10:50 – James Inhofe’s questioning of Hagel was quite a bit softer than I’d expected. GOP senators had once promised to do everything they could to block the Hagel nomination and said they thought they might have the votes to do so. If Inhofe is any indication, they’ve pretty much thrown in the towel. Inhofe just made a point of praising Hagel as a good friend and said “if you are confirmed” in a tone which suggested that that was precisely what he expected to happen.

Meet the conservatives trying to kill immigration reform.

10:27 — Hagel just offered an extended defense of his record and beliefs, arguing that he’s exactly in lock-step with the Obama administration’s policies on Iran (all options are on the table, including a military one); the budget sequester (would be a disaster); don’t ask, don’t tell (fully supports its repeal and will look to expand the benefits available to gay troops); and the role of women in combat (wants to work with the Joint Chiefs to open as many jobs as possible). He’s taken somewhat different positions in the past, particularly when it comes to sanctioning Iran and cutting Pentagon “bloat.” Obama wouldn’t nominate someone who didn’t share his core beliefs, but you can tell GOP senators are eagerly waiting for a chance to accuse him of flip-flopping.

Here’s a really meaty and interesting essay in the new and relaunched TNR about gun ownership and what gun owners want. What Gun Owners Really Want by Walter Kirn.

There’s a lot there. But one point resonated with me because it’s a flip side of something I was trying to capture in my ‘non-gun tribe’ piece from a couple weeks ago. And that is that there’s a division between gun and non-gun people that is deeper than and not even necessarily aligned with the politics. And it has to do with people who have a basically familiarity and intimacy with them and those who don’t. Read More

Gayle Trotter, of the Independent Women’s Forum, who may actually be new to the whole gun issue, explains how young woman are speaking up about AR-15 rifles …

“Young women are speaking out as to why AR-15 weapons are their weapon of choice. The guns are accurate. They have good handling. They’re light. They’re easy for women to hold. And most importantly, their appearance. An assault weapon in the hands of a young woman defending her babies in her home becomes a defense weapon. And the peace of mind that a woman has as she’s facing three, four, five violent attackers, intruders in her home, with her children screaming in the background, the peace of mind that she has knowing that she has a scary-looking gun gives her more courage when she’s fighting hardened, violent criminals. If we ban these types of assault weapons, you are putting women at a great disadvantage, more so than men, because they do not have the same type of physical strength and opportunity to defend themselves.”

Gayle Trotter opposed renewal of the Violence Against Women Act before testifying today about how moms need “scary-looking guns” to defend themselves.

Alabama “survivalist” shoots school bus driver dead, takes 6 year old child hostage and heads to the personal bunker he’d constructed on his property. The standoff continues.

Menendez spokesperson responding to last night’s FBI raid: “Senator Menendez has traveled on Dr. Melgen’s plane on three occasions, all of which have been paid for and reported appropriately. Any allegations of engaging with prostitutes are manufactured by a politically motivated right-wing blog and are false.”

Giffords’ husband Mark Kelly breaks news of yet another workplace shooting during Senate hearing on gun violence. Watch.

David Vitter says Macro Rubio is “amazingly naive” in his support for immigration reform.