SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

ANCIENT HIT PARADE – From Fox:  "Archaeologists believe they have unearthed the oldest known music scene in Israeli history. The image is of a rite in a 'sacred marriage' ceremony for a Mesopotamian king and a goddess. Depicted on a 5,000-year-old cylinder seal impression, the image dates back to the Early Bronze age and illustrates a wedding banquet with music and dancing, the meeting between the king and the goddess, as well as their sexual union, according to a press release from the Israel Antiquities Authority."  No word on whether this was actually a same-sex marriage and whether a photographer was arrested for refusing to photograph it.

WELCOME TO THE RECOVERY – From AP:  "ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York state's food banks are asking state leaders for $16 million to address a worsening hunger problem.  Michael Berg, director of an organization that runs three food pantries in Ulster County, said Monday that requests for food have risen by about 20 percent each year for the last few years. Meanwhile, a coalition of 53 food pantries in the Albany area reports the highest demand in its 36-year history.  Susan Zimet, director of the Hunger Action Network, said the $16 million request is small considering the state has billions of dollars in uncommitted money to spend.  Zimet said most people in need of help are employed, but struggling to make ends meet."  This, in one of the most expensive, high-tax states in the country.  But New York "progressives" continue to block fracking, which would create an economic boom in some parts of the state.

YOU DON'T SAY – From The Hill:  "Sen. Rand Paul is inching away from comments where he accused his colleagues of secretly wanting a terrorist attack on the United States in order to undercut his efforts to dismantle a government surveillance program.  'Sometimes, in the heat of battle, hyperbole can get the better of anyone, and that may be the problem there,' the Kentucky Republican said Monday on Fox News's 'America's Newsroom.'  'The point I was trying to make is, I think people do use fear to try to get us to give up our liberty.'  The presidential candidate made the controversial comments about terrorist attacks during an unusual Sunday night Senate session aimed at reauthorizing three expiring measures of the Patriot Act. Paul successfully blocked those efforts, forcing the expiration of the NSA’s metadata program at midnight.  'People here in town think I’m making a huge mistake,' Paul said Sunday."  I wonder why they'd think that.  Our enemies certainly don't think it.

TAPPER ADVANCES – Jake Tapper, one of the best of the CNN crew, gets a promotion.  From The Politico:  "Jake Tapper will take over as host of CNN's 'State Of The Union' on June 14, he announced Monday.  Tapper, who was named host of the Sunday public affairs program in April, announced the news during a taping of Conan O'Brien's late-night show on TBS. He also tweeted a photograph of himself and O'Brien holding a sign that read 'June 14.'  Tapper joined CNN in 2013 from ABC News, where he occasionally filled in for George Stephanopoulos on ABC's Sunday program, 'This Week.' He replaces Candy Crowley, who served as host of 'SOTU' until late last year. Tapper will also continue to host his 4 p.m. weekday program, 'The Lead.'"  Crowley was a well-trained journalist, but biased toward the left, something that compromised her work.  I have a feeling ABC would love to have Tapper back, with Stephanopoulos's status rather wobbly following disclosures that he made contributions to the Clinton Foundation while an ABC journalist."

June 1, 2015