HIGHLIGHTS

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) on Benghazi
“I think there was some misdirection and some political nature to the talking points, but I think that's always missed the point that what's most important is someone made a decision to put an embassy and consulate in a war-torn country with no host country to guard that embassy or consulate, leaving the guarding and security up to a militia. [extra space here?] That decision alone was a terrible and tragic error.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) on the IRS targeting conservative groups
“I can't believe that one agent sort of started this, one rogue agent started this, because it seems to be too widespread. And, we do need to get to the bottom of this, but I think what the American people want is just like on Benghazi. Why does Benghazi go on? No one was ever fired? So, people made tragic errors. No one's accepting responsibility and no one was fired.”

Dan Pfeiffer, White House Senior Adviser, on when the president learned about IRS targeting conservative groups
“When it came out in the news a week ago Friday, I think. And here's why. Because here's the cardinal rule when you know a situations like these, not for just for this White House but for all White Houses is you do not interfere in an independent investigation and you do not do anything to give off the appearance of interference in an independent investigation.”

Dan Pfeiffer, White House Senior Adviser, on American’s trust in government
“I think this is a long running tradition in sort of how Americans view government is they have great faith in our democracy as they should, because we have the greatest system in the world and it works. But government - there is a healthy skepticism of government in this country. And where there are problems like there were in the IRS this week, we have to address them in order to build that confidence up.”

Plus, response from one of President Obama’s toughest critics, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) on the IRS targeting conservative groups, the Justice Department probe of AP phone records and the Benghazi investigation.

Then, the lasting impact of the controversies on the president’s legacy and what it means for his second term agenda with USA Today’s Susan Page, Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile, Republican Strategist Ana Navarro, and CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin.

Tune in Sunday at 9am and Noon ET.

I’m currently a Senior Producer for State of the Union.  I started at CNN as an intern in the summer of 1998 (The summer of Monica Lewinsky—an awful year to be an intern!).  I’ve worked my way up the ladder here, first at various jobs in Atlanta, and then I moved to D.C. in 2005 to launch The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.  I left Wolf in January 2012 to join Candy’s team for the Election Year.  I use my various experiences at CNN every day, but it’s my earlier work that shaped who I am and how I got here.

WAITRESS: I worked at Pizza Hut from the time I turned 16 until I graduated from college.  I worked one or two nights a week, plus all day on Sunday.  I made some serious cash at this job, but I also learned some valuable life lessons.  Waitressing is HARD. Everyone should be a waitress at least once in their life.  Juggling tables and people is not an easy job.  Some people are just plain mean and love to treat others poorly.   I wanted to tell these people to shove it, but I needed the job, so I couldn’t.  I also saw incredible acts of kindness.  One family would come in every Tuesday and request a certain waitress I’ll call Lisa.* Lisa was 17, married with one kid, with a second on the way.  They always tipped her $10 on their $20 bill, and gave her a generous cash bonus during the holidays.

Lessons Learned:  Multitask, prioritize, take control of a situation, and do it all with a smile.  Treat service workers very well.  After all, it’s just a job, and they would probably rather be doing anything but schlepping food on their feet all day. Also, they’re alone with your food. That you are going to put in your mouth. Be nice. You want it spit-free.**

CASHIER AT A CANDY STORE IN THE MALL: A vivid memory involved the candy store owner who accused a young African-American kid of literally putting his hands in the candy jar and stealing.  The owner grabbed the boy by the collar, called him a thief loudly enough so that everyone in the store stopped and turned, and threw the boy out of the store.  But the kid wasn’t stealing.  I didn’t see him take anything, and the boy started crying hysterically pleading his innocence.  After the dust settled, I asked the owner what the boy stole.  The owner says “I didn’t actually see him take anything, but I know his type.”  The owner was a racist, and I should have spoken up but I didn’t.  I was taught to respect my elders and my bosses and I was cowardly.  The store closed within a month and the owner was out of business.

Lessons Learned: Never judge a book by its cover, speak up when you see injustice.  Also, Karma.

