NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls  —  The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

Rove revamps the Republican strategy  —  With ratings down and an election coming up, the GOP take a new tack  —  President Bush and his longtime confidant and adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove.  —  WASHINGTON - This fall's election season is going to make the past three look like episodes of "Barney."

The GOP's Bankruptcy of Ideas  —  The emerging Republican game plan for 2006 is, at bottom, a tautology: If the Democrats retake Congress it will mean, well, that the Democrats retake Congress.  (Cue lightning bolt and ominous clap of thunder.)  Karl Rove and his minions have plumb run out of issues to campaign on.

Abramoff's White House visits  —  Secret Service records released today under court order show that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff made only two visits to the White House since President Bush took office in January 2001.  —  On March 6, 2001, Abramoff entered at 4:23 p.m. and left at 4:49 p.m. On Jan. 20 …

IRAQ INDEX SHOWS PROGRESS BEING MADE  —  The Brookings Institution released its latest Iraq Index this week.  I would encourage you to read it all, but here are some notable items:  — Per Capita GDP (USD) for 2005 is forecast to increase from the previous year to $1,051.  In 2002 it was $802.

Murdoch Defends Plan to Host Hillary Fundraiser; Calls Her 'Effective, Good Senator'  —  News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News and the New York Post, said today that he his standing by his decision to host a political fundraiser for Sen. Hillary Clinton later this year.

Bill Shifts Oversight of Some Iraq Aid  —  Political Dispute Over Funds  —  Comes at a Transition Point  —  For Bush's Reconstruction Effort  —  WASHINGTON — The Bush Administration's effort to rebuild Iraq is winding down, but the political battle over the money's oversight has flared anew.

A. M. Rosenthal Is Dead at 84; Innovative Editor of The Times  —  A. M. Rosenthal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent who became the executive editor of The New York Times and led the paper's global news operations through 17 years of record growth, modernization and major journalistic change, died yesterday in Manhattan.

47 nations gain seats on U.N.'s rights council  —  New body manages to keep worst abusers from even daring to run in the election  —  United Nations — U.N. members elected 47 countries to a new Human Rights Council on Tuesday, choosing several that have been criticized for their poor records …

Bush: Brother Jeb would be 'great president'  —  Sen. Trent Lott tells Hardball he would 'not be supportive' of the candidacy  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - President Bush suggested Wednesday that he'd like to see his family's White House legacy continue, perhaps with his younger brother Jeb as the chief executive.

Democrats Are Fractured Over Strategy, Funds  —  Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and the leader of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have clashed angrily in recent days in a dispute about how the party should spend its money in advance of this fall's midterm elections.

April Tax Revenue 2nd-Highest in History  —  A flood of income tax payments pushed up government receipts to the second-highest level in history in April, giving the country a sizable surplus for the month.  —  In its monthly accounting of the government's books, the Treasury Department …

Juan Williams: An Interview  —  I am very excited to share my interview with Fox News Contributor and Senior NPR Political Correspondent Juan Williams with you today.  Mr. Williams is one of my favorite pundits on the liberal side of the aisle.  You may not always agree with his arguments or reasoning but you do have to respect him.

Does Michael Hayden Understand the Fourth Amendment?  —  Over at National Review Online, Adam White defends the new nominee to lead the CIA, General Michael Hayden, for his statements about the meaning of the Fourth Amendment.  The statements have apparently become an important issue in the debate over Hayden's nomination.