Good morning. Among today’s items: Katie Couric’s ridiculous salary, protectionism, inflation, and a very disturbing crime.

Inflation? Let’s debate it (Reason Online) A series of short takes on whether inflation is truly a concern or not.

We’re entering a new age of protectionism (Telegraph)

The FDIC is broke. Watch your wallet (Bloomberg)

Why aren’t people outraged over network news salaries? (Columbia Journalism Review)
Katie Couric’s annual salary is more than the annual budgets of NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered combined. That’s insane, particularly when you consider the audience numbers for both, and it’s even more baffling if you’ve watched the evening news in the past 10 years.

Democrats revolt over $80 billion Big Pharma deal (PBS NewsHour)

We need more bullets! (Houston Chronicle)

US Census worker found hanging from a tree in Kentucky (AP) The word “fed” was scrawled across his chest. Creepy.