Morning Round-Up 5-15

Feature of the Day: Start-Up Hopes to Help Freelance Writers Get Paid

Morning Headlines

Domestic 

Associated Press

1. Prince Harry Closes US Visit With Conn. Polo Match
2. Lawmakers Outraged Over Another Military Sex Case
3. House Panel Set To OK Cut in Food Stamp Program

New York Times

1. Management Flaws at I.R.S Cited in Tea Party Scrutiny
2. U.S. Budget Deficit Shrinks Far Faster Than Economy
3. No Benefit Seen in Sharp Limits on Salt in Diet

Politico

1. West Wing schooled on scandal
2. Obama’s dangerous new narrative
3. DC turns on Obama (5/14)

Reuters

1. Analysis: Once a beacon, Obama under fire over civil liberties
2. FBI opens criminal probe of tax agency, audit cites disarray (5/14)
3. Four men in Minnesota sentenced to prison for aiding Somali rebel group (5/14) 

Wall Street Journal

1. FBI Launches Probe of IRS (5/14)
2. Holder Defends Phone-Records Seizure (5/14)
3. Deficit Is Shrinking Quickly

Washington Post

1. Hagel orders retraining of sex-assault prevention officers; Army sergeant investigated (5/14)
2. Wonkbook: All the latest on all the scandals
3. IG report: ‘Inappropriate criteria’ stalled IRS approvals of conservative groups (5/14) 

Washington Times

1. IRS audit found political bias against conservatives; groups gave up after application delay (5/14)
2. Scandals drown out Obama’s message on economy 

International

Associated Press

1. Critics Assail Israeli Silence on Arab Peace Plan
2. US Ambassador Summoned by Russian Foreign Ministry
3. NKorea: American Starts Life At ‘Special Prison’ 

New York Times

1. An Atrocity in Syria, With No Victim Too Small
2. Syria Gives Russia List of Envoys to Peace Talks  
3. From Russia, With Wig: American Spy Suspect Is Ejected 

Reuters

1. Germany can’t stop euro zone from sinking into longest recession
2. Russian media delight in U.S. spy case as leaders try to limit fallout
3. One killed in attack on police station in Libya’s Benghazi: sources 

Wall Street Journal

1. Kerry Points to ‘Progress’ in Plan for Syria Peace (5/14)
2. Euro-Zone Recession Extends Into 2013
3. Anti-Korean Voices Grow in Japan

Washington Post

1. Russia expels a U.S. diplomat accused of spying (5/14)
2. Colombian rebels recruit child fighters even as they negotiate to end conflict
3. In Mexico, restrictions on U.S. agents signal drug war shift (5/14)

 Top Conservative Stories of the Day:

Breitbart

1. ABC, CNN Call for White House to Release Libya Emails
2. House Judiciary Chairman: Holder Hearing About Lack of Accountability
3. Politico Absolves IRS: Actions Were Not Partisan

The Daily Caller  

1. IRS official Lerner speedily approved exemption for Obama brother’s ‘charity’
2. IRS managers assigned one person to review all Tea Party tax requests
3. Scandal-plagued IRS official will give speech, receive award at college commencement

CNSNews.com

1. Bipartisan Congressional Demand: Provide All Communications Between IRS and WH About Targeting Conservatives; Warns: Don’t Destroy, Modify or Remove Any Documents
2. White House: No Comparison Between Obama and Nixon (5/14)

Hot Air

      1. Holder: “I’m not sure” how many times I’ve approved seizing reporter phone records

National Review

1. In Praise of Paranoia
2. Obama’s War on the Young

Washington Free Beacon

1. Hey, Big Spender: Obama nominee for transportation secretary may send federal funds to hometown if confirmed
2. Alexander Criticizes Sebelius’ Fundraising for Obamacare  

The Weekly Standard

1. Release All the Benghazi Emails (5/14)
2. NBC: WH Blaming Treasury Dept. for IRS Scandal 

Top Liberal Stories of the Day:

The Daily Beast

1. Is Obama Worse For Press Freedom Than Nixon? (5/14)
2. Justice Department’s AP Subpoena: Surgical Strike or Dragnet?
3. IRS, DOJ, and Benghazi Expose Limits of Obama’s Big Government Vision

Huffington Post

1. Eric Holder on AP Phone Records Subpoena: Trust Us (5/14)
2. IRS Tea Party Scandal: White House Did Not Drive Investigation, Inspector General Says 

Talking Points Memo

1. Busted: Portman Clouds Opposition to Background Checks In Letter to Constituent
2. Two Stories Not To Miss

ThinkProgress

1. In ‘The Michael J. Fox Show’ and ‘Ironside’, NBC Bets Big On Characters With Physical Limitations  (5/14)