FBI Says Jefferson Was Filmed Taking Cash  —  Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), the target of a 14-month public corruption probe, was videotaped accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from a Northern Virginia investor who was wearing an FBI wire, according to a search warrant affidavit released yesterday.

Reclaiming the Democratic Agenda  —  Though you'd never know it from surfing the Internet, there exists in the Democratic Party a substantial body of politicians and policymakers who believe the U.S. mission in Iraq must be sustained until it succeeds; who want to intensify American attempts …

Rove Lawyer Has a Pet Peeve  —  Robert Luskin, Karl Rove's lawyer, says he spent most of the day on May 12 taking his cat to the veterinarian and having a technician fix his computer at home.  —  He was stunned, therefore, when journalists started calling to ask about an online report …

Why We Published the AT&T Docs  —  A file detailing aspects of AT&T's alleged participation in the National Security Agency's warrantless domestic wiretap operation is sitting in a San Francisco courthouse.  But the public cannot see it because, at AT&T's insistence, it remains under seal in court records.

7 Police Officers Among 17 Killed in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Car bombs and drive-by shootings killed 17 people Monday, including seven police officers, hours before Iraq's parliament met for its first session after swearing in a new government.  —  The violence also came …

Prosecution of Journalists Is Possible in NSA Leaks  —  Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales raised the possibility yesterday that New York Times journalists could be prosecuted for publishing classified information based on the outcome of the criminal investigation underway into leaks …

LISTENING IN  —  A few days before the start of the confirmation hearings for General Michael Hayden, who has been nominated by President Bush to be the head of the C.I.A., I spoke to an official of the National Security Agency who recently retired.  The official joined the N.S …

Anti-war video bogus?  —  I can't get this to load, but I'm putting the link out there anyway because someone sent me a long message this morning questioning its veracity.  Not just the claims that are made, either; I'm talking about mistakes in his uniform, etc.

Elections Are Crux Of GOP's Strategy  —  Bush Aides Look to Midterm Vote as Way to Reverse Slide  —  Confronting the worst poll numbers seen in the West Wing since his father went down to defeat, President Bush and his team are focusing on the fall midterm elections as the best chance …

A Hard Bill to Love  —  WASHINGTON — A less permissive tone on immigration was signaled in the Senate last Tuesday when a proposal to cut guest worker visas down to 200,000 from 350,000 was supported by a surprisingly one-sided vote of 80 to 17.  The mood change was not influenced by a leader …

Corps' Levee Work Is Faulted  —  Report says barriers in New Orleans may fail again and mistakes by federal engineers raise questions about their competence nationwide.  —  NEW ORLEANS — A wide range of design and construction defects in levees around New Orleans raise serious doubts …

Coalition: Attacks Kill Up to 80 Taliban  —  KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A U.S.-led nighttime airstrike against a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan killed up to 80 suspected rebels, military officials said Monday.  The local governor and a doctor said 17 civilians also were killed.