Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Austin: “‘Exotic’ batteries ordered online helped lead authorities to the Austin, Texas, bombing suspect before he died early Wednesday as police closed in, multiple senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.”
* Related news: “Investigators piecing together a portrait of the suspected Austin, Texas, serial bomber — who brought a manhunt to an end early Wednesday after he blew himself up — may find some clues in a 2012 blog.”
* The Fed: “The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to raise interest rates by one-quarter of a percentage point, in the central bank’s first policy meeting led by its new chairman, Jerome ‘Jay’ Powell.”
* After nearly a year in which Donald Trump never mentioned Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the president has now gone after Mueller’s probe for a third time.
* Presidents aren’t supposed to do stuff like this: “President Trump on Wednesday criticized his own Justice Department for not urging the Supreme Court to get involved in a fight over whether Arizona can deny driver’s licenses to the young undocumented immigrants known as ‘dreamers.’”
* That was quick: “A federal judge is temporarily blocking a new Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.”
* In related news: “Idaho will become the latest conservative state to require women seeking abortions to be informed that the drug-induced procedures can be halted halfway, despite opposition from medical groups that say there is little evidence to support that claim.”
* Not too surprising: “A New York judge dismissed former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page’s defamation suit against Yahoo News’ parent company Tuesday.” * And then there were two: “Amid recent chatter that Trump could fire special counsel Robert Mueller, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) both suggested Tuesday that if the president took that step, impeachment would be the appropriate response.” * And Barack and Michelle Obama wrote a handwritten note of encouragement to the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. “We wanted to let you know how inspired we have been by the resilience, resolve and solidarity that you have all shown in the wake of unspeakable tragedy,” the Obamas wrote. They added, “Throughout our history, young people like you have led the way in making America better. There may be setbacks; you may sometimes feel like progress is too slow in coming. But we have no doubt you are going to make an enormous difference in the days and years to come, and we will be there for you.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
