OBAMA AGENDA: The Secret Service fallout
After that excruciating Tuesday congressional hearing, Secret Service director Julia Pierson submitted her resignation Wednesday. The full take from NBCNews.com
Pierson spoke to Bloomberg News, saying her exit was "the noble thing to do."
The New York Times profiles Joe Clancy, who will take over the job as acting interim director.
The Washington Post's In the Loop blog hears that Solicitor General Don Verrilli may be at the top of the list to replace Eric Holder.
Reports the Wall Street Journal: "The U.S. and Israel clashed over negotiations with Iran and claims to Jerusalem as President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for the first time since peace talks with Palestinians broke down in April. The conflicting views over core policies pointed to continuing U.S.-Israeli friction as Washington and its allies try to reach an accord with Iran by late November. The aim is a deal that curtails Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for easing international sanctions. Mr. Netanyahu is calling for dismantling Iran's program, a step the White House has ruled out."
The latest in Hong Kong, from the AP: "Hong Kong police warned of serious consequences if pro-democracy protesters try to occupy government buildings, as they have threatened to do if the territory's leader didn't resign by Thursday. Tensions mounted ahead of the deadline set by students for the city's Beijing-backed Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to step down — part of broader demonstrations pushing for electoral reforms for the Asian financial center."
OFF TO THE RACES: Orman leading in Kansas
The Washington Post writes that Obama's decision to delay executive action on immigration is hurting Democrats trying to get Latinos to the polls.
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus will speak this morning about the GOP's "Principles for American Renewal."
Why is John Boehner talking up Jeb Bush? Writes The Hill: "The Speaker’s preference for yet another Bush White House run is partly political, partly personal. He sees Bush as undeniably the strongest, most viable candidate who could pull the party together after a bruising primary and take on a formidable Hillary Clinton, sources said. And the two men are aligned politically, hailing from the same centrist strand of the GOP."
Now the AP's writing on the Romney semi-boomlet: "Romney has repeatedly insisted he's not running for president again, and his closest aides laugh off a possible 2016 bid. But top GOP strategists and donors suggest his continued high profile in Republican politics highlights the party's murky future and a crowded 2016 field that is both flawed and without a clear front-runner"
Freedom Partners Action Fund is up with new ads in WV-3 (Rahall v. Jenkins), FL-2 (Southerland v. Graham) and FL-26 (Curbelo v. Garcia).
ARKANSAS: Mark Pryor is highlighting Tom Cotton's vote against VAWA renewal in a new ad.
IOWA: Larry Sabato is moving the Iowa Senate race to "lean Republican."
KANSAS: A Kansas court says that Democrats don't have to name a Senate candidate on the November ballot.
A new USA Today/Suffolk poll finds Orman leading with 46 percent support, compared to 41 percent for Roberts.
Here's Greg Orman's ad highlighting his disapproval of both parties.
And here's one from Roberts, with tracker footage catching Orman dodging an Obamacare question.
KENTUCKY: Bill Clinton is making his Senate ad debut for Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Grimes will appear with the same "Nuns on the Bus" group that Joe Biden visited in that "official event" in Des Moines.
MASSACHUSETTS: Martha Coakley is hurting for cash and asking members of the state's delegation to pony up funds, the Boston Globe reports.
MINNESOTA: MSNBC's Michael LaRosa writes that sparks flew in last night's Senate debate, with Republican Mike McFadden calling Franken "the Ted Cruz of the Democratic Party."
MISSISSIPPI: The blogger who photographed Sen. Thad Cochran's wife in her nursing home room has been indicted, writes the Clarion-Ledger.
TEXAS: Greg Abbott leads Wendy Davis by nine points, according to a new Texas Lyceum poll.
WISCONSIN: A new Marquette poll shows Walker leading Mary Burke 50-45 percent.
PROGRAMMING NOTES.
***Thursday's "News Nation with Tamron Hall" line-up: Richard Lui interviews Politico’s Chief Political Columnist Roger Simon on the Secret Service breach and Pierson’s resignation; Criminal Attorney Eric Guster on the Michael Dunn guilty verdict; CASE Medical Center’s Dr. Lolita McDavid on enterovirus; Author and China expert, Gordon Chang on the Hong Kong protests; Exec Dir of Outfront Minnesota Monica Meyer and Alison Yocum, mom of a transgendered child on the MN State High School League voting on transgender athlete guidelines.
*** Thursday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Dr. Frank Esper UH Case Medical Center, New York Time’s Amy Chozick, Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza and Ruth Marcus and Aaron David Miller of the Wilson Center.