In Oklahoma, where pro-firearms measures usually get a warm reception from lawmakers, gun-rights advocates faced an uphill battle against educators opposed to any effort to allow guns in schools.

WSJ: Even in pro-gun states, bid to arm teachers stalls

So Putin will probably get a warm reception from the prime minister, and I think the Kremlin is upbeat about that and it feels it has influence in Kiev once again.

NPR: Russia's Putin Makes Trip to Neighboring Ukraine

Yet American views of Mr Clinton's trip, which includes a visit to Hong Kong, are likely to change as the notoriously insensate White House press pack sniffs a new direction the warm reception the president will get from ordinary Chinese.

ECONOMIST: The new, and improved, China awaiting Clinton