OBAMA AGENDA: Talking cybersecurity
The president will talk to top cyber experts today in Palo Alto even as tensions between Silicon Valley and Washington grow, reports the New York Times.
Our new NBC News/Marist poll shows that 54 percent of Americans want their member of Congress to vote for Obama's proposed authorization to use force against ISIS.
The Associated Press writes that the U.S. has reservations about the new Ukraine cease-fire but that any plans to provide weapons to Ukraine are on hold for right now.
From the New York Times: "The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, delivered an unusually candid speech on Thursday about the difficult relationship between the police and African-Americans, saying that officers who work in neighborhoods where blacks commit crimes at a high rate develop a cynicism that shades their attitudes about race."
Despite advice from experts, Obama is strongly considering Joe Clancy as the permanent leader of the Secret Service, reports the Washington Post.
CONGRESS: Carter gets confirmed
The Senate approved Ashton Carter as the new head of the Pentagon in a 93 to 5 vote, reports NBC News.
Congress said they demanded an AUMF six months ago, but now few members are enthusiastic about voting on it.
OFF TO THE RACES: What a story out of Oregon!
BIDEN: Joe Biden says he will decide whether to seek the presidency "sometime at the end of the summer."
BUSH: He picked up former Romney aide and New Hampshire guru Rich Killion.
POLITICO reports on how Bush's frontrunner status is making him a target for attacks from GOP rivals.
CLINTON: Hillary Clinton hopes to portray herself as more proactive on foreign policy than Obama, notes the Wall Street Journal.
The Huffington Post: Clinton campaign lawyers are looking into possible restrictions on the fundraising Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe will be able to do.
CHRISTIE: Check out Perry Bacon Jr’s look at how Republicans are privately wondering if Chris Christie is still a viable presidential contender.
CRUZ: Ted Cruz is throwing cold water on the idea of changing Senate filibuster rules, reports Luke Russert.
PAUL: Rand Paul was fudging a little bit in Iowa when he said - twice - that he has a degree in biology.
He's asking Republicans in Kentucky to help him clear the way to run for re-election to the Senate and for president at the same time.
WALKER: Scott Walker is raking in cash from Wall Street, reports the Wall Street Journal.
And around the country....
OREGON: The Oregonian reports: Gov. Kitzhaber's allies are abandoning him as calls for his resignation loom.
And a report in the Willamette Week alleges that he attempted to destroy thousands of personal emails.
PENNSYLVANIA: The Philly Inquirer on how the DNC's selection fits its mission: "Democrats have carried Pennsylvania every presidential election since 1988, when Republican George H.W. Bush won the state. But it's still a competitive two-party state with close elections, strategists and analysts said."
PROGRAMMING NOTES.
*** Friday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Tamron Hall speaks Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) regarding ISIS and the AUMF decision on using ground troops to combat the terror organization, Legal analyst Lisa Green regarding the Chris Kyle Trial, Senior Fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center Mark Potok about the shooting of 3 Muslim students at UNC, Former SNL Cast member Tim Meadows about the 40th anniversary of SNL, and Hip Hop legend Biz Markie about his career and dramatic weight loss.
*** Friday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviews State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki, the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza and Ruth Marcus, MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki, “6 Certified” Creator Charlie Ebersol, and John and Diane Foley, the parents of James Foley.