Today’s edition of quick hits:
* President Obama’s travels throughout Africa are well underway, and he has a substantive and symbolic agenda in mind.
* The White House issued a statement immediately after the Senate approved comprehensive immigration reform, hailing its passage. “Today, the Senate did its job,” Obama said. “It’s now up to the House to do the same.”
* Consequences for Bangladesh: “The Obama administration on Thursday announced plans to suspend trade privileges for Bangladesh over concerns about safety problems and labor rights violations in that country’s garment industry.”
* On Edward Snowden, Obama rejected the suggestion that he might order the military to intercept any plane that might be carrying the leaker. “I’m not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker,” the president said.
* Keep an eye on this one: “Congressional Democrats have sent a letter to House Republicans formally demanding that they call the author of the now-infamous audit on IRS targeting of conservative groups to come back to the Hill and testify under oath — where he’ll be pressed to explain why the audit failed to detail that progressive groups had also been targeted.”
* Laws aren’t suggestions: “A remarkable document released by The Guardian gives the public its first in-depth look at the legal process that justified the dragnet surveillance programs undertaken during President George W. Bush’s first term. And they make clear that lots of people involved in the process — government lawyers, judges, and the lawyers of private telecommunications companies — believed the Bush administration had stepped over the legal line.”
* That was easy: “The Senate unanimously confirmed Anthony Foxx to be President Barack Obama’s next transportation secretary, becoming the second cabinet member confirmed this week.”
* Coal lobbyists won’t be pleased: “President Obama on Thursday will nominate Ron Binz, a strong proponent of renewable energy and former Colorado utility regulator, to head Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, according to individuals familiar with the decision who asked not to be identified because the announcement has not been made public.” * Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) replies to James Taranto: “There is no war on men.” * And Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s (D-Ill.) epic takedown of an IRS contractor at a hearing yesterday is as amazing as you’ve heard, if not more so. Take the eight minutes to watch this one. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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