Sunday Morning "Talking Heads" Cheat Sheet

George Wenschhof

Expect discussion centered on the decision by President Obama to speak publicly on the Trayvon Martin decision.

Also, sure to be discussed will be the deal crafted in the senate to avoid Democrats moving on filibuster reform in return for  Republicans agreeing to up or down votes on President Obama's nominees.

The bankruptcy filling by the City of Detroit will be coverfed when Michigan Republican Governor Rick Snyder appears on CBS "Face The Nation" and Detroit mayor Dave Bing is a guest on ABC "This Week".

Senator John McCain (R-Az.), who is credited with negotiating the agreement, will appear on CNN "State of The Union".

Where immigration reform stands in the House will be covered when House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) appears on CBS "Face The Nation" and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calf.) appears on CNN "State of The Union".

The scheduled guests follow below.

NBC "Meet The Press" - in addition to a discussion on race with reps. Peter King (R-NY), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.) and Steve king (R-Iowa) , David Gregory talks to two members of the president’s inner circle - former Chief Speechwriter Jon Favreau and National Security Spokesman Tommy Vietor – on the challenges the Obama administration now faces at home and abroad.

CBS "Face The Nation" - House speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Gov. Rick Snyder (R)

Roundtable with The Wall Street Journal's Gerald Seib, Washington Post's David Ignatius, USA Today's Susan Page, TIME's Michael Scherer, PBS Newshour's Gwen Ifill and CBS News Political Director John Dickerson

ABC "This Week" - Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calf.)

Roundtable with former Obama White House Green Jobs Adviser and co-host of CNN’s “Crossfire” Van Jones; former Bush White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, a Fox News contributor and co-host of Fox News Channel’s “The Five”; ABC News’ Cokie Roberts; ABC News Political Analyst and Special Correspondent Matthew Dowd; ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl; and ABC News Senior Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas.

CNN "State of The Union" - Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-Calf.) and Cedric Richmond (D-La.)

Roundtable with New York Times columnist Charles Blow, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund president Sherrilyn Ifill and conservative commentator Crystal Wright.

Fox News Sunday - Dr. Ben Carson, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr

Roundtable with Bill Kristol, Kirsten Powers, Scott Brown and Evan Bayh

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Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Immigration Bill Moves To House Where Passage is Doubtful - On Thursday, by 68-32, a bipartisan coalition of senators passed a historic immigration reform bill. Fourteen Republicans joined all Democrats in passing the legislation.
 
The coalition, and thus the legislation, is held together less by a meeting in the middle than by marrying elements of conservative and liberal reform visions, and business and labor interests.

Its key tradeoff is a plan to send thousands of agents to the U.S.-Mexico border while simultaneously placing millions of current immigrants on a pathway to citizenship. But it also creates a highly regulated guest worker program, and a high-skilled worker visa program, and strict rules governing how immigrants already in the country can turn the promise of citizenship into reality.

But the House isn’t poised to pass anything similar, let alone adopt the Senate bill full stop. On Thursday, Boehner reiterated, and expanded, a standard for passing immigration reform legislation that will result in either a narrower, more conservative bill, or no bill at all.  TPM.com has more here.

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Obama Calls on House To Pass Immigration Bill - President Obama on Thursday called for the House to pass immigration reform after the Senate approved its bill.
“Today, the Senate did its job,” Obama said in a statement released minutes after the Senate’s 68-32 vote. “It’s now up to the House to do the same.”

Obama said the Senate vote brought the nation “a critical step closer” to fixing a broken system “once and for all.”

As this process moves forward, I urge everyone who cares about this issue to keep a watchful eye,” Obama added. “Now is the time when opponents will try their hardest to pull this bipartisan effort apart so they can stop common-sense reform from becoming a reality. We cannot let that happen.”  TheHill.com has more here.

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Retired General Under Investigation for Leaking Classified Information - A retired four-star Marine Corps general who served as the nation’s second-ranking military officer is a target of a Justice Department investigation into a leak of information about a covert U.S.-Israeli cyberattack on Iran’s nuclear program, a senior Obama administration official said.

