- Weak growth (as expected) in the first quarter: The economy grew at a 1.8% annual rate.
- Incoming Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s central challenge at the Pentagon will be the budget.
- With increasing military and intelligence overlap, David Petraeus’ selection for the CIA might be explained in one word: Pakistan.
- From the magazine: Bart Gellman on FBI Director Mueller, 10 questions for George H.W. Bush.
- Severe storms and tornadoes claim 178 lives in the south.
- Another national poll finds disapproval of Obama’s handling of the economy around 60-40. Respondents believe the worst is yet to come by a similar margin.
- Democrats are seeking traction on the Ryan budget vote, but there’s no evidence it’s hurting Republicans yet.
- Polling on his Medicare changes, the most targeted element of the plan, is all over the map. From Kaiser:
- As expected, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval will appoint Dean Heller to John Ensign’s Senate seat. He’ll probably have to vote for Ryan’s plan a second time.
- Indiana’s bill to defund Planned Parenthood and outlaw abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy heads to Governor Mitch Daniels’ desk.
- And if Donald Trump’s political flirtation is a cynical ploy for ratings, it’s been a failure.