News Round-Up: Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Media wars take center stage early this week: The N.R.A. says it won’t meet with Obama after his Arizona oped yesterday to discuss gun control; Politico reports on whether Obama’s public call for No Child Left Behind reform by September is viable; Republican candidates find a headline-baiting, fledgling talking point for 2012 about the so-called decline of America; as Kristen Gilibrand calls for Afghanistan withdrawl plan al Qaida launches a Cosmo-style glossy mag for women; former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino slams O for joking about Boehner’s tan, meanwhile Katie Couric eyes a talk show with ABC after her CBS contract expires in June and Larry King might be on the move to … The Daily Show?!?!

p.s. If all that is too much to process, copy Nate Silver’s March Madness bracket and beat your co-workers in the annual office showdown.

CRUCIAL:

Al-Qa’ida Glossy Advises Women to Cover Up and Marry a Martyr, http://ind.pn/i7Kr3E

A new magazine called Al-Shamikha, or the Majestic Woman, was launched by Al-Qa’ida to teach women everything from manners to how to operate large guns.

Sen Kirsten Gillibrand Presses Administration For Clear Withdraw Plan From Afghanistan, http://huff.to/hGwnYj

Gillibrand is urging the President to draw a clear timeline of withdraw from Afghanistan in order to hold the government accountable and ensure that all troops are removed by 2014.

N.R.A. Declines to Meet with Obama on Gun Policy, http://nyti.ms/eBvgBI

Following Obama’s op-ed on gun control, officials at the Justice Department are set to meet with groups on different sides of the gun control issue. The N.R.A. does not want to participate in the discussion “with a group of people that have spent a lifetime trying to destroy the Second Amendment” and instead encourage the talks to center around enforcing the laws already put in place.

Could ‘No Child’ Get Left Behind?, http://bit.ly/eMVzeK

Both Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress agree that No Child Left Behind needs to be overhauled. The group of bipartisan lawmakers called the “Big Eight”  have been meeting with a variety of top officials to pave the way for education reform.

Between BP and Japan, is Barack Obama Snakebit on Energy Policy, http://politi.co/gzLTVj

Events beyond President Obama’s control, such as the nuclear plant explosion in Japan and the BP drilling incident have put his energy policy under serious scrutiny.

GOP 2012 Theme: American Decline, http://politi.co/gxUtgo

Republicans candidates for 2012 fear that America might be falling as we lose our economic position and are no longer in the powerful position we once were.

The Katie Couric Sweepstakes, http://bit.ly/f13ZgU

As Katie Couric’s contract nears an end there is much speculation as to what direction she will head, including her own talk show.

Larry King to Join…The Daily Show?, http://bit.ly/h6Ddpe

Dana Perino is not laughing at Obama’s jokes about Boehner’s skin color: http://bit.ly/evCdnH

CULTURAL:

Political statistician works numbers for March Madness: http://nyti.ms/eq5hQ6

25 year old author enjoys wild success over The Tiger’s Wife: http://nyti.ms/gSZp9x

Conan O’Brien documentary in distribution deal: http://bit.ly/gvf70S

Clinton fundraiser gets the support of Drake and other celebs: http://bit.ly/hVuhEZ

Santigold joins Jay-Z at Roc Nation Management: http://bit.ly/dSaRZ

Tags: Afghanistan, al Qaida, Bill Clinton, BP, Conan O'Brien, Daily Show, Dana Perino, Drake, Japan, Jay Z, John Boehner, Katie Couric, Kristen Gilibrand, Larry King, March madness, Nate Silver, No Child Left Behind, NRA, Obama, Santigold, The Tiger's Wife

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