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

US MILITARY ACTION IN YEMEN – FROM ABC NEWS:   U.S.-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen's Red Sea Coast early Thursday, officials said, a retaliatory action that followed two incidents this week in which missiles were fired at U.S. Navy ships.  The strikes marked the first shots fired by the U.S. in anger against the Houthis in Yemen's long-running civil war. The U.S. previously only provided logistical support and refueling to the Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis and their allies, including supporters of Yemen's former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.  While the U.S. military has been focused on al-Qaida in Yemen, the Houthis had not been a primary target of American forces until the missile launches from Houthi-controlled territory this week.  I'd watch this carefully.  It can escalate.  But I see very little attention paid.  Not as big a ratings grabber as Donald Trump's tape.

A BIG DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR CAVES – FROM CBS LOCAL:   Gov. Mark Dayton made a stunning admission on Wednesday about rising health insurance costs and the future of MNsure.  “Ultimately I’m not trying to pass the buck here but the reality is the Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable,” Dayton said.  Dayton says changes to the program are critical, as he stepped away from one of his signature political platforms.  “The Affordable Care Act has many good features to it, it has achieved great success in terms of insuring more people, 20 million people across the country and providing access for people who have pre-existing conditions alike, but it’s got some serious blemishes right now and serious deficiencies,” Dayton said.  Premiums for 250,000 Minnesotans, or 5 percent of the population, insured under MNsure will skyrocket by 50 percent or more on some health plans.  Obamacare is an enormous deception.  It may formally insure some people, but it is causing enormous hardship for others.  It was poorly designed because no one particularly cared about the details.  It was the headlines, and the name, that mattered.

I'M SHOCKED, SHOCKED – FROM DAILY CALLER:   The massive trove of emails by Clinton confidant John Podesta released by Wikileaks has exposed journalists from a variety of media organizations who are “with her.”  CNBC chief Washington correspondent and New York Times political writer John Harwood is the most prominent journalist who is cozy in the emails with the Clinton camp. The CNBC anchor is also the one who should arguably be the most embarrassed.  Harwood in several emails to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta showers Hillary in praise. Harwood in one email to Podesta says “[Hillary] was good here” after an event and in another describes her as “pretty strong.”  Worse than just showing his love for Hillary, Harwood in the emails helps the campaign. The CNBC anchor describes a story he is writing about Hillary as one “she wants. "  Harwood should be fired, but won't be.  This kind of corruption is, incredibly, accepted in some journalistic circles.

October 12, 2016