Top Items:
Dan Eggen / Washington Post:
Secret Court to Govern Wiretapping Plan — The Justice Department announced today that the National Security Agency's controversial warrantless surveillance program has been placed under the authority of a secret surveillance court, marking an abrupt change in approach by the Bush administration after more than a year of heated debate.
RELATED:
Lara Jakes Jordan / Associated Press:
Secret court to govern wiretapping plan — WASHINGTON - The Justice Department, easing a Bush administration policy, said Wednesday it has decided to give an independent body authority to monitor the government's controversial domestic spying program. — In a letter to the leaders …
Discussion:
Liberal Values
Justin Rood / TPMmuckraker:
Gonzales: NSA Wiretapping Now Subject to Court Approval — The National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program will be subject to court approval, according to a new letter from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to lawmakers. — The NSA program, dubbed the "Terrorist Surveillance Program …
James Vicini / Reuters:
Bush won't reauthorize eavesdropping — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush has decided not to renew a program of domestic spying on terrorism suspects, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on Wednesday, ending an law-enforcement tactic criticized for infringing on civil liberties.
Discussion:
Stop The ACLU
David Stout / New York Times:
White House Says Judiciary Will Monitor Spy Program — The Bush administration, in what appears to be a concession to its critics, said today it will allow an independent court to monitor its warrantless electronic-eavesdropping program. — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told the leaders …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Big Lizards, The Volokh Conspiracy, Reason Magazine and JustOneMinute
White House:
Press Briefing by Tony Snow — White House Conference Center Briefing Room — MR. SNOW: Good afternoon. Questions. — Q Can you tell us a little more about the meetings? I understand the President met with some Republicans who have already been to the White House. — MR. SNOW: I don't think so.
Associated Press:
Attorney general says federal jurists should defer to president's will — WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says federal judges are unqualified to make rulings affecting national security policy, ramping up his criticism of how they handle terrorism cases.
Discussion:
TalkLeft, San Diego Union-Tribune, Daily Kos, The Mahablog, The Road to Surfdom, The Impolitic and TBogg
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:Climbdown On Warrantless Surveillance
Discussion:
The Strata-Sphere
Washington Post:
"Scooter" Libby Trial Begins — Jury Selection Starts for Bush Official Accused of Perjury — Criminal defense attorney Jeralyn Merritt was online Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the beginning of the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial, the defense team's potential strategy and who key witnesses likely will be.
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Libby Jury Selection Seen as Challenge — To see just how small a town Washington really is, drop in on jury selection at the trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, where nearly every candidate so far seems to have some connection to the players or events surrounding the leak of an undercover CIA officer's identity.
Washington Post:
Dodd Introduces Bill to Cap U.S. Troops in Iraq — Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) announced legislation today capping the number of troops in Iraq at roughly 130,000, saying that lawmakers should take an up-or-down vote on President Bush's plan to send additional troops to the country …
RELATED:
SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:
Colbert Nails Dinesh D'Souza — Colbert was in top form last night when conservative pundit Dinesh D'Souza came on the show to promote his new book, The Enemy At Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11. In his latest screed, D'Souza, according to Publishers Weekly's review …
RELATED:
Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:Taking cultural editing notes from terrorists
Discussion:
Right Wing Nut House, Think Progress, No More Mister Nice Blog, Cliff Schecter, NewsMax.com and CANNONFIRE
Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:
Did Specter Give WH Power to Replace Prosecutors? — In order to replace several U.S. Attorneys with handpicked successors, the Bush Administration has relied on a tiny, obscure provision tucked into last year's USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act. — How did it get there?
RELATED:
CBS News - Couric & Co.:
Katie: A Woman At The Table — One week ago, Katie sat down for a briefing at the White House, and noticed something unusual. — Last Wednesday, President Bush gave his address to the country about "the new way forward" for Iraq, and lots of journalists—including me, of course—were in Washington to cover it.
Ezra HaLevi / Arutz Sheva:
Exclusive: Jimmy Carter Interceded on Behalf of Nazi SS Guard — A former U.S. Justice Department official disclosed to Arutz-7 that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's advocacy extended beyond the Palestinians, when he interceded on behalf of a Nazi SS man.
Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Frist looking at governor run in 2010 — Former Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is seriously considering a gubernatorial run in Tennessee in 2010, possibly setting up a White House bid further down the road. — Sources in Washington and Tennessee say Frist, who will turn 55 next month …
Washington Post:
An Apology to Detainees' Attorneys — During a radio interview last week, I brought up the topic of pro bono work and habeas corpus representation of detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Regrettably, my comments left the impression that I question the integrity of those engaged in the zealous defense of detainees in Guantanamo.
Charles Murray / Opinion Journal:
What's Wrong With Vocational School? — Too many Americans are going to college. — The topic yesterday was education and children in the lower half of the intelligence distribution. Today I turn to the upper half, people with IQs of 100 or higher. Today's simple truth is that far …
Frank Ahrens / Washington Post:
Post Web Site Is Publishing Reporter's Novel as a Serial — Washingtonpost.com is publishing fiction for the first time, serializing the debut novel of Post Business section reporter David Hilzenrath. — The book, "Jezebel's Tomb," is a thriller set in the present-day Middle East.
Congress Editor, DC — 
China Night News Reporter, London — 
Senior Reporter, DC — 
Senior Editor - Styles, NY — 
Part-time Editor, Remote — 
Home & Travel Reporter - Ireland — 
Assistant Digital Editor, MA — 
South Reporter, GA/Remote — 
Executive Ed. - News, CA — 
Middle East Editor, Remote — 
Private Capital Reporter, London — 
Reporter - Police Beat, OR — 
Articles Editor, CA — 
Harrisburg Reporter, PA — 
Metro Reporter, TN — 
Higher Ed. Reporter, Remote CA — 
Sustainability Editor, Brussels — 
Tech Reporter, CA — 
Investigations & Enterprise Ed., WI — 
Social Strategy Editor, NY — 
Business Reporter, TX — 
Senior Narrative Editor, CA — 
News Correspondent, MS — 
Accountability Reporter, NC — 
Freelance Reporter - L.A. Education, CA — 
Associate Editor, London — 
Writer/Editor, Remote — 
Political Reporter, TX — 
Afternoon/Night Editor, NH — 
Education Lab Editor, WA — 
Staff Writer, MA/Remote — 
State Worker Reporter, CA — 
Reporter, NC — 
