Now, The Hard Part: President Obama has unveiled his proposals on gun safety. Now the real work begins. Convincing a sometimes fickle public and a Republican Congress that has become extreme on gun control. Propped up by the NRA, the Republican Party has chosen guns over people, and convincing them to go along with any of these proposals will be difficult. Especially with people like Sen. Rand Paul threatening to “nullify” the president’s proposals.
But It Can Work: President Obama’s getting some words of encouragement from former Australian prime minister John Howard, a conservative who successfully implemented gun control in his country after a horrific massacre 17 years ago.
Politico’s Glenn Thrush on why President Obama might choose to lose the fight over guns, at least for now.
Nate Silver uncovers the truth about government spending, and finds some surprising facts about what is — and isn’t — driving it.
Hardball staff