What we’re reading: March 15, 2012

‘sup, #nerdland! Welcome to the first of the two least-productive days of the year for the American workforce, also known as the first day of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. President Obama’s bracket can be found here; many others across America will likely be found in the garbage after missing on all the upsets. 

We have no choice but to be productive today — we’re producing TV for all you fine people! Your bracket locked in when the first game tipped off shortly after noon, so check out what we here at the “MHP” staff have had our eyes on this morning:

Recommended

Maddowblog

After a pitiful year, Speaker Johnson keeps pushing the same weird boast

Steve Benen

News

Democrats finally propose a shutdown deal — and Republicans torch it in seconds

Kevin Frey, Peggy Helman, Syedah Asghar, Ali Vitali, Mychael Schnell

• Today’s “Doonesbury.”
• Also starting at noon were the Senate floor speeches regarding the Violence Against Women Act, which Republicans…oppose? Yep.
• Speaking of the Right and their attack on women’s rights, are they crazy like a fox when it comes to messaging?
• Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett yesterday signed one of the nation’s toughest voter-ID bills into law, one that could target historically Black colleges and universities, in particular — but it may not be over yet.
• Even though it has him behind in the race for the Republican nomination, Rick Santorum thinks it’s laughable that math is Mitt Romney’s argument.
• Tar-sands drilling produces three times as many spills as crude-oil drilling, a new Cornell study reports.
• A company is putting the faces of President Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on shooting targets.
• All of Ta-Nehisi Coates‘ postings on the Trayvon Martin tragedy. I won’t link all his blogs here; just visit his site at The Atlantic.