As noted yesterday, I’ll be at Netroots Nation in San Jose tomorrow, which could make for some funky blog scheduling. But I’ll try to keep it interesting, with some help from my friends.

Here’s a basket of warm mid-day news/views treats:

* TNR Nate Cohn predicts Scandalmania ’13 won’t have much staying power in affecting Obama’s approval ratings, particularly if the economy continues to improve.

* Lisa Murkowski explains shift to support for marriage equality.

* Allen West professes himself “open” to primary challenge to Marco Rubio in 2016.

* TPM’s Sahil Kapur usefully serves up some Mitch McConnell quotes on the “nuclear option” from 2005, when the shoe was on the other foot.

* Speaking of nuclear: WaPo’s Jennifer Rubin launches strike on Rand Paul for praising “traitor” Snowden.

And in non-political news:

* In Rolling Stone interview, Serena Williams makes some ill-advised comments about the Steubenville rape victim; she’s now apologizing.

Back after recharging various batteries.

Ed Kilgore

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.