Blogging from I-85 heading towards ATL. Still re-adjusting to the daily afternoon thunderstorm; in central Cali, sound of thunder usually means earthquake.

Here are some dry, solid midday news/views treats:

* New York’s highest court rules that local governments have the authority to ban oil/gas drilling and fracking.

* U.S.-Iran nuclear talks on a parallel if separate track as tacit cooperation on Iraq.

* Krugman suggests the latest supply-side experiment, in Kansas, going like the others.

* In ironic follow-up to MS SEN, Republicans planning key role in choice of Democratic sheriff of major metro Atlanta county.

* At the Prospect, Scott Lemieux offers positive reaction to SCOTUS abortion clinic “buffer zone” decision last week.

And in non-political news:

* Crumbs Bake Shop’s troubles signals end to cupcake craze.

As we break for lunch, here’s another song with some references to tooth decay: The Beatles with “Savoy Truffle.”

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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.