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

HARSH JUDGMENTS ON LEAKERS – FROM RASMUSSEN:  When politics is the name of the game, one man’s treason is another man’s service to the nation.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that just over half (53%) of all Likely U.S. Voters still consider the leaking of classified information to the media to be an act of treason. Thirty percent (30%) disagree, while 18% are undecided.  This is largely the same way voters felt in November 2010 following WikiLeaks’ publication of top secret U.S. government data related to the war in Afghanistan and other defense and foreign policy issues.  But while 73% of Republicans consider the leaking of classified information which plagues the Trump administration as treasonous, only half as many Democrats (36%) feel that way now. Voters not affiliated with either major party agree by a 50% to 27% margin that the leaks are an act of treason.  The Dems are the outliers here – unless of course someone leaks something about St. Barack.

MOVIN' UP – FROM CNN:  Washington (CNN) It's only been little more than four months, but it appears Barack and Michelle Obama are so enamored with their posh Washington, DC rental home, they've plunked down a whopping $8.1 million to purchase it.  The sale was first reported by the Washington Post. Obama's spokesman, Kevin Lewis, confirmed the sale to CNN: "Given that President and Mrs. Obama will be in Washington for at least another two and a half years, it made sense for them to buy a home rather than continuing to rent the property."  The Obamas have said they were committed to remaining in Washington while their youngest daughter, Sasha, completes high school at Sidwell Friends School, where she is scheduled to begin her junior year in September.  However, the former first couple may have overpaid. The real estate website, Zillow.com, lists the estimate for the nine-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom stone mansion at $6.187 million, about two million less than the Obamas paid for it.   Obama still doesn't know how to negotiate.  President Trump could have gotten him a much better deal.

DOUGHNUTS BY AIR – FROM AP:  DENVER -- Doughnuts were delivered Wednesday by drone to Denver's mayor and the city's police and fire departments in an event that provided a glimpse into what companies hope will be a quick, inexpensive way to get merchandise to customers.  Denver's LaMar's Donuts hired Austin, Texas-based company Drone Dispatch to deliver four boxes of doughnuts using piloted drones flown from parking lots within a block of the delivery targets.  Denver Mayor Michael Hancock was outside city hall when a drone delivered doughnuts.  "This is exciting stuff and I think as we get ready for not only drones in the air, and get ready for autonomous vehicles, this is our future this is how we're going to become a more efficient 21st century nation, society quite frankly," Hancock said.  Has anyone inquired as to how the sound of a thousand drones above a neighborhood might appeal to residents?  Just askin'.

May 31, 2017