Today’s edition of quick hits:
* In terms of policy significance, inauguration invocations are generally easy to ignore, but today’s remarks from Myrlie Evers-Williams were among the most powerful and memorable of any invocation I’ve ever seen.
* I also quite liked Richard Blanco’s inauguration poem, “One Today.”
* Algerian hostage crisis: “Algeria’s prime minister said Monday that at least 37 foreign hostages died during the four-day siege in his country, a steep increase from earlier estimates, and the United States government confirmed that three Americans were among them.” To underscore the lack of information, note that five hostages remained unaccounted for.
* Yemen: “A U.S. drone airstrike on a vehicle Monday east of Yemen’s capital of Sanaa killed three suspected al-Qaida militants and wounded two others, according to security officials.”
* The House vote on the debt ceiling is likely to come as early as Wednesday.
* A stunning scene: “A gunman reportedly attempted to assassinate the leader of Bulgaria’s Turkish ethnic party during a televised conference on Saturday.”
* The congressman and his family are now reportedly under protection: “Authorities are investigating death threats against Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), according to an aide to the freshman congressman.”
* This should be a no-brainer, not a debate: “Flu season fuels debate over paid sick time laws.” * How bizarre: “Nevada assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) is in jail, arrested for threatening Speaker-elect Marilyn Kirkpatrick (D), the Las Vegas Sun reports.” * The NRA’s attack ad that mentions the president’s kids isn’t just offensive; it’s also largely based on a mistake published by a right-wing website. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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