Retired Gen. James E. “Hoss” Cartwright served as deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was part of President Obama’s inner circle on a range of critical national security issues before he retired in 2011.

The administration official said that Cartwright is suspected of revealing information about a highly classified effort to use a computer virus later dubbed Stuxnet to sabotage equipment in Iranian nuclear enrichment plants.  The Washington Post has more here.

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Egypt Clerics Warn of Civil War, Urge Calm - Egypt's leading religious authority warned of "civil war" on Friday and called for calm after a member of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood was killed ahead of mass rallies aimed at forcing the president to quit.

"Vigilance is required to ensure we do not slide into civil war," the Al-Azhar clerical institution said in a statement reported by state media. It blamed "criminal gangs" who attacked mosques for street violence. Clashes linked to the political tensions have killed five and wounded scores in recent days.  Reuters.com has more here.

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Texas Legislature Special Session To Pass Ban on Late Term Abortions - Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a message for those hailing new liberal icon Wendy Davis for bringing down a restrictive state abortion measure: Enjoy it while it lasts.

Come Monday, the Texas Legislature will reconvene in special session, and enacting far-reaching abortion limits is a top Perry priority.

“This is simply too important a cause to allow unruly actions of a few to stand in its way,” the Republican governor told the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas Tuesday. “And that is the reason I’ve announced that I’m bringing lawmakers back to Austin, Texas, to finish their business.” That includes banning most abortions after 20 weeks and approving related measures that could lead to the closure of most abortion clinics in Texas.  Politico.com has more here.
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Student Loan Rates Set To Double - The Senate is unlikely to strike a deal to prevent student loan rates from rising on July 1.

On Thursday, two groups of senators -- one a bipartisan group that includes Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), the other of just Democrats -- planned to release proposals to prevent rates from doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent while Congress is taking a vacation for the July 4 holiday.

A group of Democrats -- Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) -- planned a press conference for Thursday afternoon to announce a plan for another one-year extension of current rates.

But neither is likely to come up for a vote on the floor before senators depart for that holiday. NBC News has more here.

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Daily Political Wire 9-17-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama will announce Elizabeth Warren as special adviser to new Consumer Finance Protection Agency - Warren was long rumored to head the new agency established under the recently passed financial reform bill. Far left leaning Democrats are expected to be happy with the announcement made today from the White House Rose Garden.

She was not expected to be confirmed in the Senate as Republicans were sure to block her appointment. The president will get around this by naming her as a special assistant to the Treasury Secretary today. Politico.com has more here.

This move by the president will become red meat in the upcoming mid term elections.

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New Quinnipiac poll has Kasich 17 points up on Strickland in Governor's race - in a battleground state that has been a barometer in recent elections. Democratic Governor Ted Strickland has fallen 17 points behind Republican John Kasich 54-37%. You can read more details from the poll here.

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Retiring Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd gives Republicans credit on their term limits system for committee chairmen - Republicans limit chairmen or ranking positions to six years, providing for more diversity. Dodd had to wait 27 years before he was named chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Once appointed to chair of a committee, Democrats can and usually do serve indefinitely or until they lose election. FirstRead.com has more here.

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O'Donnell - Coons meet in first debate - Just two days following her upset of Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican Senate primary. She faced Democratic candidate Chris Coons. Early analysis was a break even debate with Coons showing more poise. TheHill.com has more here.

This race is now considered a toss up in a strong Democratic state long represented by Vice president Joe Biden. His son Beau, was his presumptive successor and a place keeper was appointed to serve the remainder of Joe Biden's term in the senate when he became Vice President. Beau's decision not to run may cost the Democrats a seat. Stay tuned..

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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) set to unveil new "Contract with America" - in an attempt to capture the magic Newt Gingrich created back in the 1994 elections. However, unlike in 1994, when Republican candidates signed the pledge, this time they will not be asked to sign it. You can read more here.

The question Democrats and American voters should ask is why is this being announced less than seven weeks prior to the elections and why haven't Republicans been working to solve the problems facing the nation over the last two years.

