National: The Supreme Court hears arguments today on whether parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act should be lifted because the law targets voting discrimination that doesn’t occur anymore.  This comes at a time when there is a conservative push for voter ID cards and limited early voting that tends to affect minorities and Democratic voters.

• President Obama is on the campaign trail denouncing the automatic budget cuts coming Friday. “They are a self-inflicted wound that doesn’t have to happen,” he told shipyard workers in Newport News, VA. Federal agencies are already cutting. Immigration officials have released hundreds of detainees around the country to save money.
•  Senate Republicans ended their 14-day filibuster and former Rep. Senator Chuck Hagel has been confirmed as Secretary of Defense.  Although Hagel is a former Republican colleague in the Senate, only four Republicans voted for him.
• Republican leaders appear to be turning against New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who was once considered the presidential candidate who got away. But Christie is the only potential candidate not invited to this year’s meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee. Conservatives are angry with Christie for praising President Obama’s performance on Superstorm Sandy and for criticizing Republicans for holding up emergency aid afterwards.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing today on banning assault weapons.

World: An Australian billionaire has revealed plans to build an exact replica of The Titanic. Mining magnate Clive Palmer was immediately questioned whether his new luxury liner would be unsinkable. “Anything will sink if you put a hole in it,” he said.  

This Suit’s For You: Unhappy beer drinkers are suing Anheuser-Busch claiming the makers of Budweiser water down their beer and sell products with less alcohol than it says on the label. The suit claims that former employees say it was company policy to add water. Who would know? The people who drink Budweiser would know. 

Shoes of the Fisherman: Pope Benedict XVI made his last public appearance as pope today in front of 100,000 people at St. Peter’s Square. Among the many perks of office Benedict loses when he goes on emeritus status will be sitting on the throne, riding in the Popemobile, and wearing red shoes. Red shoes are reserved for the reigning Pope only.  

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