Top Story: Vice President Biden has handed his recommendations on new gun control policies to President Obama. And now, NBC is reporting, the president may announce what he plans to pursue sometime this week.
- The President could announce a number of executive orders that wouldn’t require Congressional approval. And the one the gun lobby should fear most is allowing the CDC to research gun violence. (The Atlantic Wire)
- Beating him to the finish line is New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a possible 2016 presidential candidate for Democrats. (The New York Times)
- Pew polls: Every gun control option draws a majority of voters, save one: Arming teachers. (Pew Research)
- Same poll: Most gun owners are in favor of a ban on semi-automatic weapons and closing the gun show loophole. (Pew Research)
- Grisly, but the AP is reporting that military suicides hit a record in 2012 with 349—almost one per day. (Associated Press)
- Here’s a good overview of why the U.S. military is fighting with the NRA (Christian Science Monitor)
And in other news …
- House GOP is floating a four-year deal on raising the debt deal—but it may come with enough poison pills that Democrats will have to reject it. (Roll Call)
- The White House may also be using the debt ceiling standoff to erase a credibility issue. (Wonkblog)
- “The debt ceiling is one of the worst examples of American exceptionalism.” (Wall Street Journal)
- Retail sales are up. Auto sales are up. Housing is up, too. Only one thing could reverse those positive trends: Default. (Quartz)
- “Cliff” is the new “-gate” in politics. (In the Loop)
- Defense Secretary Panetta: ‘No question’ U.S. counterterrorism campaign in Africa led to Mali conflict. (The Hill)
- President Obama just isn’t the life of the party. (The Atlantic Wire)
John Flowers