MID-WEEK READING (April 12, 2017)

Spicer: Hitler 'didn't even sink to using chemical weapons,' although he sent Jews to 'the Holocaust center' (Washington Post).

Donald Trump's White House can't even organize the Easter Egg roll (Washington Post).

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Trump's budget will make America weak, sick and stupid (HuffPost).

So far, Trump has been mercifully incompetent (Washington Post).


WHAT THE UNITED FIASCO REVEALS ABOUT OUR 'FREE MARKET' ECONOMY
The deeper scandal of that brutal United Video (The Atlantic).

Supreme Court's arbitration ruling is another blow to consumer rights (LA Times).

Clinical psychologist explains how Ayn Rand helped turn the U.S. into a selfish and greedy nation (Raw Story).

You can now be fined for falling behind on your student loan even if you're trying to catch up (BuzzFeed).


WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FORGET (IGNORE) AFTER SYRIA
You make the call ... Rep. Devin Nunes isn't denying that the White House was his source about Trump's wiretap claim (Peter Alexander / NBC News Twitter).

David Nunes explains his White House visit (Bloomberg).

The domestic conspiracy that gave Trump the election is in plain sight (HuffPost).

How Russian Twitter Bots pumped out fake news during the 2016 election (NPR).

1,000 paid Russian trolls spread fake news on Hillary Clinton, Senate intelligence heads told (HuffPost).

Star witness in treason trial involving Trump's campaign chair was just shot dead (Occupy Democrats).

MORE STUFF YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO IGNORE AFTER SYRIA
Fox News tells viewers to ignore Comey's bombshell testimony" "If you missed yesterday's hearing with FBI Director James Comey, you didn't miss much" (Think Progress).

Report: FBI investigating Russian operatives using bots to spread stories from Breitbart, RT, and Infowars (Media Matters).

Exclusive: Powerful Russian partner boasts of ongoing access to Trump family (Forbes).

WJS: Trump clings to wiretap claim 'like a drunk to an empty gin bottle,' damaging his credibility (Yahoo!).

What the heck is Devin Nunes talking about? A guide for the perplexed (Lawfare).


SO MUCH 'WINNING' ... ARE YOU BORED YET?
Seven lessons from Trump's Syrian strike (The Atlantic).

After Xi leaves U.S., Chinese media assail strike on Syria (NY Times).

Obamacare repeal vote postponed: Paul Ryan and Donald Trump, aka "the closer," have lost this battle (HuffPost).


IN CASE YOU FORGOT ... IMMIGRATION AND TRUMP'S AMERICA
A California waiter refused to serve 4 Latina customers until he saw proof of residency (Washington Post).

Trump supporter: My husband is being deported (Yahoo!).

Retired North Carolina police chief detained at JFK airport (Slate).


STUFF THAT MIGHT BE NEWS IN A NORMAL POLITICAL UNIVERSE
"I'm the president so there" (Time).

Donald Trump's sons' secret service protection on business trips could cost millions for U.S. taxpayers (Independent).

Secret Service can't afford Trump family lifestyle (HuffPost).

Jake Tapper: When I looked up, Fox wasn't covering the Russia media hearing, just like Russian state media (Media Matters).

How U.S. health care became big business (NPR).

Republicans lied about healthcare for years, and they're about to get the punishment they deserve (Business Insider).


MISCELLANEOUS
The likely cause of addiction has been discovered, and it's not what you think (Huffpost).

How right-wing media saved Obamacare: Years of misleading coverage left viewers so misinformed that many were shocked when confronted with the actual costs of repeal (Atlantic).

Ex-Colorado GOP leader said only Democrats committed voter fraud. Now he's charged with voter fraud (Washington Post).

When did Christians become comfortable with the loss of truth (Sojourners)?

A president's credibility: Trump's falsehoods [lies] are eroding public trust, at home and abroad (Wall Street Journal).

- Mark