Roll Call: ”The prospects of passing a long-term extension to federal highway and transit programs before the end of the month are evaporating, and House and Senate negotiators face a make-or-break week … Democratic and Republican aides in both chambers privately acknowledge that with negotiations stalled — and the House out of session next week — getting a bill done before the programs expire at the end of the month is increasingly unrealistic.”

Reuters: “Friday’s employment data — described by investors as ‘awful,’ ‘horrid’ and ‘ugly’ — marked the third straight month of slowing job growth. But it is not spurring Congress to accelerate work toward a grand fiscal bargain. Washington’s tax and budget deadlock persists, despite hopes that an early deal would give businesses certainty over tax rates and halt automatic government spending cuts that could sap growth.”

Kansas City Star: “With increasing sophistication, political organizations are fast adopting the tricks of retailers who’ve learned how to learn more about you. They’re tracking your digital footprints to better wave ads that will push your buttons, getting you outraged and out to the polls. They’re going online with talking points increasingly targeted to win elections niche by niche.”

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