Will the new "contract with America" have success and resonate with voters or will the "party of no" be what voters remember when they go to the polls on November 2. Republicans are assured, if past historical data is repeated, of picking up seats in the House and Senate. Whether the Republican wins result in control of the House and Senate remains to be seen.

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House Ethics Committee may wait until after Election to Try Rangel and Waters - the high profile ethics trials for Representatives Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Maxine Water (D-Calf.) are not close to beginning. The latest scuttlebutt is the trial will be pushed back to after the elections on November 2 and possible until after the new Congress is sworn in. Politico.com has more here.

Republicans were hopeful the trials would take place prior to the elections.

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Palin to headline Iowa Republican's Reagan Dinner - tonight, she will speak to the estimated 1000 attendees of the annual Republican dinner. A move, by the former Governor of Alaska and tea party favorite, seen to be further evidence of her intention to run for president in 2012. CNN.com has more here.

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Daily Political Wire 9-12-2010

George Wenschhof

Yesterday, President Obama participates in National Day of Service and Remembrance - in memory of 9-11, he helps paint at the Ron Brown Middle School in Washington.



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Poverty levels near record highs in U.S. - a report from the 2009 census expected to be released soon will show poverty levels at 15% in the United States, an increase from the 13.2% level prior to the 2008 presidential election. You can read more here.

These will be the highest poverty levels since the 1960's when the Johnson administration declared the "war on poverty". Expect Republican leadership to jump on this report and claim failure of Obama economic policies.

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Will Democratic Representative Luis Gutierrez Run for Mayor of Chicago? - with all the recent attention on White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Gutierrez also is seriously considering a bid for the seat to be left vacant by retiring Mayor Daley. TheHill.com has more here.

A strong advocate for immigration reform, many do not want Gutierrez to leave his current seat in Congress.

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NY Times on House minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) ties with Lobbyists - a good read on what was already commonly known. Boehner receives hundreds of thousands of contributions from lobbyists. His connection to the financial industry was evident as he worked to block meaningful finance regulatory reform in the aftermath of the wall street meltdown.

This reporting can not help Republicans as the mid term elections near. You can read more here.

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Iran will release American prisoner for $500, 000 Bail - the on-again, off-again release of Sarah Shroud is now on, for a price. She was one of three Americans arrested while hiking in the border region between Iraq and Iran. It is also being reported her health is deteriorating. MSNBC.com has more here.

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Afghanistan Security Deteriorating - aid groups warn of travel within Afghanistan. Estimates are as much as 30% of the country is unsafe to travel without armed protection. This news comes as an increase of U.S. troops has taken place under the Obama administration. You can read more here.

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Sunday morning "Talking Heads" Lineup for 9-12-2010

George Wenschhof

This Sunday morning the political discussion will again focus on the economy and the upcoming mid term elections. Former Republican House and Senate Leaders; Dick Armey and Trent Lott will be guests on CNN "State of The Union". Armey and his "Freedom Works" organization helped to seed the rise of the tea party grassroots activist movement.

Austan Goolsbee was announced Friday as the replacement for outgoing Christina Romer as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Reportedly, he is much more camera friendly, a requirement these days with twenty-four hour news. Romer came across as a grade school teacher and failed at delivering a succinct message of the Obama administration's economic policies. However, until unemployment begins to decline and the economy improves, Goolsbee will remain on the hot seat. Goolsbee will be on ABC "This Week" and on Fox News Sunday.

Whether or not more changes will take place within the Obama team is likely to receive some discussion when White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod appears on NBC "Meet The Press". Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is likely to step down after the mid term elections to run for the Mayor of Chicago. Who may replace him should be a topic with Maryland Democratic Representative and chair of the DCCC; Chris Van Hollen the latest addition to the rumor mill.

Also, the attention grabbing announcement of planned Quran burning by Florida preacher Terry Jones will get attention. New York Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf will appear on ABC "This Week". The latest on the on again, off again, planned burning of the Quran by the Reverend Terry Jones has been one of the wackiest stories of the last week. Rauf has said he has no plans to meet with Reverend Jones and has no plans to move the location of the new Mosque planned near ground zero in New york City. The latest announcement by Reverend Jones is there will be no Quran burning on Saturday and that he was heading to New York with hopes to meet with Imam Rauf.

