White House Shifts Into Survival Mode  —  In a White House known for both defiance and optimism, yesterday's senior staff changes represent a frank acknowledgment of the trouble in which President Bush now finds himself.  They are also a signal of how starkly Bush's second-term ambitions …

Death Lists and Dissenters  —  Allegations of "apostasy" among Muslims are presently a topic for global controversy.  To Westerners, apostasy from Islam seems to denote conversion to Christianity, since the persecution of Muslims who have changed their religion has gained media attention …

Bravo  —  And bravo again.  —  Whether or not you care for Michelle Malkin's political positions, you should be honest enough to admit that this crusade to try to intimidate her and her family—a crusade being waged by mostly anonymous cowards who no person in the blogosphere, left OR right …

Unforeseen Spending on Materiel Pumps Up Iraq War Bill  —  Senate to Take Up Measure as Military Fights to Keep Guns, Tanks Working  —  With the expected passage this spring of the largest emergency spending bill in history, annual war expenditures in Iraq will have nearly doubled since the U.S. invasion …

The Worst President in History?  —  One of America's leading historians assesses George W. Bush  —  George W. Bush's presidency appears headed for colossal historical disgrace.  Barring a cataclysmic event on the order of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, after which the public might rally around …

Hundreds nabbed in immigration raid  —  Executives, workers arrested in nationwide move against pallet maker … WASHINGTON - Immigration agents arrested seven executives and hundreds of employees of a manufacturer of crates and pallets Wednesday as part of a crackdown on employers of illegal workers.

Muslim students 'being taught to despise unbelievers as filth'  —  Pupils protest as college linked to Iran puts fundamentalist text on curriculum, reports our correspondent  —  MUSLIM students training to be imams at a British college with strong Iranian links have complained …

Valerie Plame To Attend White House Correspondents Dinner  —  NEW YORK Will Valerie Plame be the talk of this year's White House Correspondents Dinner?  E&P has confirmed that she is slated to attend this year's gala, along with her husband Joseph Wilson and several other notable non-journalist guests …

Some activists fear migrants' boycott, strike may backfire  —  In Houston, organizers say they are neither for nor against joining the May 1 plans  —  WASHINGTON - A nationwide boycott and general strike planned for May 1 to push for immigrant rights is falling out of favor with many advocacy groups …

What Muslims Hear at Friday Prayers  —  Is there really a clash of the cultures between Islam and the West?  SPIEGEL documents Friday sermons from mosques around the world.  As imams guide their congregations, they praise the delights of paradise, sow the seeds of doubt in government authority — and sometimes preach hatred.

Chips down, Bush prepares a Hail Mary bet  —  It's just like playing blackjack in Vegas.  —  Invariably, sitting right next to you is some guy, eyes shifty and body twitchy and making weird sounds with his mouth and smelling vaguely of sawdust and horse manure and dead dreams …

Late Nite FDL: Crack Out the Crystal Balls  —  I read Sidney Blumenthal's piece today on the ongoing CIA leak case with interest.  Blumenthal always has good insights.  I'm not sure that Libby's filing revealed anything about Karl Rove's status that we didn't already know …

Police in Tehran ordered to arrest women in 'un-Islamic' dress  —  Iran's Islamic authorities are preparing a crackdown on women flouting the stringent dress code in the clearest sign yet of social and political repression under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.