking our PAC to SOPA/PIPA which is baseless (SOPA/PIPA are dead anyway.)”
Arpaio’s Right Hand Man
Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio were not so long ago a feared duo of Arizona politics. Together, they ran roughshod over their opponents – holding grudges and allegedly using the power of elected office to settle them.
Later today, Thomas faces disbarment for his conduct.
Obama: Release the Hounds!
With Romney’s nomination pretty much in the bag, the White House ramps up the push for the ‘Buffett Rule’.
Everyone’s Getting In On the Act
Teachers Unions target corporate tax loopholes as a way to fund public education.
Upping the Ante
Obama campaign demands Romney tax returns back to arrival on the Mayflower … almost.
Romney’s Tax Rate in the Crosshairs
Obama campaign goes all out on Romney’s taxes in time for April 15th.
Should You Be You?
We’re considering introducing Facebook comments to TPMLivewire, as an experiment to see how they work at TPM. As we consider it, I want to flag a piece I wrote back in August at our MediaLabs blog discussing the pros and cons. Very eager to hear your thoughts, feedback.
Picture of the Day (Really this time)
Okay, I take it back. This is the picture of the day.
Life of Crime
As usual, it seems like the main source of vote fraud in the USA is James O’Keefe’s pranks.
1% Type Money
Warren way outraises Scott Brown in the first quarter.
Arpaio Ally Andrew Thomas Disbarred
Ex-Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas abused his powers as a prosecutor to target his political enemies.
Newt Gingrich’s Utah Filing Fee Check Bounces
Newt Gingrich may not make the Utah primary ballot June 26 because his campaign’s $500 check to the state bounced.
Most Recent Latest news stories from TPM reporters
George Zimmerman Is Apparently Talking To Sean Hannity But Not His Own Attorneys
George Zimmerman has gone rogue. The man accused of killing unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin has been dodging his defense team, trying to talk directly to the people debating whether to prosecute him and apparently having off-the-record conversations with conservative talk jock Sean Hannity. In an unusual news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Zimmerman’s attorneys said they were withdrawing from his case because of their client’s bizarre behavior in recent days. “I can’t…
Why The National Stolen Cell Phone Database Is Needed
On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission and the nation’s four largest wireless phone companies (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile) announced plans for the creation of a single nationwide database of all cell phones reported stolen in the U.S. by the end of 2013. They were joined by the police chiefs of New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to unveil the new PROTECTS initiative at a press event. “In DC, New York and other major cities, roughly 40% of all…
What Hath Rick Santorum Wrought?
In the comic book version of the 2012 GOP presidential contest, Rick Santorum would be known as Dr. Chaos. An ex-senator whose name was almost lost to history, Santorum donned his signature sweater vest and transformed into the larger-than-life conservative who’d expose all of Mitt Romney’s existing weaknesses – and create a few new ones. Santorum’s own campaign proudly reflected on their contribution to the race just after he announced he was stepping aside: We knocked Romney off…
Day In 100 Seconds: Santorum Suspends (VIDEO)
Rick Santorum took the media by surprise today, by announcing in his home state of Pennsylvania that he was suspending his presidential campaign.
Watch:
Romney Surrogate: Obama Waging ‘Real War On Women’
For weeks, Republicans have denied there’s a “war on women” raging, as Democrats have declared. Now they’re admitting the war exists – and it’s being led, they charge, by President Obama.
Democrats seized the line of attack after congressional Republicans pushed to allow employers to deny contraception coverage to women. The message gained steam after Rush Limbaugh’s smear of a law student who spoke out in favor of birth-control access.
Amazing Wind Map Shows America’s Wind Resources In Real-Time
Want to see which way the wind is blowing, all across America? An amazing new real-time, animated map of the country’s wind resources has got your back. The map, launched online at Hint.fm in late March, shows “the delicate tracery of wind” across the contintental U.S. – with coursing lines gray lines representing the wind’s direction, shaded according to speed. The map is even zoomable, for a more local view. It relies on data from the National Digital Forecast Database…
Rick Santorum Suspends Presidential Campaign: ‘We Are Not Done Fighting’
Rick Santorum suspended his bid for the presidency in a news conference in Gettysburg, Pa., clearing the path for Mitt Romney to become the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party. “While this presidential race is over for me and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting,” he said. He notably did not endorse – or even mention – Romney. The Romney campaign confirmed to TPM that the two spoke before Santorum’s announcement and Santorum spokesman…
GOP Dream Of Hispanic VP May Be Fading
It’s been the dominant conventional wisdom ever since a wave of Hispanic Republicans won big races in 2010: Mitt Romney will pick a Hispanic running mate. But Romney may not be able to make that fantasy ticket a reality – even if he wants to. Picking a Hispanic politician would be a logical way to boost appeal with a key constituency. Republicans, including Romney, have some “catching up to do” with Hispanic voters after lashing themselves to the anti-immigration wing of the party…
Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Ex-Right Hand Man Disbarred Over Ethics Violations
Updated: April 10, 2012, 4:02 PM
In a Phoenix courtroom filled with fellow lawyers and some of his biggest critics on Tuesday, the former Arizona prosecutor who served for years as Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s right-hand man was stripped of his license to practice law.
