Monday, June 24, 2013   Published Weekday Mornings   To see the full version of today's cartoon, click on the preview graphic of the cartoon (below the Commentary) to be taken to the full version in your favorite web browser. ***Note*** Today's Commentary and Cartoon were published prior to release of decisions by the Supreme Court.  Congress: Failure To Lead E.J. Dionne: Boehner's House implodes over flawed farm bill Farm bill failure opens House GOP up to new attacks about ability to lead Farm Bill's Fate in House Bodes Ill for Immigration Reform Student loan interest rate could double next month Immigration: Reform Coming Pelosi puts Boehner on notice: Don't try rerun of farm bill shenanigans on immigration This Time, There Appears To Be A Greater Will to Overhaul Immigration Laws Support for bill snowballs ahead of Senate vote on immigration bill Schumer predicts mass demonstrations if House blocks path to citizenship What Arizona can teach Republicans about immigration Obama, Moving Forward President Obama to take sweeping action on climate Tuesday Brad Plumer: Obama is announcing major new climate plans Tuesday. This chart explains why. Obama's plan to include power plant regulations, energy efficiency bonuses, & renewable energy investments Chait: Why Obama Might Actually Be the Environmental President Snowden's Folly Edward Snowden flees Hong Kong for Moscow, asks Ecuador to grant him asylum Why Ecuador? Edward Snowden seeks refuge from the country also protecting Julian Assange. China Said to Have Made Call to Let Leaker Snowden Depart Offering Snowden Aid, WikiLeaks Gets Back in the Game Brian Rooney: It's a worldwide 'Where's Waldo' for Snowden David Gregory To Glenn Greenwald: Should You Be Charged For 'Aiding' Snowden? Court Documents Reveal Extent of Federal Investigation Into WikiLeaks Russ Tice, Bush-Era Whistleblower, Claims NSA Ordered Wiretap Of Obama, Other Senators, In 2004 Russ Tice, Original NSA Whistleblower: I Saw The Order To Wiretap Barack Obama In 2004 Rick Ungar: Edward Snowden Blows It Laura K. Donohue: NSA surveillance may be legal - but it's unconstitutional Nations In Turmoil Syrian Rebels Attack Damascus Security Compounds, Five Killed Assad's Syrian government: Peace talks not for transferring power to rebels Deadly fighting rages on in Lebanon Syrian rebels' backers, meeting in Qatar, agree to send weapons Turkey's Erdogan defends riot police tactics in protests International News Ex-U.S. Senator Russ Feingold Chosen as Special Envoy to African Region North Korean envoy in Beijing seeks to mend ties Flood death toll in India climbs sharply National Politics Study proves: Voters don't care how women in politics look Money in Politics President Obama to nominate fierce critic of 'dark money' to Federal Election Commission Poll: Half of Americans want taxpayer funded limited political campaigns States Of Confusion Texas Republicans vote to give preliminary approval to extreme abortion restrictions Colorado transgender first-grader Coy Mathis wins civil rights case Midwest Roundup Neb. gas prices take tumble, but July 4th travel still expected to slip Study shows Nebraska's access to Web tops the norm in U.S. Iowa unemployment rate moves lower for third straight month Iowa Supreme Court rules Cedar Rapids district liable for assault on student after school Not Playing Around As we're looking forward into this next week, we're a bit apprehensive about the massive number of major news stories looming on the horizon for all three branches of our government over the next few days. To start with, the Supreme Court will be handing down a scattering of potentially history-altering rulings as they close their 2013 term this week. With voting rights, affirmative action, and both major same sex marriage cases being decided, those covering the news coming from the Court will have enough information coming out this week to last them long past Independence Day. President Obama and the Executive branch have an even bigger workload on their plate this week than the Court, starting with the President's sweeping and massive climate change announcement and federal policy changes that will happen on Tuesday. The Obama administration is also keeping close tabs on the legendary former leader of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who is ill and could very likely die this week - just as President Obama is scheduled to visit several nations in Africa. The rebel factions in Syria also appear to finally be getting the weapons promised to them, so it's likely the Syrian civil war might also be drawing more attention from the White House. In the midst of all of these news events coming up this week, does anyone think Congress will actually accomplish anything before their scheduled weeklong-plus holiday break begins Thursday afternoon? Or will this simply be another repeat of last week - a chance for Congressmembers to push around the pieces on their political gameboards, and not get one damn thing completely accomplished, as was the case with the farm bill last week. If it sounds like we're angry at Congress, we are - and most Americans should be as well. Instead...   To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for June 19, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Slow-Motion U.S. Recovery Searches for Second Gear Will Auto Sales Continue to Boost the Economy? China's economic slowdown emerges as risk to U.S. economy Dylan Matthews: Why a $15 minimum wage is a terrible idea Wall Street Watch Banks Present Own Future Crisis Plan to Fed David Cay Johnston: How lack of effective regulations forces honest firms to match cheating by others Paul Krugman: Et Tu, Bernanke? Michael Konczal: A Wall Street regulator's race against time Health Care Checkup Employers Test Plans That Cap Health Costs Sarah Kliff: The race is on. Obamacare starts in 100 days. Justice & Injustice Zimmerman trial begins today without audio experts' testimony George Zimmerman trial's key question: Will he testify? Communications Breakdown Food Network Drops Paula Deen; Will Not Renew Her Contract More Than 35 Newsroom Staff Laid Off at The Oregonian | Facebook says bug exposed contact information of 6 million users Gawker's Unpaid Interns Sue After Fox Searchlight Ruling Did You Miss It On Friday? Here It Is Again! Your HuskerNutz Preview for June 24, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update African nations finally get their turn with visit from President Obama this week Obama skipping Kenya on upcoming Africa trip News From Capitol Hill Some lawmakers now scrambling, at last minute, to prevent looming hike in student loan rates Robert Morgenthau: Congress Should Let Shooting Victims Sue SCOTUS Brief DECISION: Supreme Court Punts On Affirmative Action DECISION: SCOTUS ruling scales back workers' ability to sue when "supervisors' engage in sexual/racial harassment SCOTUSblog: Still waiting on Proposition 8 and DOMA decisions | States Reined In by 1965 Voting Act Still Await a Decision by SCOTUS SCOTUS Decides It Will Hear Case On Constitutionality Of Protest 'Buffer Zones' At Abortion Clinics The Scariest Pending Supreme Court Case That You've Probably Never Heard Of On The Left David Leonhardt: The Endless Battle Over Judicial Nominees On The Right Morality study finds conservatives show a 'general insensitivity to consequences' We hope you enjoy "The Daily Felltoon" every business day. Thanks for continuing to be a member! Paul Fell Shawn "Smith" Peirce Paul Fell Cartoons, Inc.