Morning Round-Up 6-20

“My reading of history has shown me that simply ‘being a good man’ is not enough. That there are many kings who are good men and yet bad kings. And even good kings sometimes make disastrous decisions.  So government is complex, politics is complex.”–George R. R. Martin

Feature of the Day: Nearly 7 in 10 Americans are on prescription drugs, Mayo Clinic study finds

Morning Headlines

Domestic 

Associated Press

1. Developer: Kan. Caverns Could Preserve Human Race
2. House to Vote On Cuts To Drop Insurance
3. Birth Control Shots Could Alter Life in Poor Areas
4. James Gandolfini: He Let His Characters Star

Politico

1. The immigration bill goes local
2. Mitch McConnell sits this one out
3. House: Senate immigration bill DOA

Reuters

1. Lawmaker, university spar over ‘control’ of Chinese dissident in U.S.
2. Stop force-feeding Guantanamo prisoners: Senator
3. Head of revived watchdog pledges open look at U.S. surveillance

Wall Street Journal

1. Federal Reserve Eyes End of Bond Buying, Spooking Markets (6/19)
2. Senate Kills Border-Security Amendment (6/19)
3. House Rejects Restoring Food-Stamp Funds (6/19)

Washington Post

1. Snowden extradition could be a very complicated process
2. New virus may be more fatal than SARS, according to disease experts
3. Bernanke: Stimulus may be scaled back this year if growth persists

Washington Times

1. Taliban offer to trade: 5 Gitmo prisoners for 1 U.S. soldier
2. As federal agencies trim fat, contracts feed billions in profits to 59 companies (6/19)
3. Special Needs: Outnumbered conservative may get anti-discrimination protection at Colo. College (6/19)

International

Associated Press

1. AP Exclusive: Taliban Offer to Free US Soldier
2. Analysis: Obama Prods, Gets Share of Pushback
3. AP Exclusive: Facebook Broke Indonesia Terror Case

Reuters

1. Afghan peace bid stumbles on Kabul-Taliban protocol row
2. Insight: Pakistan influence on Taliban commanders helped Afghan breakthrough
3. Lebanese president urges Hezbollah to pull out of Syria

Wall Street Journal

1. Afghan Leader Halts Talks With U.S., Taliban (6/19)
2. Regime Erodes Hopes for Rebel Enclave in Syria’s North
3. As Sanctions Bite, Iranians Invest Big in Georgia

Washington Post

1. $7 billion in military equipment U.S. sent to Afghanistan will not return
2. Death of Russian orphan galvanizes opponents of adoption ban
3. Brazilian mayors reverse transit fare hikes that sparked protests

Top Conservative Stories of the Day: 

The American Conservative

1. Rand Paul, Christianity, and War
2. Alawites and Christians in Syria—United in Uncertainty

Breitbart

1. King for a Day (6/19)
2. Cruz: ‘The Gang of 8 Bill Is A Disaster’ (6/19)

The Daily Caller  

1. Group calls for investigation into whether Maryland resident Ed Markey paid his taxes
2. Chicago teachers union chief faults ‘rich white people’ for city’s education mess
3. CBO says immigration bill aids investors, not wage earners

CNSNews.com

1. Obama: ‘If Catholics Have Their Schools and Buildings and Protestants Have Theirs…That Encourages Division’ (6/19)
2. IRS Agents ‘Accidentally’ Discharged Guns 11 Times, Possible Injuries (6/19)

Hot Air

1. Border security amendment coming today?

National Review

1. Rand Paul’s Party
2. The Price of Amnesty

Washington Free Beacon

1. Obama Directs New Limits on Pentagon Nuclear Weapons Use
2. Disabling Disability Insurance (6/19)

Top Liberal Stories of the Day: 

The Daily Beast

1. Former ‘Sopranos’ Star James Gandolfini Dead at 51 (6/19)
2. I Will Not Return to the Dark Reality of Putin’s Russia
3. Why Bloomberg’s Latest Gun Gambit Probably Won’t Work 

Huffington Post

1. Marco Rubio’s Immigration Push Cools GOP Grassroots Fervor, But 2016 Outlook Stays Steady (6/19)
2. Elizabeth Warren Opposing Obama Trade Nominee Michael Froman (6/19)

Talking Points Memo

1. Paula Deen On Her Dream ‘Southern Plantation Wedding’
2. A Good Night for the Crazy

ThinkProgress

     1. Meet the Republican Who Wants To Be The Next Michele Bachmann (6/19)