Here’s a fascinating, chilling look at the mystery man who allegedly lured Tamerlan Tsarnaev into radicalism with Infowars.com and The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion and other entrails of the world of conspiracy theories.
Former GOP candidate who allegedly framed Elvis impersonator for ricin letters reacts to news of Elvis impersonator’s release.
Late Update: Former candidate now says his house is being searched by FBI.
It’s not uncommon for an accused criminal to claim they’ve been framed. After all, even the Tsarnaev’s parents are currently saying that. But in this bizarre ricin letter case, we not only have the claim. But it’s starting to seem like it’s true. Read More
AP twitter account hacked, posts FALSE report of Obama injured in bombing at White House
Max Baucus has never had many progressive allies. But this morning dozens of his natural skeptics seem surprised that he would support a filibuster of background check legislation last week only to announce his retirement today.
The reaction suggests a widespread sense that Baucus’ electoral vulnerability was the true, and really the only material, explanation for his background check vote and other recent actions.
But that’s a pretty lazy expression of cynicism, especially as applied to a politician like Baucus. Read More
Meet the Canadian in charge of selling the Keystone Pipeline to the USA.
I mentioned earlier that the feds case against alleged ricin-letter-sender Kevin Curtis may be hitting a few bumps in the road with a disconcerting lack of evidence. We’ve just gotten word that this morning’s hearing has been abruptly canceled and authorities have scheduled a press conference to discuss the status of the case at 5 PM local time this afternoon.
What’s notable is that AP reports that this is supposed to be a joint press conference with federal prosecutors and defense attorneys for Curtis. Given what’s come out over the last 24 hours, it’s hard for me to imagine they’d do that if they remained in an adversary context.
House GOP committee chairman now refuses to take testimony from Richard Cordray, the recess-appointed head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau whose nomination Republicans have been blocking.
If last week was the week from hell, with barbaric crime and a horrific industrial accident, the ricin letters sent to President Obama and Sen. Wicker (R-MS) turned out to be the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of the tragic proceedings — evil, bizarre but eventually harmless. But before we get any deeper into the morning, I wanted to flag to your attention that there now seems to be a non-trivial chance that the feds got the wrong guy. Read More