Today’s edition of quick hits:
* There was a brutal scene in Afghanistan today when eight suicide bombers “stormed the headquarters of a special unit of the Afghan police in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Tuesday morning, killing five officers and wounding four.”
* There are no cameras allowed inside the Supreme Court chamber, but an audio recording of this morning’s oral arguments on California’s Prop 8 is available online.
* North Korea stepped up its aggressive rhetoric on Tuesday, “ordering its rocket and long-range artillery units to be combat ready and on the ‘highest alert’ and issuing new threats against U.S. bases on Hawaii, Guam and mainland America.”
* On a related note, North Korea needs to work on its Photoshopping skills, though in its defense, Pyongyang still seems better at faking photographs than Iran (thanks to my wife for the heads-up).
* Syria: “The Obama administration poured cold water on a Syrian rebel leader’s request for the United States to shoot down Assad regime warplanes.”
* President Obama will appoint Julia Pierson, a veteran U.S. Secret Service agent and senior official, as the first female director of the agency. Pierson does not need Senate confirmation, so Senate Republicans cannot filibuster her or make absurd demands before a confirmation vote.
* Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), as expected, formally announced this afternoon that he will not run for Senate in 2014, and has no plans to seek future political office.
* When Chris’ show debuts on msnbc prime time next week, it’ll be called “All In with Chris Hayes.” It remains unclear what the new hashtag will be for fans of the show. * Funding for the rest of the fiscal year: “President Obama on Tuesday afternoon officially signed into law a measure funding the government through Sept. 30, ensuring that the government will stay open through the remainder of the fiscal year.” * And I was surprised to learn today that the Senate is in actual recess right now — as opposed to the faux recesses we’ve become accustomed to — though President Obama has agreed not to make any recess appointments during the members’ break. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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