<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" xmlns:activity="http://activitystrea.ms/spec/1.0/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><channel><title>Newsvine</title><link>http://steve-benen.newsvine.com/</link><description></description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright 2013</copyright><lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 21:30:56 +0000</lastBuildDate><pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 01:20:36 +0000</pubDate><generator>http://www.newsvine.com</generator><docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs><item><title>Wednesday's Mini-Report</title>
<description><![CDATA[Today's edition of quick hits:
* London: "A man was killed by knife-wielding assailants on a London street Wednesday, and a bloodstained suspect at the scene holding a meat cleaver was captured on video telling passers-by: 'We swear by the almighty Allah.'"]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18427461-wednesdays-mini-report</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18427461-wednesdays-mini-report</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/api/media/getMobileVideo?videoId=51968550" ><media:thumbnail url="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/a_3k_brown_london_130522.thumb.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Bernanke urges Congress to get smarter on economic policy</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke to the Joint Economic Committee this morning, and as expected, much of the attention was on his expectations with regard to monetary policy. The Fed will, Bernanke explained, pull back from its quantitative easing, but not before the e&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18427153-bernanke-urges-congress-to-get-smarter-on-economic-policy</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18427153-bernanke-urges-congress-to-get-smarter-on-economic-policy</guid><category>economy</category><category>federal-reserve</category><category>ben-bernanke</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 20:59:41 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenFF10FE72-1AA1-72BD-F33C-029F582F6355.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="244" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenFF10FE72-1AA1-72BD-F33C-029F582F6355.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="83" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Getty Images</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>How not to deal with concerns over the IRS</title>
<description><![CDATA[
It's hardly unreasonable to think the Internal Revenue Service took some serious missteps when it came to groups seeking tax-exempt status, and will need to improve the way the agency is managed. But being critical of the IRS's missteps does not mean one should necessarily start&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18426182-how-not-to-deal-with-concerns-over-the-irs</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18426182-how-not-to-deal-with-concerns-over-the-irs</guid><category>irs</category><category>tax-returns</category><category>paul-gosar</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 19:46:03 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenFB688025-A4BC-DB66-5B60-75AB9F696C87.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="202" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenFB688025-A4BC-DB66-5B60-75AB9F696C87.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="69" /><media:description type="plain">&lt;p&gt;Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.)&lt;/p&gt;</media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Heller tries to have it both ways</title>
<description><![CDATA[
In competitive states, we're seeing two kinds of politicians: those who support new measures intended to reduce gun violence and those who pretend to support new measures intended to reduce gun violence.
In New Hampshire, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R), shortly after voting to kill the b&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18424847-heller-tries-to-have-it-both-ways</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18424847-heller-tries-to-have-it-both-ways</guid><category>guns</category><category>nevada</category><category>background-checks</category><category>dean-heller</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 18:04:32 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen4CAD0DC5-A27C-C801-077B-09E4984B595F.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="214" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen4CAD0DC5-A27C-C801-077B-09E4984B595F.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="73" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Why the nominating fights are on hold (but not for long)</title>
<description><![CDATA[
A week ago, it looked like the Senate was gearing up for some major nominating fights. Richard Cordray's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was ready to be brought the floor, as were Thomas Perez's Labor Secretary nomination and Gina McCarthy's EPA nomin&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18423610-why-the-nominating-fights-are-on-hold-but-not-for-long</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18423610-why-the-nominating-fights-are-on-hold-but-not-for-long</guid><category>harry-reid</category><category>cabinet</category><category>filibusters</category><category>filibuster-reform</category><category>nuclear-option</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:29 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen5EDB9665-DCEA-31AE-0B1E-F9CA06942C41.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="249" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen5EDB9665-DCEA-31AE-0B1E-F9CA06942C41.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="85" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Getty Images</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Wednesday's campaign round-up</title>
<description><![CDATA[Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* In New Jersey, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Barbara Buono has her first television ad of the cycle. It's generally just a l&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18423006-wednesdays-campaign-round-up</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18423006-wednesdays-campaign-round-up</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvG3ngLfW0Q" ><media:thumbnail url="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RvG3ngLfW0Q/default.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Time to update the deficit talking points</title>
<description><![CDATA[It must be tiresome to have to update political talking points. Partisans go to a lot of trouble to write, poll test, memorize, and repeat them, and when the talking points are no longer accurate, it must be terribly inconvenient to come up with new ones.
