National Pulse

Rand Paul stages 13-hour filibuster

Paul/Reuters

Sen. Rand Paul mounted an old-fashioned filibuster Wednesday, holding the Senate floor for almost 13 hours in a bid to block the confirmation of President Barack Obama's pick to lead the CIA and to highlight the president's policy on the use of drones. Other senators provided gifts of tea and apples, and stepped in to allow Paul brief breaks, before the Kentucky Republican finally ended his marathon speech early this morning. "I'm hopeful that we have drawn attention to this issue, that this issue will not fade away, and that the president will come up with a response," he said. CBS News/The Associated Press (3/7), The Washington Post (3/7), FoxNews.com (3/7), National Public Radio/The Two-Way blog (3/7)

Other News

Agenda Items

After dinner date, Obama invites Paul Ryan to lunch

Ryan/Reuters

President Barack Obama entertained a dozen senior Republican senators Wednesday night and planned to continue his "chat-and-chew" charm offensive today by hosting a lunch for Reps. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. Top Republicans gave the president's overtures a cautious welcome, although not everyone trusted his motives. "Call me cynical, but it just feels like, well, the media criticizes him, his approval ratings drop and suddenly he wants to talk," said Rep. Patrick Tiberi, R-Ohio. The Hill/Blog Briefing Room (3/7), Politico (Washington, D.C.) (3/7), The Wall Street Journal (3/6)

Data Points

Why the U.S. isn't heading for a Greek tragedy

Reuters

Fears that the U.S. debt will push the country into a Greece-style economic tailspin are probably ill-founded, writes Matthew O'Brien. There's little empirical evidence to suggest that countries like the U.S. face a debt "tipping point" beyond which borrowing costs spiral out of control, O'Brien explains. "Our Greek chorus are more Chicken Littles than Cassandras," he asserts. The Atlantic online (3/7)

The Conversation

Daily Diversion

Mitch McConnell jumps on the "Harlem Shake" bandwagon

McConnell/Reuters

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has released a meme-tastic new video clip showing a man doing the Harlem Shake while holding a paper cutout of the Republican politician's face. The McConnell impersonator is then joined by other dancers dressed as an elephant, Captain America, Uncle Sam, Abe Lincoln and Rosie the Riveter. CNN/Political Ticker blog (3/6)

Editor's Note

Help SmartBrief cover SXSW Interactive!
SmartBrief will cover the South by Southwest Interactive Festival through Tuesday in Austin, Texas, and we need your help! SXSW has too many must-see events for our staff to cover, so we're turning to readers to help document the best panels as blog contributors. If you're headed to Austin and want to contribute to SmartBrief's blogs on social media, leadership, finance, food and beverage or education, check out our guest-post guidelines and send a note to Jesse Stanchak.

SmartQuote

The authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin." -- Gloria Steinem, American journalist and women's rights advocate Share: