The latest Obamacare enrollment figures are out. Things were better in November than October, but they were still bad.
But that doesn’t tell us much that is new.
The key will be December enrollment figures, which will benefit from HealthCare.gov finally being more or less fixed and the projected surge in enrollments ahead of the Dec. 23 deadline to sign up for coverage that begins Jan. 1.
Very interesting discussion here at The Hive of what TPM Readers think of the group ‘Third Way’ (sub req). I think I’ll jump in myself. But just speaking for myself, it’s not so much that I disagree with most of the group’s positions (though I do) as I see them as sort of irrelevant to most current policy discussions.
It’s the time of year you’ve all been waiting for: TPM’s annual homage to the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behavior and The Crazy. (The awards are named in honor of Congressman-turned-inmate Randy “Duke” Cunningham.)
This is the seventh annual installment of the Golden Dukes, and this year it’s sponsored by Media Matters, which also gives out its own annual award, Misinformer of the Year, given for the biggest errors by a media figure/institution in 2013. Media Matters will announce Misinformer of the Year at the same time as the Dukes. (See last year’s winners here.)
Nominations are due no later than Monday, December 16, 2013. Submission details after the jump!
Today at TPM Cafe Reign of Error author Diane Ravitch has some harsh words for the legacy of former D.C. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee: “Many states and the federal government have invested hundreds of millions of dollars—perhaps even billions—on various incentive programs, hoping that teachers will work harder or better if they are promised a bonus or threatened with a loss of their job. But these incentive programs have failed again and again.”
We’re pleased to host a live author chat with Ravitch, as well as some other education policy folks on Friday at noon ET (TPM Prime sub. req.).
Two new polls out today from pretty respected pollsters showing fairly different pictures of the public mind on the President and his signature legislation, Obamacare. Pew shows both back to pre-rollout levels, while Quinnipiac shows some continued drop and the President’s unpopularity dragging down Congressional Democrats.
Maybe John Cornyn doesn’t have that much to worry about? Last month the city Fire Marshal condemned primary challenger Rep. Steve Stockman’s campaign headquarters, which seemed to be set up like a sort of Tea Party commune, and ordered its emergency closure for various health and safety violations.
The Capitol state grounds in Tallahassee, Florida this year will have an official Festivus pole alongside the usual Christmas installation.
Just a few days ago a GOP flack was on my case about how John Cornyn had successfully avoided a Tea Party challenger, after I described how much he was still doing to play to the crazy to avoid just such a challenge. Now the Texas Monthly has published a November interview with Cornyn in which he complains that the Tea Party sets an “impossible standard” for Republicans to meet. And that’s come just hours after Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), perhaps one of the whackiest members of Congress, announced that he is challenging Cornyn.
Rubio complains Obama didn’t take Raul Castro to task for denying freedoms at Mandela memorial.
On Saturday we had our first annual TPM Holiday party at our New York City office (yes, War on Christmas, ‘natch). As part of the festivities we had an amazingly talented photographer, Victor Jeffreys, taking portraits. After the jump, an assortment of them and a chance to see up close and in their best light who writes, edits, publishes, designs and codes everything you see here each day. as well as a bunch of our friends.