ACLU tries to stop warrantless wiretapping  —  DETROIT - Critics of the government's domestic surveillance program claim it violates the rights of free speech and privacy.  The Bush administration says it is necessary and legal.  Both sides were due in court Monday to argue the constitutionality of the program.

U.S. military: Al-Zarqawi died of blast injuries  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Abu Musab al-Zarqawi lived for 52 minutes after a U.S. warplane bombed his hideout northeast of Baghdad, and he died of extensive internal injuries consistent with those caused by a bomb blast, the U.S. military said Monday.

Terror Links to Saddam's Inner Circle  —  What was the relationship between Saddam Hussein's inner circle and Islamic terrorists?  A newly released document appears to provide evidence that in 1999 the Taliban welcomed "Islamic relations with Iraq" to mediate among the Taliban …

The Coulter Conundrum  —  Is it time for the media to stop lavishing attention on Ann Coulter?  —  In her latest book attacking godless liberals, the conservative author trashes as "witches" some of the women whose husbands were killed at the World Trade Center — precisely the kind of ugly …

Fatah gunmen go on anti-Hamas rampage  —  RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas went on a rampage against the Hamas-led government Monday, riddling the parliament and Cabinet buildings with bullets and setting them afire to protest an attack on their comrades in the Gaza Strip.

ILARIO PANTANO'S MISSION  —  ***update: Ilario on the Today Show***  —  I couldn't put down 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano's new book, Warlord.  Put it at the top of your summer reading list.  Send a copy to your local troops-bashing columnist or cartoonist.  The writing is riveting.  The timing fortuitous.

Moran: Democratic Majority Means More Money for 8th District  —  If Democrats win back control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November, U.S. Rep. Jim Moran said he would use his position in the majority to help funnel more funds to his Northern Virginia district.

Armor on Iraq Humvees Is Linked to Deadly Rollovers  —  DAYTON, Ohio, June 11 — Thousands of pounds of armor added to military Humvees in Iraq have made the vehicles more likely to roll over and kill or injure soldiers, a newspaper reported.  —  "I believe the up-armoring has caused …

Vilsack fourth in presidential poll  —  Edwards, Clinton top Democratic choices for president in 2008  —  Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina leads a list of potential Democratic presidential candidates while Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack holds fourth place, trailing Edwards by 20 points …

Democrats Are Winning... Except at the Polls  —  "This is just to cover Bush's (rear) so he doesn't have to answer questions" about things in Iraq, said Rep. Pete Stark, second ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee.  "This insurgency is such a confused mess that one person …

Bush: Democracy in Mideast is worth price  —  CAMP DAVID, Md. - President Bush declared Monday to a nation weary of war that democracy in the Middle East is worth the high price to the United States.  He also said Iraq's neighbors should be doing more to help.

Gov. Warner's Expensive Party — Brilliant  —  Friday night Gov. Warner threw a very expensive party for YearlyKos attendees.  Some people wonder if it reflects poorly on his judgement, that he lavishly throws money around.  I think this may have been a very effective use of marketing dollars and a very sharp strategic move.

Doctors call for 'fat tax' on Coca-Cola and Pepsi  —  Doctors will this week declare war on America's soft drinks industry by calling for a 'fat tax' to combat the nation's obesity epidemic.  —  Delegates at the powerful American Medical Association's annual conference will demand a levy …

So-Called Christians who make me ill  —  John Stephenson has a video up of this Phelps-Roper woman spewing her disgusting "bible-based" rhetoric.  Watching just a bare minute of it made tremble, not in fear of the Lord, as this woman might like, but in pure revulsion.  I transcribed a little:

Body Suit  —  She Grew in Her Career as a Dancer, Maybe Too Much.  Cue the Lawyers.  —  MIAMI  —  Alice Alyse is quite plainly a bombshell, a knockout: She's slim, leggy and gorgeous, with long, dark hair and a great set of cheekbones.  —  Also, she's stacked.  —  And that, she says, is why she's out of a job.

Blending In, Moving Up  —  Beneath the surface of the immigration debate is a debate about shared values.  If we look at just three of those values — the English language, family and hard work — we see a higher level of Latino assimilation than is often presumed.

Sealed vs. Sealed  —  Four weeks ago, during the time when we reported that White House political adviser Karl Rove was indicted for crimes related to his role in the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson, the grand jury empanelled in the case returned an indictment that was filed under seal …

Clinton Links GOP Policies to More Storms  —  As Tropical Storm Alberto threatened to strengthen into the ninth hurricane in 22 months to affect Florida, former President Clinton predicted Monday that Republican environmental policies will lead to more severe storms.

The Internet's Future  —  THE SENATE will hold hearings tomorrow on "net neutrality," the idea that the pipes and wires that form the Internet should treat all content equally.  An alliance whose membership ranges from the Christian Coalition to MoveOn.org is demanding that Congress write …