At Least He’s Consistent

Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma says he’ll press for offsetting cuts to other spending to fund federal aid to his state.

Latest From Oklahoma

As of 9:30 p.m. ET, the death toll in the Moore, Okla. tornado is 51 and expected to go up, with grim reports from local TV station KFOR at the scene of one of two elementary schools hit by the storm. Photos of the devastation.

Breaking Out of Oklahoma

In case you haven’t already seen we have horrific and surreal images emerging out of a big tornado strike outside of Oklahoma City. We have live video here.

Late Update: A lot of attention on this elementary school which appears to have taken a direct hit.

Later Update: Some good news amidst the devastation: all children accounted for from elementary school.

Tradecraft, It Ain’t

From TPM Reader TS …

I read the FBI affidavit regarding the request for access to Rosen’s gmail account, and it does not match up closely with the current media backlash. Everyone seems up in arms about surveillance of Rosen’s phone calls and building entries. Do reporters actually think that phone calls they receive on State Department phones within the State Department building are private?

Condemned to Repeat the Derp?

From a post in Prime …

As far as I can tell, one of the biggest costs of not knowing history is that you’re doomed to repeat it. For example, “Watergate, Watergate, Watergate.” For another, “Hitler, Hitler, Hitler.”

On the Case, Such as It Is

Secret Service looking into radio host’s comments about shooting Hillary Clinton.

Unintentionally Revealing Tweet?

GOP aides tell me the struggle will be to take this IRS thing from being about TP victims to being about an administration’s corruption

— Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) May 17, 2013

Woulda Been Good To Know Last Week

Up until now, the White House’s handling of the release of the inspector general’s report that revealed the IRS targeting of conservative groups has seemed routine and appropriate. But Jay Carney is briefing reporters right now at the White House (watch) and has made a couple of new revelations, one of which runs counter to what he told reporters last week.

Trying to Tie It All Together

Rubio ‘very concerned’ that Obama administration ‘targeted a Fox News reporter.’

Picture of the Day

Little Man.

Wow

VA GOP Attorney General candidate tried to pass a law that mandated that women report their miscarriages to police.

Post Bachmann Era?

A new poll shows Michele Bachmann may have her work cut out for her in her next reelection campaign. Dems have had hopes for this seat a few times but perhaps the element of scandal could be tipping the scales.