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 …

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 …

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 …

Bush Praises Political Progress in Iraq  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The inauguration of Iraq's new government marks a new era in relations with the country that the U.S. has occupied for more than three years, President Bush said Sunday.  —  "The formation of a unity government in Iraq …

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 …

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 …

Taheri-ng It Up  —  The New York Post has reprinted Amir Taheri's debunked Iranian "yellow badges for Jews" story.  Lenin's Tomb has pictures of the print edition of the National Post story.  They made the most inflammatory possible presentation.  (You'll note the headline is not "Iran to Force Zoroastrians to Wear Blue.")

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.

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.

Schumer Plans Book Showing Both Parties Are Out of Step  —  WASHINGTON, May 21 — Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, who is heading the national Democratic effort to capture the United States Senate this year, has signed a book deal, the senator's office announced on Sunday.

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 …