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Good morning, everybody. Was Obama funnier than Leno at this weekend’s White House Correspondents Association Dinner? Here’s your morning constitutional: Sidewalk vendors were hailed as heroes yesterday for their roles in identifying an SUV in Times Square containing an explosive device. Police now seek the man responsible for the device, who appears to have been caught on tape. With the oil patch in the Gulf of Mexico expanding, and with the robotic submarines so far unable to plug the leak, officials are grim in their forecast, suggesting it may take weeks or months to contain the leak....

Good morning everybody. A very happy early May Day and Derby Day to all of you. Now, your morning constitutional: Oil from the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico has reportedly reached shore overnight, although not confirmed by officials yet. Officials are stopping any new drilling until the spill is fully investigated. Hawaii’s legislature passed a civil unions bill yesterday giving gay couples the same rights as married straight couples. The bill is sent to Gov. Lingle, a Republican, who remains undecided on whether to veto, sign or pass the bill. The bill did not pass...

Good morning, folks. Jenny McCarthy has some medical advice for you and your kids. Now, your morning constitutional: The Coast Guard will attempt to burn off portions of the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico today that is closing in on Louisiana’s shore and ecologically sensitive areas around the Mississippi River basin. The slick has moved to within nearly twenty miles of the Louisiana coast.R Clarence Dupnik, the sheriff of Pima County, Arizona says he will not enforce Arizona’s new immigration law, calling it “racist,” disgusting,” and “unnecessary.” His inaction could land him in trouble, as...

Good morning, everybody. Hugh Hefner has saved the famous Hollywood sign. Now, your morning constitutional: Senate Republicans blocked the opening of debate for the financial reform package on a 57-41 vote (with 60 needed for cloture). Sen. Ben Nelson voted against cloture, while Majority Leader Harry Reid switched his vote to “no” (to allow him to bring the bill for another vote), while Republican Sens. Kit Bond and Bob Bennett did not vote. Chaos erupts in the Ukrainian parliament as the chamber extends the lease on a Russian naval base in Ukraine. The provisional government in Kyrgyzstan...

Good morning, everybody. Lindsay’s been dropped from an upcoming movie because she isn’t “bankable.” The Washington Nationals for the first time since 2005 have an over-.500 record, while the Boston Red Sox are way below that mark. Now, your morning constitutional: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scheduled a vote on financial reform Monday afternoon; Republicans want to wait. Amid complaints of corruption, Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has been declared the winner of Sudan’s first multi-party election in 24 years. Al-Bashir also faces charges in the International Criminal for war crimes in Darfur. Austrian President Heinz Fischer, a...

Good morning, everybody. Not sure how this happened, but Helen Mirren and Russell Brand will be in the same movie. Now, here’s your morning constitutional: After an oil rig exploded and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities have started worrying about the environmental impact of the incident. Unsurprisingly, newly-minted Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has ruled out running for president in 2012. Only slightly more surprisingly, he endorses Mitt Romney. NATO has endorsed a plan that will set in motion the phased withdrawal of NATO troops from combat roles in the war in Afghanistan and hand over...

Happy Earth Day, folks. Enjoy your morning constitutional: Belgium’s government collapsed Thursday, as Prime Minister Yves Leterme resigns. Nearly all flights in Europe are going ahead, but new ash is limiting Norway and Sweden’s airports. While no one could have predicted how important the issue would become, before the financial system nearly collapsed, Obama the presidential candidate was warning about problems with financial regulation and the potential for an economic crisis. Tonight’s U.K. debate is “make or break,” says Tory leader David Cameron, while Nick Clegg has been voted best looking of the would-be prime ministers by...

Good morning, folks. Tara’s not getting married after all, and Leonard’s not going to act anymore. But we’re still bringing you your morning constitutional: European airports have reopened, and about 75% of scheduled flights are expected to fly today. In U.S. auto industry news, Chrysler announced that it lost $4B since coming out of bankruptcy almost a year ago, but sees signs of improvement in a profit for the first quarter of 2010 and a positive cash flow. On the other hand, General Motors has repaid $8.1B in loans it received from the U.S. and Canadian governments—five...

Good morning, everybody. Apple wants its phone back. Now, your morning constitutional: A limited number of flights in northern Europe, expected to be around half of normal volume, will go ahead today. While some planes are flying from Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is unlikely any planes will depart from London today. Some science behind the flight bans. Rahm Emmanuel wants to be mayor of Chicago. Despite recent allegations of fraud, earnings for Goldman Sachs rose 91% for the first quarter of 2010 to $3.46B from the same period last year. The U.K. Financial Services Authority has...