Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Afghanistan: “A Toyota Corolla packed with explosives rammed a pair of American military vehicles in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Thursday, setting off a blast that killed at least 16 people, including 6 American military advisers.”
* President Obama covered a fair amount of ground in afternoon press conference alongside Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
* Among the items of interest: “President Obama, seeking to regain his footing amid persistent questions over last September’s attack in Benghazi, Libya, called on Congress on Thursday to take action to bolster security at American Embassies…. He also urged lawmakers to fully finance the State Department’s budget request for diplomatic security.”
* IRS: “President Obama is naming Daniel I. Werfel, the controller of the Office of Management and Budget, to be the new acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, the White House announced Thursday.”
* Combating sexual assaults in the military: “A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday proposed major changes to military laws for sexual assault cases, backing a bill to prevent military commanders from handling sexual assault cases that involve their subordinates.”
* In related news: “The nation’s top defense leaders were summoned to the White House Thursday to talk about the military’s sexual assault crisis as the Pentagon’s top general said women in uniform were losing confidence the problem will be solved.”
* New Orleans: “A second suspect has been arrested in the shooting that injured 20 people at a parade on Mother’s Day, police said Thursday afternoon.” * A minor miracle: “The Senate on Wednesday approved President Obama’s nominee to run Medicare and Medicaid, Marilyn B. Tavenner, providing the agency with its first confirmed chief in six and a half years. The 91-to-7 vote showed broad support for Ms. Tavenner, a former state health official in Virginia, who was endorsed by Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican leader.” * And keep an eye on the House Republican effort to use the Farm Bill to gut federal food and nutrition programs — cuts that seem especially unnecessary in light of the deficit that’s already shrinking quickly. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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