The 2016 presidential election is already in full swing. A new book by former Defense Secretary Bob Gates serves up a critique of President Obama and Hillary Clinton, and saves some of his harshest criticism for Joe Biden: “I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.” Maybe that’s just his way of saying the Veep is consistent.

+ “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” That email message (yes, people are still using email to send data they don’t want others to see) is part of a growing scandal facing Chris Christie in New Jersey as it looks like his aides (at least) were involved in an effort to create a massive traffic jam to punish a mayor who didn’t back Christie’s re-election. The lesson here is clear. If you’re going to punish an electoral rival, have the decency to make a phone call.