As we await further word on why Kevin McCarthy’s no longer running for House Speaker, here are some more conventional midday news/views treats:

* At the Prospect, Adele Stan reminds us of Joe Biden’s shortcomings as a presidential candidate in 1988 and 2008.

* For what it’s worth: Dennis Ross offers a negative “insider account” of the Obama administration’s handling of the Iran Nuke Deal.

* At New York, Jonathan Chait parses Ben Carson’s statements on the debt limit, and concludes the good doctor has no clue what it is.

* At the Plum Line Paul Waldman reviews where the other presidential candidates are on the debt limit; only Jebbie has no discernable position.

* Lawrence Summers warns of an impending “global growth recession.”

And in non-political news:

* Disney’s latest princess, Moana, is Hawaiian.

As we break for lunch, here’s the Tornados with “Ridin’ the Wind,” from 1963, a tune that apparently inspired Spaghetti Western soundtracks.

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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.