Karl Frisch of Bullfight Strategies calls in at 9am ET / 6am PT to talk about the flurry of Senators who are changing their positions about marriage equality

alazraqui• Actor/Comedian Carlos Alazraqui joins us in the Los Angeles Bureau at 11am ET / 8am PT for an hour of Coffee With Carlos

Connecticut lawmakers passed a bipartisan package of gun laws that will expand the state’s existing assault weapons ban, impose limits on the size of magazines, and require universal background checks in the state scarred by one of the worst school shootings in American history.

President Obama on Wednesday insisted “there doesn’t have to be a conflict” between respecting gun rights and enacting new gun controls as he tries to use the power of his office to prompt a reluctant Congress to take action in the wake of the Newtown shootings.

• An advanced anti-ballistic missile system will be sent to Guam to protect American military sites, U.S. defense officials said as North Korea escalated its threats and warned “the moment of explosion is approaching fast.”

NBC confirmed yesterday that after 22 years, Jay Leno will step down as the host of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” next spring. Jimmy Fallon, now the star of “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” will take over shortly thereafter.