Washington in 60 Seconds -- Harry Reid Declares, 'I'm Independent, Just Like Nevada'

Good morning, Capitolists! It's only Tuesday and we've got two full-blown conspiracy theories blossoming around the nation's capital. Yea.

Read about those and everything else making news in Washington in the next 60 seconds:

- Conspiracy #1: Harry Reid, in the Senate Race, With a Plant. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid officially filed for reelection yesterday in Nevada, where a new Mason-Dixon poll shows him winning a three-way the race against a Republican and a Tea Party candidate. Lo and behold, a Tea Party candidate filed yesterday, too, but conservatives rejected him as a "fraud" and a Reid plant. Reid said he's never met the guy and declared why he'll win in November: "I'm independent, just like Nevada." The Las Vegas Review-Journal has the full write-up.

- Conspiracy #2: Democrats, in the Health Care Debate, With Suspicious Knickers. Former Rep. Eric Massa is living up to his promise not to go gently into that good night. First he accused Democrats for setting him up with an ethics committee investigation in retaliation for voting against health care. (What about that cancer scare?) Now he's going into Glenn Beck's chalky lair for a meeting of the minds and a sure-fire ratings bonanza.

- Massa's "Unbelievable Lie." Speaking of Eric Massa, the former lawmaker blasted radio host Bob Lonsberry yesterday for writing about complaints against Massa from his Navy days, about which Massa acknowledged "grossly obscene" initiation rites and something about sailors "getting into each other's knickers." A confounded Lonsberry responds today, calling Massa's emergence as a new cult hero among conservatives "astounding. And proof that in American politics, it's not how big your lie is, it's how loud you can yell."

- Unemployment or Welfare? A debate is quietly brewing in the Capitol over how long is too long to extend unemployment benefits. With multiple extensions approved by Congress and another being debated in the Senate today, some unemployed people will be eligible for benefits for nearly two years. At $10 billion a month, critics say that's a new entitlement program. But proponents counter that people have paid into the system, and that they pump the money back into the economy immediately.

- Pass the Adderall. Because health care reform, the economy, unemployment, and two wars aren't keeping the White House busy enough, President Obama has meetings with key senators this week to talk about moving forward on the hot-button issues of climate change and immigration reform before the midterm elections. We have two words for the White House: Focus and Adderall.

- First Lady Makes History. First Lady Michelle Obama will donate her Jason Wu inaugural gown to the National Museum of American History today to add to the museum's iconic collection of gowns from previous first ladies. Tiny genius Wu will instantly up the capital's glamour quotient while he's on hand for the ceremony at the Smithsonian this morning.