For example, Republicans&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18422630-time-to-update-the-deficit-talking-points</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18422630-time-to-update-the-deficit-talking-points</guid><category>deficit</category><category>rand-paul</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 15:33:06 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenEDC42559-77A5-9AB4-7E41-9A49E0C58C1A.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="268" width="400" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenEDC42559-77A5-9AB4-7E41-9A49E0C58C1A.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="81" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>'The opposite of a cover-up'</title>
<description><![CDATA[
When it comes to the IRS controversy, I'm starting to get the impression that the goalposts have moved rather quickly.
The initial allegation raised by the right and other administration critics is that President Obama's White House, if not the president himself, may have been d&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18422020-the-opposite-of-a-cover-up</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18422020-the-opposite-of-a-cover-up</guid><category>irs</category><category>scandals</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 14:58:04 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenA7730F7C-E23E-0260-B012-8CEBC6629DBC.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="237" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenA7730F7C-E23E-0260-B012-8CEBC6629DBC.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="81" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Carney: reporters shouldn't be 'prosecuted for doing their jobs'</title>
<description><![CDATA[
President Obama, at a press conference last week, was asked about possible prosecutorial overreach when it came to subpoenaing reporters' communications as part of leak probes. The president, though not directly involved with the investigations, defended the inquiries.
"U.S. nat&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18421519-carney-reporters-shouldnt-be-prosecuted-for-doing-their-jobs</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18421519-carney-reporters-shouldnt-be-prosecuted-for-doing-their-jobs</guid><category>associated-press</category><category>justice-department</category><category>leaks</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 14:35:23 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenD86FF682-C908-AE36-09FB-7BEB1C68022A.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="195" width="360" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenD86FF682-C908-AE36-09FB-7BEB1C68022A.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="65" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>FBI interest adds to Bachmann's woes</title>
<description><![CDATA[
As if Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) didn't have enough troubles, the FBI has reportedly taken an interest in one of her ongoing controversies (via Laura Clawson).]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18420722-fbi-interest-adds-to-bachmanns-woes</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18420722-fbi-interest-adds-to-bachmanns-woes</guid><category>michele-bachmann</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen9A772CAE-2111-1B0C-7A1E-68A684B511DE.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="260" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen9A772CAE-2111-1B0C-7A1E-68A684B511DE.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="88" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Steering clear of another disaster-relief fight</title>
<description><![CDATA[
In the last Congress, the fight over federal disaster relief for Hurricane Sandy victims was ugly, divisive, and for quite a while, unresolved -- Republican opposition was so widespread, the last Congress ended before an aid package could be approved. It eventually passed in lat&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18420020-steering-clear-of-another-disaster-relief-fight</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18420020-steering-clear-of-another-disaster-relief-fight</guid><category>oklahoma</category><category>disaster-relief</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 13:15:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenA381C802-A161-4DDC-3445-9827AB9CD2D3.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="258" width="400" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenA381C802-A161-4DDC-3445-9827AB9CD2D3.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="78" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Getty Images</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>'A little bit bizarre'</title>
<description><![CDATA[Congressional Republicans have created quite a mess when it comes to the federal budget. The fiasco has become so ridiculous that yesterday on the Senate floor, Republican Sens. John McCain and Susan Collins blasted their own party's incoherence.]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18419266-a-little-bit-bizarre</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18419266-a-little-bit-bizarre</guid><category>budget</category><category>debt-ceiling</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByeTmBCD28E" ><media:thumbnail url="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ByeTmBCD28E/default.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Immigration reform advances with bipartisan backing</title>
<description><![CDATA[
The question isn't whether comprehensive immigration reform will pass the Senate; the question is when and by what margin.]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18418751-immigration-reform-advances-with-bipartisan-backing</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18418751-immigration-reform-advances-with-bipartisan-backing</guid><category>immigration</category><pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen613523A9-6014-65B4-3C38-61F58B98EE68.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="242" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen613523A9-6014-65B4-3C38-61F58B98EE68.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="82" /><media:description type="plain">&lt;p&gt;Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.)&lt;/p&gt;</media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Getty Images</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Tuesday's Mini-Report</title>
