MORNING READ

FROM THE BLOGS

US manufacturing shrinking again
Powerline’s John Hinderaker writes that the recent U.S. manufacturing numbers are “simply dreadful.”

The questions that will determine who wins on Nov. 6
John LeBoutillier at Fox News proposes several points for consideration regarding the November presidential election.

Who’s the Supreme Court leaker?
Noam Scheiber at The New Republic speculates about who might have leaked details surrounding the Supreme Court’s healthcare decision.

Pushing the Democrats to the left
The Nation’s Melissa Harris-Perry discusses the confirmed absence of Democrats from the party's national convention.


OTHER NEWS SOURCES

Romney breaks with GOP, says mandate is a penalty, not a tax
Mitt Romney’s campaign broke with Republicans on Monday by saying the healthcare law’s individual mandate is not a tax, but a penalty, The Hill’s Jonathan Easley reports.

Romney plans summer visit to Israel
Mitt Romney plans to travel to meet with the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, this summer, The Hill’s Justin Sink reports.