A wake-up call for Dems, labor, and the left  —  Scott Walker's victory in tonight's recall battle is a major wake-up call for the left, Democrats, and unions about the true nature of the new, post-Citizens United political landscape, and it should force a major reckoning among liberals …

R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles  —  Ray Bradbury — author of The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and many more literary classics — died this morning in Los Angeles, at the age of 91.

Supporter slaps Tom Barrett after loss  —  Talk about hitting a man when he's down.  —  Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett not only lost to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in Tuesday's recall election, but he was also slapped by a supporter after his concession speech.

Miss Pennsylvania USA Resigns In Protest Of Transgender Candidates  —  Before Miss Rhode Island Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss USA last week, she answered a question about transgender contestants in the pageant, openly embracing their inclusion.  But Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin …

Voters in California Back Pension Cuts for City Workers  —  LOS ANGELES — As Wisconsin residents voted on Tuesday not to recall Gov. Scott Walker — who has become an enemy of labor unions nationwide — two California cities dealt blows of their own to organized labor.

Team of Mascots  —  Four years ago, Barack Obama said he wanted a Lincoln-esque “team of rivals” in his Cabinet.  Thanks to his own temperament, the modern White House, and the 24-hour news cycle, what the president has created is something that doesn't look Lincoln-esque at all.

Ethics committee says case against Waters to move forward  —  The House Ethics Committee announced on Wednesday that Rep. Maxine Waters's (D-Calif.) rights were not violated in its investigation of her and its case will proceed.  —  Waters is next in line to fill Rep. Barney Frank's (D-Mass.) …

McMahon, Murphy Open Big Leads In Connecticut Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Two Front-Runners Neck-And-Neck In General Election  —  Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon leads former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays 59 - 30 percent in the Republican primary for Connecticut's U.S. Senate seat …

Cincinnati Christian School Asks Teacher if He's Gay, Fires Him: VIDEO  —  Jonathan Zeng, a singer and music teacher from Cincinnati, was offered a teaching job at Cincinnati Hills, a nondenominational Christian academy, which he accepted.  Several hours later he was called in, asked if he is gay, and fired.

Panic has become all too rational  —  Suppose that in June 2007 you had been told that the UK 10-year bond would be yielding 1.54 per cent, the US Treasury 10-year 1.47 per cent and the German 10-year 1.17 per cent on June 1 2012.  Suppose, too, you had been told that official short rates varied …

Mike Huckabee Accidentally Tells The Truth About Fox News  —  Oops!  This slipup by Mike Huckabee accidentally reveals the truth about our favorite non-news channel.  In this clip, he declares that the nation would think Barack Obama was doing just fine if it weren't for Fox News.

CNN Poll: Americans' attitudes toward gay community changing  —  Washington (CNN) - A majority of Americans say they support legally recognizing same-sex marriage amid growing evidence that the public's become more comfortable with gays and lesbians, according to a new national poll.

(Also on POLITICO: Obama's $5.3 million West Coast swing)  —  His event Thursday morning will mark his 153rd fundraiser since announcing his reelection bid last year.  That's nearly double the number that his predecessor George W. Bush had attended by this point in his reelection campaign …

TPMMuckraker  —  Thousands Of Californians Wanted Birther Orly Taitz To Be Their Senator  —  Orly Taitz, the California dentist-lawyer most famous for challenging President Barack Obama's birth certificate, failed to win the Senate primary in California on Tuesday, but not before racking up tens of thousands of votes.