OBAMA AGENDA: The fight over NSA data collection
The New York Times looks at the lengthy fight over NSA bulk data collection -- and what it means for democracy.
The Washington Post writes that an inspector general report shows that Secret Service supervisors didn't report agents' misconduct.
CONGRESS: Back on track
The fast-track trade bill has cleared its big Senate hurdle, but its fate in the House is still unclear.
"Key Democrats on Thursday said they opposed Republican efforts to circumvent broad, congressionally mandated cuts in military spending as lawmakers considered the annual Pentagon budget," writes the New York Times.
And an immigration measure scrambled debate over the bill as well, notes the Wall Street Journal.
National Journal talked to dozens of female staffers about what it's like to deal with sexism on Capitol Hill.
From POLITICO: "With only days left to act and Rand Paul threatening a filibuster, Senate Republicans remain deeply divided over the future of the PATRIOT Act and have no clear path to keep key government spying authorities from expiring at the end of the month."
OFF TO THE RACES: Desperately seeking a frontrunner
Kasie Hunt reports on anxiety among top Republicans that they're in for a long and bruising nomination fight.
The New York Times notes that the Iraq War is haunting Bush just as it did Hillary Clinton in 2008.
BOLTON: John Bolton's not running. Here's what his exit says about the 2016 field.
BUSH: Fourth time's the charm. Our wrap of Jeb Bush's fourth (and final?) answer on the Iraq question.
The Washington Post's big picture: "Over the course of a long and bruising campaign, Jeb Bush is also certain to face more questions about how he would be a different president from George W. Bush, the last Republican to serve in the White House — not only on foreign policy but also on domestic issues such as the privatization of Social Security and the Wall Street bank bailout."
Karl Rove said on TODAY that Jeb Bush won't make the same mistake on Iraq again.
CHRISTIE: He's brought on a new national field director and a national director of data and analytics, POLITICO writes.
O'MALLEY: He'll make an announcement about his presidential run on May 30 -- and there's not a lot of suspense about what he'll say.
PAUL: He picked up another 25 endorsements in New Hampshire.
And around the country..,
CALIFORNIA: Loretta Sanchez is officially running for Senate, facing Kamala Harris in a Democratic primary.
INDIANA: Ex-rep Baron Hill says he'll run for Senate in 2016.
WISCONSIN: And Russ Feingold is in for a rematch against Ron Johnson.
PROGRAMMING NOTES.
*** Friday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Tamron Hall speaks with NBC’s Rehema Ellis about the latest on the Amtrak crash in Philadelphia, NBC’s Craig Melvin about Tom Brady to fight NFL suspension, and another one of our Born in the USA series: founder and owner of Pens Ink Anna Williams. And Billboard senior editor Alex Gale joins to discuss the life and death of Blues great: B.B. King
*** Friday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: Andrea will interview Fmr. CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell, Veteran Amtrak locomotive engineer Fritz Edler, the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein, the Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty, NBC’s Bill Neely, Rehema Ellis, Pete Williams and Lester Holt joins Andrea to remember BB King.