With the anniversary of 9-11 falling on Saturday, Tom Kean who co-chaired the 9-11 commission will be a guest on CBS "Face The Nation".

NBC "Meet The Press" - David Axelrod, Rudi Giuliani

ABC "This Week" - Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Austan Gollsbee

CBS "Face The Nation" - House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Tom Kean; co-chair of the 9-11 Commission.

CNN "State of The Union" - Dick Armey, Trent Lott

Fox News Sunday - Austan Goolbee, Newt Gingrich

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Daily Political Wire 8-24-2010

George Wenschhof

Stem Cell Research Banned by Judge's ruling - in a ruling yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth issued a temporary ban on federal funding of stem cell research. Politico.com has more here.

In effect, it says the executive order expanding federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells signed by President Obama last year violates the intent of the Dickey-Wicker amendment approved by Congress in 1996.

Expect the government to appeal to a higher court.

This decision could easily be ratcheted up and made a campaign issue in the upcoming mid term elections.

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Today, Vice President Joe Biden will give an update on the "787 billion Stimulus" bill - he will be joined by Energy Secretary Steve Chu and will talk about investments in science and technology. Politico.com has more here.

The Obama administration attempted to highlight the success of the bill with planned announcements across the country entitled "Recovery Summer". Unfortunately, the planned effort to highlight the successes of the bill has fallen flat as unemployment has remained steady at 9.5%.

In addition to the lack of a jobs program, the Stimulus bill was so varied and diverse, the resulting effects of reduced spending on a particular area of the economy has had little positive outcome.

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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) to call for Firing of Obama's Economic Team - Budget Director Peter Orzag already saw the handwriting on the wall and left as has Christina Romer.

Boehner, citing continued high unemployment, will call for the ouster of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and White House Economic Adviser Larry Summers today at a speech in Cleveland, Ohio. The Washington Post has more here.

Democrats are already responding to the planned speech saying the Republicans will continue to criticize but offer no solutions. TheHill.com has more here.

The main reason Democrats remain competitive going into the mid term elections is the fact the Republican leadership of Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority leader John Boehner is so weak and ineffective.

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O'Malley widens lead against Ehrlich in latest poll - in a OpinionWorks survey released today by Center Maryland Maryland Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley leads former Governor Robert Ehrlich 47% to 41%.

In the Republican primary newcomer Brian Murphy, in spite of an endorsement from Sarah Palin, is only receiving 15% with Ehrlich receiving 75%.

However, the Baltimore Sun points out that many of the owners of the company conducting the polling have contributed to Democrats. In addition, two of the founding members; Steve Kearney was former communications director for O'Malley and Damian O'Doherty was a former aide to Baltimore County Executive James Smith. The Baltimore Sun has more here.

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Shirley Sherrod to Meet with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today - Ms. Sherrod was forced to resign after portions of a speech racist she had previously given which made her appear racist appeared on a conservative Blog. Subsequent airings of the entire speech proved the opposite. MSNBC.com has more here.

Let's see what job she is offered and whether she accepts.

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Former President Jimmy Carter heads to North Korea to help win release of American - Aijalon Mahli Gomes was recently sentenced to 8 years of hard labor for illegally entering the country.

Former President Bill Clinton was successful, less than a year ago, in gaining the release of two women journalists who had been jailed for illegal entry into N. Korea.

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Daily Political Wire 8-9-2010

George Wenschhof

Continuing to move forward or going Backward is the Mid Term Election Theme - President Obama has now coined a phrase first used by the Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (D) campaign in their reelection battle against former Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich. In his speech last Friday, the president asked "when you want the car to move forward you put it in "D" and if you want the car to move backwards, you put it in "R".

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A well stated phrase I also heard from Maryland Democratic Party chair Susan Turnbull when I interviewed her on "All Things Political with George Wenschhof" on 6-21-2010. She was speaking of the differences between O'Malley and Ehrlich and how it did not make sense to go backwards by reelecting Ehrlich. I guess the president also using the phrase is a form of flattery - it also happens to be an excellent description of the differences in political party philosophies.

