U.S. official: Mosque attack may have been inside job … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Authorities have evidence that Wednesday's bombing of the Askariya Mosque in Samarra was an inside job, and 15 members of the Iraqi security forces have been arrested, a U.S. military official said.

BREAKING: Top White House Officials Subpoenaed Over Attorney Scandal  —  Former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former top Karl Rove aide Sara Taylor, who served as White House political director before resigning last month, have been issued subpoenas over their connections to the U.S. attorney scandal.

Rivals try to deflate F. Thompson campaign  —  Fred Thompson has had a relatively easy ride as he has flirted with a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.  His strategists have found traction promoting him as the heir to Ronald Reagan — and a conservative alternative to the top tier of the GOP field.

14 Palestinians killed as Hamas nears complete Gaza conquest  —  At least 14 Palestinians were killed by Hamas fire Wednesday, including 13 members of Fatah, as Hamas was on the verge of completing its conquest of the Gaza Strip.  —  Hamas is now in control of southern, central …

Iraqis Are Failing to Meet U.S. Benchmarks  —  Iraq's political leaders have failed to reach agreements on nearly every law that the Americans have demanded as benchmarks, despite heavy pressure from Congress, the White House and top military commanders.  With only three months until progress reports …

Investigator: Nifong privately acknowledged doubts in Duke lacrosse case  —  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — As Mike Nifong was calling the Duke lacrosse team a "bunch of hooligans" in public, he was privately acknowledging that the rape case would be hard to prove and that the accuser's story was filled …

CBS blames sexism for bad ratings  —  Leslie Moonves, CBS chief executive, on Tuesday suggested that sexist attitudes were partly to blame for the faltering performance of Katie Couric, the news anchor he recruited to the network with a $15m annual pay package.  —  "I'm sort of surprised by the vitriol against her.

Don Herbert, 89; TV's 'Mr. Wizard' taught science to young baby boomers  —  Don Herbert, who explained the wonderful world of science to millions of young baby boomers on television in the 1950s and '60s as "Mr. Wizard" and did the same for another generation of youngsters on the Nickelodeon cable TV channel in the 1980s, died Tuesday.

US Democrats preview new Iraq showdown  —  Anti-war Senate Democrats Tuesday plotted a new showdown with US President George W. Bush over Iraq, but admitted they had erred by making supporters think they could end the war.  —  "On Iraq, we're going to hold the president's feet to the fire …

Bush Lobbies G.O.P. Senators on Immigration  —  In an effort to revive a crippled immigration bill, President Bush visited the Capitol on Tuesday to try to assure wary Senate Republicans personally that border security was a driving force behind his push for changes in immigration law.

Coleman faces challenge from his former adviser  —  An Iraq war veteran and former adviser to Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) yesterday said he is considering a primary challenge against the lawmaker in 2008.  —  Retired Lt. Col. Joe Repya (R) lost a race for the state Republican Party chairmanship last week …

The Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth  —  For anyone interested in where the American public really stands on the big issues that distinguish progressives from conservatives — including the issues at the forefront of today's political debates — "The Progressive Majority …

Broward may cancel deal with radio station because it airs Rush Limbaugh  —  Rush Limbaugh has long been a thorn in the side of liberals, but now, because of him, some Democratic politicians don't even want to join with a local radio station to broadcast hurricane information.

The Rightosphere Temperature Check For June  —  Right Wing News emailed more than 240 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to answer 8 questions.  The following 52 blogs responded,  —  Aaron's CC, The Absurd Report, The Agitator, The American Princess, Argghhhh!, AtlanticBlog, Bad Example …

Yemeni Languishes at Guantanamo Long After U.S. Approved Release  —  Dispute Over Citizenship Leaves Saudi-Born Detainee in Legal Limbo  —  SANAA, Yemen — The word came in May 2006: Ali Mohammed Nasser Mohammed, a slight, 24-year-old Yemeni with curly black hair and a wispy beard …

Money pinch to close Antioch  —  Yellow Springs college hopes to reopen in 2012  —  digg us!  del.icio.us!  —  When Steve Duffy was a high school student in the 1960s, his history teacher told him that one of the most utopian places on the planet was in Yellow Springs, Ohio, at a college called Antioch.

Vote-Fraud Demagogues  —  Americans overwhelmingly support voter ID.  Are they are all racists?  —  Appointments to the Federal Election Commission rarely draw attention.  But at a confirmation hearing today, there's likely to be some fireworks over Hans von Spakovsky.

Database Is Tool in Deporting Fugitives  —  Police Officers Find Illegal Immigrants In Warrant Searches  —  Hugo Vinicio Hernandez knew that immigration agents could detain him at any time for having disregarded a deportation order in 2001.  But the Guatemalan man didn't think he would wind …