TEACHING ASSISTANT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS: I stumbled upon this job by accident when the Graduate Student backed out at the last minute to take a job at CNN.  I had taken the class the year earlier, had just finished a summer internship at CNN in Atlanta, and the Journalism Department thought I could handle it.  Boy, were they wrong.  I was in way over my head.  Many of the students were older than me, and I didn’t take the position serious enough.  I was a college senior for crying out loud!  I wanted to hit the bars, sleep in late, and take blow-off classes I’d specifically saved so I could coast through my final two semesters.  I didn’t give the job enough of my attention, I wasn’t familiar enough with the programs I needed to teach, and I cheated the other students out of learning.

Lessons Learned: Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know something or can’t handle a situation.  Don’t be afraid to say no, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

*I’m not Lisa.

**I never violated anyone’s food.

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) talked to Candy about the Benghazi hearings saying "clearly politics was at play" in the editing of the talking points after the attack and revelations that the IRS targeted some Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny: “It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out conservative groups for extra review. And I think that it's very disappointing that the president hasn't personally condemned this and spoken out.”

Then, Ambassador Thomas Pickering, chair of the state department's accountability review board on the Benghazi terror attacks, said the criticism of the review board’s report was groundless “I'm waiting to see whether there's any there there, Candy. I've looked at it very carefully. I've listened to the hearings. A number of the criticisms were not based on the actual happenings."

Plus, two Congresswomen who are also Iraq War combat veterans, Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), react to the Pentagon’s report showing a 30% rise in the number of service members anonymously reporting sexual assaults over the past two years and the military’s failure to handle:
Duckworth: "The military leadership, at this point, have shown that they have not been capable of fixing this problem. ... this is not only a crime against the victim, this is a betrayal to your unit. This is a betrayal to your nation."
Gabbard: “The trust that we're trying to build with this climate of understanding that you can safely go and report when you've been a victim of a heinous crime.  And this really undermines whatever progress has been made over time.”

Plus, the one person everyone in Washington likes... Mom. A special tribute from our Getting to Know series as politicians salute their mothers.

GETTING TO KNOW

Watch our online exclusive segment “Getting to Know” Sen. Susan Collins

STATE OF THE UNION HIGHLIGHTS
(For more videos check out our website or cnn.com/video)

IRS admits it targeted Tea Party groups
Sexual assaults rising in the military
Discovering the truth about Benghazi
Benghazi: Facts Vs. Politics
Rand Paul goes after Hillary on Benghazi
Taxing day for the IRS
A Mother’s Day tribute

Thomas Pickering, Former Ambassador, on Rep. Issa’s criticism of his Benghazi ARB report
“I'm waiting to see whether there's any there there, Candy.  I've looked at it very carefully.  I've listened to the hearings.  A number of the criticisms were not based on the actual happenings.  We did, of course, see the secretary.  We saw Secretary Byrnes.  We saw secretary - Deputy Secretary Nides.  We interviewed Pat Kennedy.  So, a number of the questions they raised, were we capable and were we complete? And I believe that we still were.”

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) on the IRS targeting conservative groups
“This is truly outrageous.  And it contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government.  It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out conservative groups for extra review.  And I think that it's very disappointing that the president hasn't personally condemned this and spoken out.”

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) on the Boston attacks
“I believe that better information sharing might have allowed us to prevent this attack. First of all, I don't think there was aggressive enough follow-up when the Russians first alerted the FBI to the fact that these two brothers were becoming increasingly radicalized.  Now, we don't get tips from the Russians every day.”

Reps. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) on the alarming rise in military sexual assaults
Gabbard: There are no excuses.  It's not enough just to say this is not something we'll stand for, we'll hold these people accountable unless you're providing a system and process to actually do that.  And I think there are two things we really need to look at.  What is the core reason why this hasn't really gotten better over the years?  One being we have to make sure it's a victim-centered response from the moment that the victim makes that report all the way through to the point where the perpetrator is prosecuted, and charged and punished. And secondly, making sure that we are investigating those who are retaliating and abusing their positions of command or power. 

Duckworth: It's absolutely unacceptable, Candy.  I want the military to be a place where women can succeed and thrive the way I was able to.  And the military leadership at this point has shown that they have not been capable of fixing this problem.