A three-member state disciplinary panel ruled that ex-Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas abused his powers as a prosecutor to target his political enemies. Because of that, they ruled he would be disbarred.
Instagram Competitors Seize Moment, Users, After Facebook Acquistion
Reaction to Facebook’s surprise purchase of popular photo-sharing smartphone application Instagram for an eye-popping $1 billion on Monday has been decidedly mixed. Although many tech bloggers have spent the day after the purchase attempting to decode Facebook’s motivations for throwing down such a momentous sum on a company that has no declared revenue stream, some of Instagram’s 35 million users have come out vocally opposed to the deal, complaining on social media that Facebook…
Poll: Obama Leads Romney Nationally, Ahead On Key Economic Numbers
Americans by and large are still pessimistic about the economy, but their opinion of President Obama’s handling of the issue is improving, while they still view the President as someone who understands the concerns of normal citizens. New numbers from ABC News and the Washington Post show President Obama with a seven point lead over former Massachusetts Gov. and likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney among registered voters nationally. The lead is mainly built on a large…
Stephen Colbert: Steve King For VP!
The Republican primary season is officially – but also unofficially – over, Stephen Colbert said on Monday. Now the question is: who will Mitt Romney pick as his running mate? “It is crucial that Romney pick a running mate who will help him with the groups he’s weak with: women, Hispanics, African Americans, evangelical Christians and Republicans,” Colbert said. One man may be up to that task: Iowa Congressman Steve King. He offered a nuanced critique of “Obamacare” and is looking …
Jon Stewart On Right-Wing Outrage Over NBC’s Edited Zimmerman Tape: ‘You Blew It’
Journalists everywhere basically agree: NBC’s deceptive editing of George Zimmerman’s 911 call was wrong. “What the hell? NBC, you cut out the 911 dispatcher’s question,” Jon Stewart said on Monday. “Zimmerman was answering a multiple-choice question. You make it sound like he was calling 911 to report aggravated blackness.” The editing also gave the analysts at Fox News an opening to hammer the media for pushing what they claim is a “Trayvon Martin as victim” theme. But “even when …
‘Anonymous’ Launches Boycott Over Netflix PAC
If it were a movie, it would definitely be one worth waiting to see on Netflix. Monday afternoon saw a case of the Internet hype machine gone wildly out of control in which a Twitter account associated with the hacktivist movement Anonymous launched an online boycott of Netflix over the video subscription company’s newly-formed political action committee. “Dear freedom lovers, @netflix is forming a PAC to push for a new version of SOPA, cancel your sub and go back to pirating!”…
Today On The Trail: April 10, 2012
Here are ten things you need to know today. If the election were held today: President Obama would beat Mitt Romney 51% to 44%, according to the latest Washington Post/ABC News Poll. Obama’s victory would be in part due to strong support among women voters. The poll found that “Romney is up eight percentage points among male voters but trails by 19 among women.” Poll shows Obama’s advantages over Romney: That new Washington Post/ABC News Poll out Tuesday shows the President with a The …
Beyond Gay Marriage: North Carolina Amendment Carries Massive Implications
When North Carolina holds an election on May 8, voters won’t merely be deciding the fate of same-sex marriage in the state; they will be voting on an amendment with implications that could affect gay and straight couples alike. If passed, Amendment One would establish marriage between a man and a woman as the only legally recognized union in the state – a sweeping distinction that would preclude legal recognition for all other domestic partnerships. The broad language of the…
Obama Anti-Smoking Law Faces Partisan Headwinds In Court
The Obama administration is in the midst of defending a law that touches on corporate speech and public health – issues that have been the subject of two of the most explosive Supreme Court cases of the last decade. The Supreme Court may yet weigh in, but unlike the Citizens United case, in which the court’s five conservative justices loosened the reins on corporate spending and political expenditures – enabling the rise of super PACs – it would decide this time whether the…
White House Ramps Up Push For ‘Buffett Rule’ With Romney Nomination Looming
Ahead of a Senate vote next week to put members on record supporting or opposing the so-called “Buffett Rule,” the White House is rolling out a public campaign to tout the notion that people who make more than $1 million a year should pay a bigger share of their income in taxes than middle-class Americans. The subtext is heavily political. On Monday, the Obama campaign hosted a conference call to pressure likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney to release years of tax returns after Romney…
Top Teachers Union Takes On Corporate Tax Loopholes To Fund Education
The National Education Association is ramping up a public information campaign to build support for closing big corporate tax loopholes and directing the revenue toward key education initiatives. The push comes weeks after the Obama administration released a framework for corporate tax reforms that would be revenue neutral, suggesting a schism between the powerful union and the White House. But in a Monday interview, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel applauded Obama’s record on…
Republicans Try To Erase The Contraception Wars
After a series of public embarrassments, and faced with polling data that suggests the GOP agenda is driving women toward the Democratic Party, Republicans may be tacitly acknowledging that kowtowing to their conservative base in an election year has some ugly ramifications. But that doesn’t mean they’re chastened. They’re just hoping everyone forgets. Congressional Republicans abandoned their push to roll back the Obama administration’s contraception guarantee for female employees…