Driving the Day – 45% of Americans say say they are better off than at the beginning of 2009 with Barack Obama as president compared to 36 percent who say they are worse off, according to a new Bloomberg National Poll. In March, respondents split almost evenly on the same question.

First Day of Summer – It's the first official day of summer and Sarah Swong provides you with 20 must-do activities to make this the best one yet.

Congrats! To Super Pundit Susan Kraykowski, who has officially reached 5,000 Mics, which makes her the #1 pundit on the site. In second place is Douglas Goodman, with 3,413 mics.

Introducing – PolicyMic's new editor Michael Luciano (bio here)! We're playing two truths and a lie to introduce you to Michael. Identify the lie in the list below and email me your correct response. Big prize for the winners tomorrow:

• Mike was an extra in the movie, The Town.
• Mike once bet on whether an inmate on death row would get a stay of execution.
• Mike has been excommunicated from the Catholic Church

VP Watch – Politico's Mike Allen reports that Tim Pawlenty has jumped to the top of the veep shortlist, according to several Republicans familiar with campaign deliberations. Pawlenty is "strong where Romney is weak - with the regular-guy, working man connection with voters in casual settings." How is Romney making his decision? Using the "Bain Way": (via Yahoo News) "Mitt Romney was legendary in the private sector for his reliance on reams of information and extensive research to decide which companies to take over. When interviewing potential employees, he favored question-and-answer sessions designed to make recruits think on their feet and provide clues about how they approached situations. ... Much like when Romney's team investigated a company for a potential takeover, his political aides are trying to be discreet as they cull public records and prepare to start whittling a short list before presenting their boss with a final recommendation for a running mate.”

On the Office Playlist – (via Pandora) Arturo Sandoval, "A Night in Tunisia"; Jamiroquai, "Virtual Insanity"; Telepopmusik, "Breathe."

Top PolicyMic stories – Hosni Mubarak Dead or Alive? The Saga Continues in Egypt (Stephen Kalin) – Mubarak’s deteriorating health condition has become a seemingly endless saga — as befits this country’s most recent pharaoh. 

GoDaddy Commercial May Soon Be Ditching the Half-Naked Women, But Not the Sexism (Sarah Dropek) – GoDaddy is reportedly ditching their sexist advertising with the new hiring of Deutsch New York as the creative agency. But comments from executives leave a lot to be desired.

Gay Pride Month in the Pentagon: It's Time to Salute Everyone Who Serves Our Nation (Mike Fayette) – On the controversial heels of the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, the Pentagon is formally recognizing openly gay, lesbian and bisexual military members, and honoring their service.

NYPD Stop and Frisk Law is Racist and the Shame of New York (Justine Gonzalez) – Stop and Frisk is a great example of an ineffective policy that, under the guise of upholding public safety, actively isolates and violates already disempowered communities of color.

Give Them a Mic – Profile of 7 amazing teenage inventors.

Wednesday Fun – Adam Sandler's march toward truth (Grantland); Giant pack of birth control to follow Romney on the campaign trail (The Hill); Where do most farmers live and which countries feed the world? (Slate); Rhythmic gymnastics isn't just dancing with ribbons on a carpet (Buzzfeed); To get bigger tips, waitresses should wear red (JHT).



Going Viral – Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton's revealing GQ photo spread is going viral, and feminist Keli Goff explains why every woman should celebrate Upton for pushing the boundaries of the modeling world.

What We’re Reading – Olympics sexism study (Feministing); How Obama can get his mojo back (Tom Friedman, NY Times); Romney is terrible for online traffic (Buzzfeed); 9 rules women must follow to get ahead (WSJ); In Egypt, clock is ticking for ... Washington (The Arabist); A down and dirty 40-year history of spending in U.S. politics (Mother Jones).

Dessert – Do we have to wait until Summer 2013? Pixar's new Monsters University teaser looks awesome. Watch it here.