Top Items:
Nick Gass / Politico:
Obama ‘embarrassed’ for GOP senators who signed Iran letter — President Barack Obama says he's “embarrassed” for the 47 Republican senators who signed a letter to Iranian leaders earlier this week. — “I'm embarrassed for them. For them to address a letter to the ayatollah who they claim …
Discussion:
Power Line, VICE News, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Daily Kos, American Spectator and The Daily Caller
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Heidi Przybyla / Bloomberg Business:
GOP Senator Says Letter Shouldn't Have Been Addressed to Iran's Leaders — The letter 47 Republicans sent earlier this week warning against a nuclear deal President Barack Obama is negotiating with Iran probably shouldn't have been addressed to the regime's leaders, said Senator Ron Johnson, who signed the letter.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine, Mediaite, New York Times, Washington Post and Politico
A.B. Stoddard / The Hill:
A big mistake on Iran — Torpedoing a bipartisan, veto-proof majority to cement Congress's role in a deal with Iran, undercutting pledges of the new GOP majority in the Senate to govern and undermining a future Republican president — these probably weren't freshman Sen. Tom Cotton's (R-Ark.) …
Mark Hensch / The Hill:
GOP senator has one ‘regret’ over Iran letter
GOP senator has one ‘regret’ over Iran letter
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Daily Kos
Jonathan Topaz / Politico:
Bernie Sanders isn't so sure about this 2016 thing — Bernie Sanders hasn't made any big hires for a potential presidential run. He doesn't have the money he needs for a campaign and isn't sure he can raise it. And he's already sick of hearing about Hillary Clinton. — This is not a guy who's ready for 2016.
Discussion:
PoliticusUSA, New York Times, Washington Monthly and Althouse
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Amy Chozick / New York Times:
Carly Fiorina Shapes Herself as the Republican Foil to Hillary Clinton — WASHINGTON — She has been the chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, a senior adviser to a Republican presidential nominee and a candidate for the United States Senate. But Carly Fiorina recently took on her boldest role yet …
Discussion:
Bloomberg Business, ABC News, Taylor Marsh, Washington Post and BizPac Review
Michael Barone / Washington Examiner:
Obama's policies leave Democrats weak candidates in 2016, except — maybe — Hillary Clinton
Obama's policies leave Democrats weak candidates in 2016, except — maybe — Hillary Clinton
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online
Karina Catellani / Latin WE:
OPEN APOLOGY TO FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA FROM RODNER FIGUEROA — I offer my sincere apology for an unfortunate comment I made about a make-up artist's depiction of you on Univision's show “El Gordo y La Flaca” yesterday. It was clearly in bad taste and misunderstood.
Discussion:
Politico, Twitchy, TMZ.com, Liberaland, Talking Points Memo and OnPolitics
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Kelly Weill / Capital New York:
Edits to Wikipedia pages on Bell, Garner, Diallo traced to 1 Police Plaza — Computers operating on the New York Police Department's computer network at its 1 Police Plaza headquarters have been used to alter Wikipedia pages containing details of alleged police brutality, a review by Capital has revealed.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Talking Points Memo, Gothamist, The Verge, Gawker, Mediaite and New York Magazine, more at Mediagazer »
Adam C. Smith / Tampa Bay Times:
Here's what Scott Walker has to say about Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio — We sat down this morning with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is making his first New Hampshire campaign swing as a likely presidential candidate this weekend along with Jeb Bush. Naturally we asked him how he can compete …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Politico, Fox News, JSOnline, Washington Post and Political Wire
Adam Taylor / Washington Post:
Where is Putin? Russian leader's absence sparks rumors. — Everyone has their off days, but when you're the proudly virile and uncontested leader of one of the most-watched countries in the world, your days off make people nervous. Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't been seen for days …
Discussion:
Vox, New York Magazine, ABC News, Reuters, FOX News Radio, Balloon Juice, eng.kremlin.ru and The PJ Tatler
al.com:
Alabama House passes contentious marriage bill after four hours of debate — After nearly four hours of debate, the Alabama House on Thursday passed a bill that gives judges, ministers and other officiants the right to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies.
Discussion:
Politico, Yahoo! News and Towleroad News #gay
Neil MacFarquhar / New York Times:
Putin, Said to Be ‘Perfectly Healthy,’ Is Also Nowhere to Be Seen — MOSCOW — Where's Putin? — It was the question preoccupying Moscow and much of Russia on Friday, as speculation mounted about why President Vladimir V. Putin had not been seen in public since last week.
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Alec Luhn / Guardian:
Is Putin ill? ‘Everything is fine’ despite canceled meetings and old photos
Is Putin ill? ‘Everything is fine’ despite canceled meetings and old photos
Discussion:
Business Insider, Reuters, The Atlantic Online and Bloomberg View
Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
Valerie Jarrett: ‘I Intend to Stay Until the Lights Go Off’ — Does it ever surprise you that people describe your influence at the White House in terms similar to those once used to describe Vice President Dick Cheney's? Oh! Please don't say that. Stop right there.
Discussion:
Politico and Washington Times
Chicago Tribune:
Tribune poll shows Emanuel with double-digit lead on Garcia — Mayor Rahm Emanuel has opened up a double-digit lead on challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, gaining support from a majority of voters for the first time in his bid for a second term, a new Chicago Tribune poll has found.
Discussion:
Politico, Bloomberg Business and Chicago
Barbara Ross / NY Daily News:
50 Cent will stand trial for posting woman's sex video on YouTube — Rapper 50 Cent will be back in court in June — defending his decision to put a young Florida woman's naked image on YouTube, where it got 3.2 million viewers. — Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Paul Wooten told lawyers …
Discussion:
FOX News Radio
Kyle Mantyla / Right Wing Watch:
Franklin Graham Says That Obama's Mother ‘Must Have Been A Muslim’ — Franklin Graham was a guest on the Family Research Council's “Washington Watch” radio program yesterday where he asserted that President Obama is refusing to fight ISIS because he wants to protect Islam since even his mother was a Muslim.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, FRC and The Gateway Pundit
Daniel Pérez / Houston Chronicle:
Bill restricting rights of citizens to videotape police introduced in Texas House — A bill restricting the rights of citizens to record the police was filed in Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday. — The House Bill 2918 introduced by Texas Representative Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) …
Discussion:
BREITBART.COM, Trail Blazers Blog, Hit & Run, The Huffington Post, Raw Story and News One
Julian Hattem / The Hill:
CIA chief: Cyber terror is the future — If the U.S. wants to prevent the terrorist attacks of the future, it needs to turn its attention to the Internet, according to the head of the CIA. — Agency Director John Brennan on Friday warned about a new generation of terrorists that is increasingly able to communicate online.
Discussion:
Politico
Tim Devaney / The Hill:
Dems push ATF to revive bullet ban — Congressional Democrats are pressuring the Obama administration to move ahead “swiftly” with a proposal that would ban a form of armor-piercing ammunition. — In a draft letter first obtained by The Hill, Democrats are urging the director of the Bureau of Alcohol …
Daniel Newhauser / National Journal:
Another Bad Trip for Schock — He took a non-staffer on an official trip to India, and didn't disclose it. — Add another trip to Rep. Aaron Schock's list of potential headaches. — Schock appears to have improperly accepted money from an outside group to cover travel expenses …
Discussion:
Judicial Watch, Daily Kos, Joe. My. God. and Towleroad News #gay