The latest issue of New York contains a lengthy profile of Paul Kruman entitled “What’s Left of the Left: Paul Krugman’s Lonely crusade.” Writer Benjamin Wallace-Wells examines the Nobel Prize-winning economist’s position as “the leading exponent of a kind of liberal purism” (played out in his column for the Times and his blog, The Conscience of a Liberal); few peers or policymakers wholly agree with Krugman’s stance, making him a very “lonely” man (save for his commenters). And it’s not just in his professional life that Krugs lacks pals, Wallace-Wells tells us, but, heartbreakingly, in his personal life as well. Paul Krugman is a lonely man.

Earlier this evening, I had the opportunity to get the unvarnished thoughts of a former Deutsche Bank employee familiar with Trump from this $640-million deal gone awry on the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. Trump was sued to collect on a $40-million personal guarantee that was part of the deal. Suffice it to say, the banker held a dim view of the Donald.

US Weighs Summer Sale Of GM Stock (WSJ) To break even, the U.S. Treasury would need to sell its remaining stake—about 500 million shares—at $53 apiece. GM closed off 27 cents a share at $29.97 in 4 p.m

A passage from his latest screed implies as much. The Macks make for an interesting couple. John , a Lebanese-American nicknamed “Mack the Knife” for his legendary passion for firing people, has one of the most recognizable faces on Wall Street, physically resembling a crumpled, half-burned baked potato with a pair of overturned furry horseshoes for eyebrows

Obama Demands Budget Deal To Avert Government Shutdown (Bloomberg) fter meeting with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Obama said issues remained unresolved and he hoped for a breakthrough that would prevent a shutdown, set to begin at midnight tonight. “I’m not yet prepared to express wild optimism but I think we are further along,” he told reporters. “My hope is, is that I’ll be able to announce to the American people sometime relatively early in the day that a shutdown has been averted.” SEC May Relax Limits On Shares In Private Firms (WSJ) According to the letter and people familiar with the matter, the likely changes would include raising from 499 the number of shareholders private companies can have without being required to open their books, and also making it easier for such companies to publicize share offerings.

In first address to the nation 10 days after launching military action in Libya, President Obama justifies U.S. intervention [ LAT ] In other disturbing news, Abercrombie & Fitch now makes a padded bikini top, formerly marketed as the “push-up triangle”, for girls as young as age 7 [ KABC ] Above average radiation levels officials insist are too low to pose a threat detected at Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s busiest container port [ KTLA ] With Steve Carrell bowing out after seven seasons, could Will Ferrell’s upcoming four-episode stint on “The Office” become a permanent gig?

Rajaratnam’s Wiretapped Call With Brother Bolsters Insider Case (Bloomberg) And in testimony earlier this week, Goel said that Rajaratnam told him in 2003 that Rajaratnam had given BMW cars to two women in Intel’s sales department who leaked information to him. Lynam asked Goel if he thought Rajaratnam was joking. “I don’t think that was a joke, sir,” he responded.

Following reports yesterday that  AOL ( AOL ) will be consolidating several media properties , UBS Securities analyst Brian Pitz this morning raised his rating on the shares to Buy from Neutral, with a $25 price target, arguing that the company stands to gain from “stabilization” and “monetization.” AOL shares today are up 64 cents, or 3.4%, at $19.61. AOL’s effort on display ads, dubbed “ Project Devil ,” appear to be getting higher-than-average CPMs , at about $30, writes Pitz

As you may have heard, Donald Trump has been mulling a run for president, which he says he’ll make a final decision on by June. In the meantime, he’s been putting his credentials out there, in case anyone thinks he’s not the right guy for the job. In terms of dealing with foreign leaders and dignitaries, The Don says his experience cannot be beat (and should he turn down the president gig, feel free to offer him Secretary of State, a position for which he’s also eminently qualified)

RBS CEO Stephen Hester was recently asked by Parliament to defend his bonus for 2011, which clocked in at around £7.7m. Some might argue the Brits had the right to do so in light of the fact that about 82 percent of the bank is owned by the government.