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Wednesday's Mini-Report

Today's edition of quick hits:* A brutal Taliban attack: "At least 54 people were killed and 90 others wounded Wednesday in an insurgent attack on a government

Today's edition of quick hits:

* A brutal Taliban attack: "At least 54 people were killed and 90 others wounded Wednesday in an insurgent attack on a government compound in western Afghanistan, where Taliban fighters were facing trial, local officials said. Nine insurgents with explosives strapped to their bodies stormed the compound in Farah province, bordering Iran, Reuters reported. Explosions were followed by protracted gun battles."

* As tensions rise with North Korea, the U.S. today deployed an anti-missile defense system to Guam, just in case. On a related note, it's not at all clear what North Korea means when it says it now has "final approval" to launch a nuclear strike against the United States.

* Oh my: "A sheriff known for cracking down on the drug trade in southern West Virginia's coalfields was fatally shot Wednesday in the spot where he usually parked his car for lunch, a state official said, and a suspect was in custody."

* Outrageous: "Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) says she has received multiple death threats over legislation she is working on to make sure gun owners have insurance."

* Would expanding background checks reduce gun crime? Greg Sargent had a very interesting discussion on the subject with Daniel Webster, a leading expert on gun violence who is the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research.

* Excellent choice: "Ari Melber has officially been named the new co-host of msnbc's 'The Cycle,' the network announced on Wednesday. Melber, who joined msnbc as a contributor in 2011, is taking the spot left open on the show by Steve Kornacki."

* Another good choice: "Anne-Marie Slaughter is leaning in. A Princeton professor and former State Department official, Ms. Slaughter said Wednesday morning that she has decided to leave academia to become the next president of the New America Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute based in Washington."

* I didn't realize there was a burgeoning O'Reilly-Limbaugh feud, and now that I know it exists, I find it odd having to root for O'Reilly.

Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.