<description><![CDATA[Today's edition of quick hits:
* The reports and images out of Oklahoma are simply heartbreaking.]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18403694-tuesdays-mini-report</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18403694-tuesdays-mini-report</guid><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/api/media/getMobileVideo?videoId=51953679^10^212980" ><media:thumbnail url="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/__NEW/n_mitchell_kurt_130521.thumb.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Reaching the 'weather weapon' stage</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Ordinarily, with a story like this, I'd just shake my head in disgust and move on, but given recent events, I'm inclined to give it a little more attention.]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18403447-reaching-the-weather-weapon-stage</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18403447-reaching-the-weather-weapon-stage</guid><category>oklahoma</category><category>conspiracy-theories</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 21:06:58 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen011EC906-2827-197A-EDFE-B5F26CC49924.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="237" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen011EC906-2827-197A-EDFE-B5F26CC49924.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="81" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Appeals court strikes down Arizona abortion restrictions</title>
<description><![CDATA[
About a year ago, we discussed a measure signed into law by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), banning most abortions in the state after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Soon after, the 20-week standard became the new expectation for opponent of abortion rights in Republican-led states everywhe&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18403166-appeals-court-strikes-down-arizona-abortion-restrictions</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18403166-appeals-court-strikes-down-arizona-abortion-restrictions</guid><category>arizona</category><category>abortion</category><category>jan-brewer</category><category>reproductive-rights</category><category>culture-war</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 20:33:50 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenB8BCBFDF-FD38-AAC4-DAF0-9C90D0DD89C7.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="325" width="243" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenB8BCBFDF-FD38-AAC4-DAF0-9C90D0DD89C7.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="160" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Getty Images</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>'You've got to be on Mars to come up with some of this stuff'</title>
<description><![CDATA[
How do you know when congressional Republicans have gone around the bend on Benghazi? When their own staffers -- usually a hyper-loyal bunch -- are mocking GOP colleagues&nbsp;for pushing nonsense.]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18402653-youve-got-to-be-on-mars-to-come-up-with-some-of-this-stuff</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18402653-youve-got-to-be-on-mars-to-come-up-with-some-of-this-stuff</guid><category>conspiracy-theories</category><category>benghazi</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 19:38:02 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenFCD3D9C7-E6B1-33A8-2C35-19630108B2D6.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="265" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenFCD3D9C7-E6B1-33A8-2C35-19630108B2D6.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="90" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">flaneur/Flickr</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>What James Inhofe sees as 'different'</title>
<description><![CDATA[
We talked earlier about Oklahoma's junior senator, Republican Tom Coburn (R), announcing last night that he will only support federal disaster relief -- for his own constituents -- if it's financed by comparable spending cuts elsewhere. But what about Oklahoma's senior senator?
&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18401662-what-james-inhofe-sees-as-different</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18401662-what-james-inhofe-sees-as-different</guid><category>oklahoma</category><category>tom-coburn</category><category>disaster-relief</category><category>james-inhofe</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 17:55:52 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/api/media/getMobileVideo?videoId=51953230^610^180880" ><media:thumbnail url="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/__NEW/n_janco_inhofe_130521.thumb.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>'Apologize to Apple'?</title>
<description><![CDATA[Apple may be one of the nation's richest companies, but it did so by avoiding billions in taxes here and around the world. Congressional investigators found that the tech giant created "a web of subsidiaries so complex it spanned continents and went beyond anything most experts h&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18400824-apologize-to-apple</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18400824-apologize-to-apple</guid><category>taxes</category><category>rand-paul</category><category>tax-policy</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 16:37:40 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/api/media/getMobileVideo?videoId=51951286" ><media:thumbnail url="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/__NEW/f_paul_apple_130521.thumb.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Obama to Oklahoma: 'You will not travel that path alone'</title>
<description><![CDATA[President Obama spoke from the White House this morning on yesterday's devastation in Oklahoma, giving the public an update on rescue efforts and how Americans can help with emergency relief.

