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March 28, 2012 | | SCOTUS With the fate of health-care reform looking more imperiled than ever, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli is getting panned for his performance defending the law in front of the Supreme Court—what CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin called “a train wreck” and a “plane wreck” for Obama. But Harvard Law Professor Einer Elhauge writes that it’s not all Verrilli’s fault. Had the White House gotten its act together and delivered a cohesive message about its legislation, his job would have been much easier. Fashion Statement Rep. Bobby Rush was removed from the House floor Wednesday for violating the dress code. The Illinois Democrat donned a hooded sweatshirt in solidarity with Trayvon Martin's family and supporters, declaring, "just because someone wears a hoodie, doesn't make him a hoodlum." Following his removal, those present were reminded that members of the House are prohibited from wearing hats when house is in session. Watch video of the incident here. WORK IT OUT It’s time to sit down at the table, Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday. With the international community concerned about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions, Iranian officials said that the country will reopen talks about its program April 13. Turkey has agreed to host the talks, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said, and indicated that the meeting could include the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Britain, and China. The last time Iran met with these countries was in January 2011, and the summit was derailed by squabbles over the agenda. SUMMIT The pope called for greater freedom for the Catholic Church in Cuba, while he spoke on Wednesday in Revolution Square in Havana. In an unusually political speech given in the shadow of a statue of Che Guevara, Pope Benedict XVI denounced “fanaticism” that tries to impose its truth onto others. Benedict was expected to meet Fidel Castro after his speech. The 600,000-person square was filled to capacity, but many said they had come because they were required to by an employer and some left before the pope even began speaking. MORE PROBLEMS A New York maid who accused former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault last year launched a civil lawsuit against him on Wednesday. Prosecutors dropped the charges last year against Strauss-Kahn after they said they had serious questions about the credibility of the accuser, Nafissatou Diallo. The lawsuit will address whether Strauss-Kahn is covered by diplomatic immunity, since the IMF says he was in New York on personal business. Strauss-Kahn will not attend the hearing, as he is currently battling claims in France that he was involved in a prostitution ring. | | 
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