Protesters have gathered outside a meeting taking place in Chicago today between officials with the Obama Administration and some state Attorneys General or members of their staff, aimed at reaching agreement on a low-ball settlement with leading banks over foreclosure fraud. The proposed settlement would give homeowners a pittance in exchange for a broad release of liability from prosecution for the banks.

Occupiers from occupations all over the United States are headed to Washington, DC, for three days of action that are being organized under the banner, “Take Back the Capitol.” But is their agenda as bold as the people likely to participate?

The biggest problem with the White House’s definitional strategy on the American Jobs Act was that Democrats didn’t really give it the full-throated support it needed to draw that contrast. By the end of last week, the White House was circling the wagons on that, and Democratic leaders stepped out to say that the jobs plan would have the support of the caucus. But those initial grumblings really hurt the unified message.

Are we on the way toward the same problem with the deficit reduction plan delivered today, similarly designed to draw contrast between taxes on millionaires or cuts to vital programs? So far, this looks a bit better.

One distinctive thing about Zimmerman’s personal story is the fact that he chose to live his life as a full time ‘troublemaker’ (committed leftwing activist), abandoning his extremely promising career as a creative and recognized scientist. He got his PhD in psychology at the University of Chicago in 1967, based on path breaking research on brain function in sleep, and gave up his academic career even though he had every expectation of continuing achievement. Why and how he made this life change reveals a lot about the society of that time—and now—so I hope we can delve into this dimension of his experience.

While Petraeus is merely saying to the American Taliban (see what I did there) that riling up their parishioners by deliberately antagonizing the entire Muslim world will put American lives at risk, his daring to suggest such a thing has conservatives up in arms. . . .

The pressure is building to name Elizabeth Warren as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, on the inside and outside.

Pete Peterson isn’t stupid — he’s going to try and block any rabble-rousers from entry to the America Speaks town halls, and turn these events into infomercials. But at least MoveOn, among the largest progressive groups out there, is taking this on directly. I’m told the AFL-CIO will also pitch in.

Arkansas was a loss, but the effort was worth it for the ripples it created and its potential as a model for the future. [I can talk about a lot of these issues in my 5:00 PM EST Sunday FDL book salon conversation on my Soul of a Citizen book]

The commentary regarding the Lincoln/Halter race continues, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. While the commentariat and a former president mistakenly projected Lincoln as a pro-labor Norma Rae, Blanche Lincoln sent Norma Rae’s job to China. I think Norma would be delighted by the new possibilities.

Welcome Ari Melber, and Host Daniel Galvin, author of, Presidential Party Building: Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush Year One of Organizing for America: The Permanent Field Campaign in a Digital Age The Obama for America campaign assembled the largest activist and volunteer network in history: 13 million email addresses, 4 million donors, 2 [...]