Good morning! Today is believed to be the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth. But there’s no doubt that it’s Talk Like Shakespeare Day — thou knowest what to do.
Affirmative action –> SCOTUS ruled that states can ban affirmative action programs. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasted John Roberts for having views on race that are “out of touch with reality.” Sahil Kapur has some highlights at TPM. AND: Jeffrey Rosen writes at TNR that liberals should be happy with the decision.
Speaking of SCOTUS –> Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick argues that the only thing worse than political ads full of lies is an Ohio law banning them. It’s being challenged this week at the Supreme Court.
Cold War redux? –> The US is deploying 600 ground troops to four Eastern European countries to conduct “training exercises” — to counter Russia. Philip Ewing has the details at Politico.
Expect high turnout –> It looks like both marijuana legalization and a minimum wage hike will be on the ballot in Alaska this November. Niraj Chokshi reports for WaPo.
Heavy lifts –> At The Nation, Chris Hayes likens the campaign to get oil companies to leave trillions of dollars worth of fossil fuels in the ground to abolitionists’ demand that slaveholders give up their valuable human “property” in the 19th century.
Good idea –> Robert Reich is getting behind a California bill that would set corporate tax rates according to companies’ ratio of CEO-to-worker pay. Those with lower ratios would enjoy lower tax rates, giving business leaders an incentive to share the prosperity.
Progressive cities –> TAP’s Harold Meyerson writes that demographic changes are reshaping American cities, and they’re reshaping our politics in turn.
LIZ!!!! –> Salon is running an excerpt from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s new book, A Fighting Chance. In it, she writes about why she constantly challenges the Beltway’s conventional wisdom.
Rand Paul is toast –> At MoJo, David Corn has video of Paul arguing that Jimmy Carter was more fiscally conservative than Ronald Reagan. That should play well with the GOP base.
No magic powers –> At National Journal, Norm Ornstein tackles the “Green Lantern theory” that American presidents can get whatever they want by being sufficiently forceful or persuasive.
“Adam Smith is not the antidote to Thomas Piketty” –> So writes University of Virginia political scientist Deborah Boucoyannis at The Monkey Cage.
Bitter dead-enders –> Appalled by moves by some Republicans to soften the party’s stance on marriage equality, two religious right groups conducted a dubiously phrased poll that found the GOP base still adamantly opposed to gay marriage. Maggie Haberman reports for Politico.
Gunsanity –> For years, the NRA worked hard to block a Washington law that would require those alleged to have committed domestic violence to turn in their guns when a restraining order is issued. But Laura Bassett and Christina Wilkie report for HuffPo that the gun lobby is now “quietly” backing down on the issue.
Just not that into her –> Peter Bell and Brian McGill at National Journal: “Not a Single Republican Has Mentioned Earth Day in Congress Since 2010.”
“We need to be as elected officials held to a higher standard” –> So said Florida State Rep. Dane Eagle, a Republican, when he introduced a bill requiring legislators to undergo drug testing. Which was shortly before he was arrested in the middle of the night Monday for driving drunk — after leaving a Taco Bell. Via: HuffPo.
