Good morning, everybody. Could Lady Gaga have…lupus? Now, your morning constitutional:
President Obama is visiting Louisiana Friday to assess the ecological disaster caused by the oil spill in the Gulf. U.S. officials and BP believe the spill has been patched, although they will not know for sure for a couple days. The spill is believed to be the worst in U.S. history.
The House of Representatives on Thursday voted for an amendment to a military funding bill to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning gays from serving in the military pending a Pentagon study. The Senate Armed Forces Committee also voted to send the same amendment to the Senate floor, which is expected to be voted on Friday.
Trinidad and Tobago swore in Kamla Persad-Bissessar as its first woman prime minister on Wednesday.
At least 70 are dead and 115 injured after two trains collided in eastern India in an incident many are blaming on Maoist rebels.
Chris Wilson at Slate: If Iraq is to thrive, some former members of the Baathist party must be rehabilitated.
Australia is planning to take legal action against Japan for whaling in the Antarctic.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says that Elena Kagan’s lack of judicial experience is no detriment to her qualifications for the Court.
Finally, dwile flonking is apparently against the law.
