Microsoft is paying right-wing lobbyist Ralph Reed $20,000 a month to “advise” them on trade issues. Reed is most famous for running Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition. You’ll probably see this reported everywhere as breaking news, but it’s not. Salon’s Scott Rosenberg criticized Microsoft for hiring him five years ago.

This is just in the news again because Microsoft has pulled back on its support for a bill in Washington barring discrimination based on sexual orientation.