For those who can't watch clips online, I posted a full transcript after the jump.]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18400172-obama-to-oklahoma-you-will-not-travel-that-path-alone</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18400172-obama-to-oklahoma-you-will-not-travel-that-path-alone</guid><category>oklahoma</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 15:50:58 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/api/media/getMobileVideo?videoId=51951148" ><media:thumbnail url="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/__NEW/f_obama_spec_tornado_130521.thumb.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Parties moving in opposite directions</title>
<description><![CDATA[I suspect Republican officials, especially in Washington, had high hopes about the latest batch of polls. After all, the Beltway has embraced "scandal mania" in recent weeks, subjecting President Obama to near-constant criticism, even though the controversies don't relate to him &nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18399924-parties-moving-in-opposite-directions</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18399924-parties-moving-in-opposite-directions</guid><category>barack-obama</category><category>polls</category><category>scandals</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 15:30:57 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen71CA669E-97D4-BD55-24BC-EB1A3BDAC834.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="239" width="400" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen71CA669E-97D4-BD55-24BC-EB1A3BDAC834.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="72" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Why Virginia Republicans are 'panicking'</title>
<description><![CDATA[Jamelle Bouie summarized the issue perfectly yesterday: "The Virginia GOP has essentially posed an experiment: Can we win off-year elections regardless of who we run?"
That's funny, but it's not hyperbolic. Virginia is no longer the Republican stronghold it once was, and at least&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18399281-why-virginia-republicans-are-panicking</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18399281-why-virginia-republicans-are-panicking</guid><category>virginia</category><category>culture-war</category><category>ken-cuccinelli</category><category>e-w-jackson</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 14:52:20 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content medium="video" url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9cvSSe1Suk" ><media:thumbnail url="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/B9cvSSe1Suk/default.jpg" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs"></media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>House GOP eyes major new anti-abortion measure</title>
<description><![CDATA[
About a month ago, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) started pushing a new anti-abortion bill, which he hopes to impose on the residents of the District of Columbia, against their will. The proposal mirrors efforts that have popped up among Republican lawmakers at the state level: abo&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18398818-house-gop-eyes-major-new-anti-abortion-measure</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18398818-house-gop-eyes-major-new-anti-abortion-measure</guid><category>abortion</category><category>reproductive-rights</category><category>culture-war</category><category>trent-franks</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 14:22:13 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenCF321EA7-F70D-F2C9-6013-E8FD3F4E3876.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="253" width="355" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benenCF321EA7-F70D-F2C9-6013-E8FD3F4E3876.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="86" /><media:description type="plain">&lt;p&gt;Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.)&lt;/p&gt;</media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Oklahoma's Coburn stakes out controversial position on federal aid</title>
<description><![CDATA[
As of this morning, at least 51 people, including 20 children, are dead in the suburbs of Oklahoma City, following one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history. Rescue teams worked through the night, especially in the devastated city of Moore, and local officials fear the deat&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18396506-oklahomas-coburn-stakes-out-controversial-position-on-federal-aid</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18396506-oklahomas-coburn-stakes-out-controversial-position-on-federal-aid</guid><category>oklahoma</category><category>tom-coburn</category><category>disaster-relief</category><pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type><media:content url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen7BC76A85-9A86-F07A-DF1A-1E89B4880D3E.jpg&amp;width=400" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="224" width="400" ><media:thumbnail url="http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen7BC76A85-9A86-F07A-DF1A-1E89B4880D3E.jpg&amp;width=120" width="120" height="68" /><media:description type="plain"></media:description><media:credit role="owner" scheme="urn:yvs">Associated Press</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title>Live KFOR feed of disaster in Oklahoma</title>
<description><![CDATA[
If there are server issues with this KFOR stream, MSNBC's feed is online here.
ADDING: If you're trying to get a sense of where this is all taking place, the map below is centered on the Plaza Towers Elementary Schoool. Due west is the Orr family farm. Due east is the shopping c&nbsp;&hellip;]]></description>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Benen]]></dc:creator><source><![CDATA[The Maddow Blog]]></source><link>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/20/18380837-live-kfor-feed-of-disaster-in-oklahoma</link><guid>http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/20/18380837-live-kfor-feed-of-disaster-in-oklahoma</guid><category>oklahoma</category><pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 21:54:40 +0000</pubDate><activity:verb>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/post</activity:verb><activity:object-type>http://activitystrea.ms/schema/1.0/generic_post</activity:object-type></item></channel></rss>