The Note: What The 2016ers Are Saying About Baltimore

— -- NOTABLES

--OBAMA -- 'NO EXCUSE' FOR 'SENSELESS' VIOLENCE IN BALTIMORE: President Obama condemned the violence in Baltimore yesterday, saying there is "no excuse" for the violence, looting and arson that followed the funeral held for Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old African American who died after suffering a spine injury in police custody earlier this month. "They're not protesting, they're not making a statement, they're stealing," Obama said in a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ABC's BENJAMIN SIEGEL reports. "They're destroying and undermining businesses and opportunities in their own communities that rob jobs and opportunity from people in that area," he added. http://abcn.ws/1ENHfHd

--HILLARY CLINTON SET TO UNVEIL PLAN TO REFORM CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: At a policy forum today in New York City, Hillary Clinton will lay out "specific policy proposals" on ways to begin reforming the country's criminal justice system, according to an aide. ABC's LIZ KREUTZ reports that the plan is expected to be two-fold: It will include ending the era of mass incarceration, specifically by reforming"probation and drug diversions, increasing support for mental health and drug treatment, and pursuing alternative punishments for low level offenders, especially young people." Second, it will include calling for every police department in the country to have body cameras. These policy proposals are likely to be her most specific yet as a presidential candidate. http://abcn.ws/1JA5uKg

--2016 REPUBLICANS HOPEFULS RESPOND: The unrest in Baltimore has sparked reaction from 2016 presidential candidates and likely contenders.. Ted Cruz issued a statement condemning the destruction in Baltimore, while also calling for justice for Freddie Gray. Rand Paul weighed in on the situation in an interview with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham Tuesday, saying the situation is symptomatic of crumbling moral code in American society that includes a "breakdown of the family structure" and "lack of fathers." Real estate mogul Donald Trump, who is once again flirting with entering the presidential contest as a Republican candidate, criticized the Baltimore mayor and police department for their handling of the situation. ABC's JORDYN PHELPS has more. http://abcn.ws/1OB6Wzf

THE BUZZ

with ABC's VERONICA STRACQUALURSI

BERNIE SANDERS TO ANNOUNCE HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. Sen. Bernie Sanders is planning to announce on Thursday that he will run for president - and will enter primary and caucus contests as a Democrat, a senior Sanders adviser tells ABC News. The announcement will indicate that Sanders will launch his campaign in May, most likely in his home state of Vermont, according to ABC's RICK KLEIN. This gives Democrats at least one liberal alternative to Hillary Clinton, and her first formal challenger, period. Sanders is a self described independent socialist and will enter as a definite long shot. The announcement comes at a period of growing liberal unease over President Obama's agenda, and amid angst that Clinton won't be pushed sufficiently leftward with Elizabeth Warren taking a pass on the race. http://abcn.ws/1zlkKaz

--ANALYSIS -- ABC's RICK KLEIN: Bernie Sanders has almost no realistic chance of becoming the Democratic nominee for president. But that's not the most effective way to think about his candidacy. His presence in the race ensures that Hillary Clinton will be pressed continually and consistently from the left -- and now potentially from across the debate stage. Interest in Sanders will be driven by many of the same activists and other Democratic faithful who wanted so desperately to see Elizabeth Warren in the race. And Sanders' timing could hardly be better: the left is growing anxious over President Obama's agenda and nervous that Hillary Clinton might be tempted to provide minimal amounts of daylight between her policy positions and his.

GRAHAM AND MCCAIN CALL PAUL THE WORST CANDIDATE ON FOREIGN POLICY. Sen. Lindsey Graham issued his toughest criticism yet of Sen. Rand Paul's foreign policy approach, calling the libertarian-leaning Republican "the worst person to take on Obama's foreign policy." "I believe that Sen. Paul is probably the worst person to take on Obama's foreign policy because he's really, in many ways, behind Obama," the South Carolina Republican told the Christian Broadcasting Network. Graham's comment echoes Sen. John McCain, who last week called Paul the "worst possible candidate" on national security, ABC's JORDYN PHELPS writes. Graham went on to tell the story of how Paul was the only senator to vote against his 2012 resolution to contain Iran and said, "I respect him, but that's not the guy you want sitting across from the Ayatollah."

TWO 2016ERS INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO IRAN LEGISLATION. As the Senate debates the Iran nuclear review bill, two 2016ers are trying to place their stamp on the measure by introducing amendments. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, has introduced a number of amendments, including one of that would require Iranian leaders to "publicly" accept "Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state." Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced an amendment that would require the president to obtain approval for the deal from a majority of Congress. (The way the current legislation is written Congress would have the opportunity to disapprove of the deal, the president could veto it, and then Congress could override it) Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, has not introduced any amendments, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, has warned against amendments, saying "Anybody who monkeys with this bill is going to run into a buzz saw." It's unclear whether Rubio's or Cruz's amendments will get an actual vote, ABC's ARLETTE SAENZ writes.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

READING THE SIGNALS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT'S GAY MARRIAGE ARGUMENTS:. Advocates for both sides on the gay marriage debate can point to encouraging and discouraging signs after Tuesday's long-anticipated arguments in front of the Supreme Court -- and sometimes the signs came from unexpected places. ABC's ADAM TEICHOLZ has the breakdown of yesterday's arguments. http://abcn.ws/1P3XLSY

WHO'S TWEETING?

@jasondhorowitz: "You've got to be present in the middle of the pain, man." Martin O'Malley walks to epicenter of Baltimore riot. http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/04/28/martin-omalley-takes-a-walking-tour-of-an-angry-baltimore/?_r=0 …

@edatpost: Inbox: Former President H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush attending speech by @JebBush today in Houston, and to event organizers

@Geneva_Sands: .@Emily_DeRuy and I found a different way to cover #SCOTUS today. 'Cute dogs turn out to support marriage equality' http://fus.in/1bAshqI 

@anniekarni: Bill Clinton's Africa entourage: donors and big campaign fundraisers join him on 9-day trip. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/bill-clintons-africa-entourage-117445.html …

@ChuckGrassley: As I was walking by the Capitol this morning, this was the view I had. Proud to be an American. https://instagram.com/p/2D0127F-Ma/