SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:48 P.M. ET: 

MAJOR NUTRITION NEWS – From Fox:  "Hide your Big Gulps, again, New York.  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week his administration will pick up where former mayor Michael Bloomberg left off and will continue the battle to ban sodas larger than 16 ounces. The city will appeal a state court ruling that axed the ban last year.   City lawyers will argue the case at the Court of Appeals on June 4, the New York Daily News reported this week.  Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg got lots of headlines in 2012 when he declared war on Big Gulps and other large sugary drinks.  The much-discussed ban on sodas over 16 ounces was an edict issued by the city's Health Department and never got approval from city council. A state judge in March 2013 blocked the ban and said Bloomberg overstepped his authority in issuing it without the city council's consent."  Nothing like a mayor with a set of priorities.

DEM REVOLT ON KEYSTONE? – From Fox:  "A Democratic senator suggested Sunday that the Senate might have enough votes to pass a bill compelling the Obama administration to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.  Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., noting that 62 senators voted in favor of a Keystone measure last year, said: 'I still think that vote is there. I really do.'  Manchin discussed the prospects just days after his Senate colleagues introduced a bill to build the Canada-to-Texas pipeline. The difference between the measure approved last year and this one is that last year's was a nonbinding resolution with no real teeth to it.  The new Senate bill would require approval of Keystone. Getting a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority on board with such a bill is a heavier lift for sponsors.  But Manchin said he 'would hope' that a few more Democrats would be willing to support it, and even suggested it could be a positive step for the White House.  'We don't want to usurp anyone's power, but if it gives the White House some protection from the environmental community coming after them, sooner or later you've got to give to the will of the people,' Manchin said."  We wish Manchin luck, but I doubt he'll have it.  In the end, the Dems in the Senate will kneel before their master in the White House.   As for the "will of the people," don't make me laugh.  The "people" count for nothing in this administration, unless they're certain people.

RETURN TO THE PAST – From the New York Post:  "Katie Couric is in preliminary talks to head back to NBC’s 'Today' — at least on a temporary basis, The Post has learned.  Couric is a contender to sit in and co-host the No. 2 morning show while Savannah Guthrie is on maternity leave, sources told The Post.
Guthrie, 42, is five months pregnant and expected to be away from the show for a few months beginning in late summer.  While the preliminary talks between Couric, 57, and NBC concern a temporary position, it could, sources added, turn into something longer term if she sparks an uptick in ratings."  What an inspirational story.  We understand that, when this first broke, Jimmy Carter called a reporter and announced for the presidency. 

May 4, 2014