SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 6:05 P.M. ET: 

IRAN TALKS DOWN TO THE WIRE – From Fox: Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that the U.S. and Iran are closer to reaching a final nuclear deal but expressed uncertainty about hitting their 48-hour deadline, saying negotiations “could go either way.”  Kerry made his comments during a break in one-on-one talks in Vienna with Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.  The fate of millions might well depend on the soundness of this agreement, and they're negotiating it like a labor contract for a fast-food chain.  I can't imagine an outcome that can satisfy serious, mature people.

YIKES – From The Wall Street Journal:  ATHENS—Greek voters were set to resoundingly reject the terms of an international bailout on Sunday, an outcome that would set the country on a collision course with the rest of the eurozone.  With more than 87% of votes counted, preliminary results showed more than 61% of voters had cast ballots against creditors’ demands in the historic referendum—a heavier-than-expected victory for the “no” campaign against the austerity policies demanded by Greece’s lenders: the rest of the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund.  We'll have much more about this.  A major economic development that could seriously impact Europe and might even affect Obama's vacation schedule and ice-cream time-outs.

MAJOR FINE-DINING BULLETIN – From the Chicago Sun-Times: Nine-year-old Shreya Patel of Schaumburg will be among the young winners of Michelle Obama’s “healthy lunchtime challenge” who’ll get to dine with the first lady at the White House later this week.  Her garam masala quinoa burger with raita was chosen as the winning recipe entered from Illinois, winning her a spot at the awards luncheon Friday. Entries had to be healthy, affordable and tasty.  Shreya wrote in an essay accompanying her entry that she’s been cooking since she was 3 and said she loves to “mix, measure, chop and even clean up afterwards.”  I'll take it only if it comes with fries and a chocolate shake.

July 5, 2015