Yesterday, on NBC "Meet The Press" Republican Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.) showed their inability to actually propose any new programs or answer questions pertaining to the irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy under the former George W. Bush administration. You can read more here.

Neither were able to explain how they would pay for allowing those tax cuts for the wealthy to continue. Nor, were they able to actually propose any new Republican program to help in any of the the issues facing Americans today. Boehner did make some faint promise that Republicans would be unveiling their ideas after Labor Day.

Boehner also said he was willing to consider amending the 14th amendment which states children born of immigrants living in the U.S. are citizens. An amendment which has no chance of passing.

Wonder where their ideas of been to date? Instead of being the "Party of No" since the election of Obama, they could have been engaging with Democrats in Congress to help Americans across the country.

Below, you can watch Boehner stumble through his non answers to the questions posed by David Gregory.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Same Sex Marriage Legal Process Continues in California - the federal judge who struck down the ban last week also issued a stay on his ruling. Today, Judge Vaughn Walker will hear arguments from both sides in regard to lifting that ban. The decision is being appealed and will be heard by either an appeals court or the Supreme Court. FirstRead.com has more here.

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Georgia Republican Gubernatorial Run off Tomorrow - the Primary on July 20 had Karen Handel beating Nathan Deal by 34-23%. Polls show Handel maintaining that lead. However, there are 11% who are undecided. Chris Cillizza has more here.

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Sunday morning "Talking Heads" Lineup for 8-8-2010

George Wenschhof

A grab bag of topics is sure to be discussed this coming Sunday. The latest "top kill" effort to stop the flow of oil into the gulf appears to be working so far for BP. Admiral Thad Allen will be on several of the morning shows; CNN "State of The Union" and CBS "Face The Nation".

New White House Energy Adviser Carol Browner will appear on NBC "Meet The Press". They will be quick to say they are still requiring BP to use the relief well to close off the damaged well from below. Stay tuned as this horrific spill has had many twists and turns with only one obvious item revealed - there was no plan to stop an oil spill pouring out from miles beneath the ocean.

The federal judge ruling overturning the Gay Marriage Ban in California will also receive discussion, especially on Fox News Sunday who has attorney Ted Olsen as guest. A one time hero of the far right, it was his arguments that led the judge to rule as he did.

What's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan will also receive attention as CNN "State of The Union has Generals Ray Ordierno and Peter Chiarelli. President Obama has said the U.S. is on track to withdraw from Iraq beginning next summer and that time frame is also the same to reassess the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. It has become painfully clear both wars and subsequent occupation initiated by the George W. Bush administration have been less than successful and an incredible burden to the country's deficit spending.

General Chiarelli will discuss treatment available to veterans suffering from emotional stress. The best treatment would be for the U.S. to withdraw from both countries sooner rather than later.

President Obama finally broke through a Republican filibuster in the Senate to get a 26.1 billion aid to states bill passed. This will help in medicaid expenses and help to avoid teacher lay offs. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) has called house members back from their August recess to vote on this bill next week. Governors Granholm (D-Mich) and McDonnell (R-Va.) will surely add their views on this bill being passed while appearing on CNN "State of The Union".

The ongoing dismal economy and the continuing 9.5% unemployment rate will also get more banter from both sides of the aisle.

NBC "Meet The Press" - WH Energy Adviser Carol Browner and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh.)

Roundtable discussion with Harold Ford, Mike Pence, Andrea Mitchell and Todd Purdum.

ABC "This Week" - General Ray Ordierno and general Peter Chiavelli.

CBS "Face The Nation" - Admiral Thad Allen, Tony Perkins-Family Research Council, Jan Crawford-CBS legal counsel and Dan Balz-Washington Post.

CNN "State of The Union" - Admiral Thad Allen, Governors Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.) and Bob McDonnell (R-Va.).

Fox News Sunday - Attorney Ted Olsen, Governor John Daniels (R-Ind.)

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