Why SCOTUS Wants To Kill Affirmative Action, Cruz Tries To Make Friends, and 2016 GOPers' Gun-Free Zone Hypocrisy

December 10, 2015 Top Stories SCOTUS Conservatives Give Their Reasons For Killing Affirmative Action The Gist: The court's conservatives suggested black students may be hurt by going to schools with classes "too fast for them" and questioned the benefit of having a minority in one's physics class. Trump Cancels Netanyahu Meeting After Israeli PM Denounces Muslim Ban The Gist: After the Israeli Prime Minister said he "rejects" Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from the United States, Trump said he'd wait until he became the "President of the U.S." to meet with him. Trump And Carson Mock Gun-Free Zones At Their Gun-Free Rallies The Gist: The two GOP candidates often sing the praises of gun-free zones at their campaign rallies, but their Secret Service protection means that attendees are actually forbidden from bringing weapons to the events.  From The Reporter's Notebook Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina said Tuesday that she thought Donald Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States was unconstitutional. According to TPM's Sara Jerde, Fiorina also compared Trump to President Obama, saying that “his overreaction is as dangerous as Barack Obama’s under-reaction." Agree or Disagree? Josh Marshall suggested Italy's Benito Mussolini is more similar to Donald Trump than Adolf Hitler, a dictator to whom he is often compared. According to Marshall, "the mix of violent rhetoric with folksy hypotheticals and humorous jabs unites the two men quite nicely." Say What?! "...it does not benefit African-Americans to -- to get them into the University of Texas where they do not do well, as opposed to having them go to a less-advanced school, a less -- a slower-track school where they do well." - Justice Scalia suggested that affirmative action was hurting African American students by sending them to schools that were too tough for them. BUZZING: Today in the Hive From a TPM Prime member: "Yes! In my dreams this is what happens. I would love it if Republicans had to put up with yet another complete loser for a nominee. Trump would be Palin of candidates. I fully expect him to say something like.. I don't need a vice president I can do all the jobs myself...This should force Republicans to confront the racists amongst them. If they do not, that means they fully embrace their internal racism, and in fairly short order they are relegated to third party status. If the Green Party were smarter and had the inclination, they would already be working hard to implant themselves in local governments. They would then be ready to introduce themselves as a serious party... I hope they see the opportunity that could become of this Republican meltdown." Related: Josh Marshall: Trump is the Frankenstein of the Republican Party. Have something to add? Become a Prime member and join the discussion here. What We're Reading Bitcoin's creator is probably this unknown Australian genius. (Wired) Pharma's bad boy Martin Shkreli paid $2 million for Wu-Tang Clan's new record. (Bloomberg) After making enemies, Ted Cruz struggles to make friends. (New York Times)  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser