Good morning — and happy Friday! Here’s a roundup of some of the stories we’re reading this AM as we come down from our Halloween sugar-high…
Go-and-frisk –> Appeals court blocks lower court’s order that NYPD change its stop-and-frisk policy; removes judge from the case. Joseph Goldstein reports for the NYT.
And in Texas –> Three judges appointed by George W. Bush reinstate harsh anti-choice law, reports Ian Millhiser for ThinkProgress. ALSO: At RH Reality Check, Andrea Grimes says the ruling will force one-third of the Lone Star State’s providers to shut down.
War on the poor –> Krugman says we’re seeing it unfold before our eyes. ALSO: At Daily Kos, Laura Clawson notes that the food stamp cuts kicking in right now will not only hurt the poor, but also the larger economy.
That cancellation brouhaha –> TPM’s Dylan Scott on what really happens when people get an insurance “cancellation” letter — for most, it’s a good thing. ALSO: At NYMag, Jonathan Chait goes a step further and says that letting everyone keep their current plan would be horrible policy.
New Jim Crow –> Norm Orenstein writes in the National Journal that we’re seeing more intense voter suppression now than at any times since the civil rights era.
Filibustered –> At Buzzfeed, John Stanton reports that the Senate has blocked the nomination of a sitting member of Congress for the first time since the Civil War. ALSO: Sahil Kapur reports for TPM that the GOP is preparing to block all of Obama’s nominations to the influential DC court of appeals, no matter who the president puts up. ALSO, TOO: Salon’s Brian Beutler says this is the time to exercise the “nuclear option” and restore democracy to the Senate.
Very special relationship –> At The American Conservative, Scott McConnell takes a look at our fraying alliance with the Saudis.
At least the shipping is free –> Willy Staley offers The Amazon Guide to Tax-Dodging, at TNR.
Tragic –> Irin Carmon with a tragic story of the real-world consequences of anti-choice laws for MSNBC.
Civil war –> Traditional pro-business Republicans, including former Romney donors, backing a centrist Dem over a field of tea party nuts in Georgia’s senate race. Laura Litvan reports for Bloomberg.
Swedish billionaires –> At Slate, Matt Yglesias wonders why there are so many billionaires in the high-tax country with a generous welfare state.
No love for you! –> Nebraska man sentenced to probation, the terms of which included a ban on romantic relationships. Decision raises constitutional questions, reports Nicole Flatow for ThinkProgress.
Tail tells a tale –> Italian researchers have discovered that dogs subconsciously communicate with one another by wagging their tails in one direction or another.
What else is happening? Tell us in the comments!
