Democrats set to call for phased pullout  —  Congressional debate on war enters 2d week  —  WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats, seizing on public discontent over the war in Iraq, will offer legislation this week calling for a phased withdrawal of troops from Iraq and a shifting of forces …

Al Qaeda-linked group claims it kidnapped 2 U.S. soldiers  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — An al Qaeda-affiliated group on Monday claimed it kidnapped two U.S. soldiers south of Baghdad, although the captives were not named.  —  The group — Mujahedeen Shura Council — made the unverified claim in a statement posted on a Web site.

What Could a Non-Neutral Internet Look Like?  —  Ok, it's March, 2008.  You go to your computer and open your Verizon-supertier browser, and everything comes at you with blazing speed.  You access your bank, NBC news, Andrew Sullivan's blog through Time.com, and check your email.

Doubts About Duke  —  The prosecutor insists his rape case is strong.  One big problem: the facts thus far.  —  June 29, 2006 issue - The order had come, signed by a judge, requiring that the Duke lacrosse team give DNA samples.  The prosecutor was trying to identify the three players …

Lieberman Will Primary  —  MIDDLETOWN — Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman said today that he will not withdraw from the Aug. 8 Democratic primary , but he left open the possibility of running in November as a petitioning candidate if he loses the primary.  —  "I will be in the Democratic primary.

Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick Resigning  —  Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick, one of the administration's most prominent figures in foreign and economic policy, is resigning to join the Wall Street investment firm of Goldman Sachs.  —  Zoellick's interest in leaving …

Hastert Won't Fess Up To Honest Graft  —  Last week, we noted House Speaker Dennis Hastert's (R-IL) sweet real estate deal - a deal that, as many TPM readers pointed out, Tammany Hall pol George Washington Plunkitt would have dismissed as " honest graft."  "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em," Hastert might say.

Trying to Get Even  —  Democrats keep betting on failure in Iraq.  —  During last week's congressional debate over the war in Iraq, critics of the Bush administration's policy made three arguments: that President Bush more or less lied when claiming Saddam Hussein was a threat to the U.S. …

NBC's chief confident on 'Today,' Brian Williams vs. Couric  —  E-mail Peter Johnson at pjohnson@usatoday.com  —  Just two weeks after CBS Evening News-bound Katie Couric said a tearful goodbye to NBC's Today, her old boss now sings the praises of her successor, Meredith Vieira …

Decisions: Clean Water Act reach limited  —  A plurality of the Supreme Court concluded on Monday that the Clean Water Act's protection of "waters of the United States" is limited to those bodies of water that are "permanent, standing or continously flowing," and thus does not embrace channels through …

Louisiana gov. signs law that would ban abortions  —  NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Louisiana Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed into law a ban on most abortions, which would be triggered if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 ruling legalizing the procedure, a spokesman said on Saturday.

Hammurabi's Other Member?  —  Followers of the Haditha news will recognize the name Abdul-Rahman Al-Mashhadani as the "Chairman" of the newly formed Hammurabi Organization for Human Rights and Democracy Monitoring.  —  ("Budding journalist" Thaer al-Hadithi, 43, is Hammurabi's founder and only other member.

Washington Whispers  —  Here's an idea for those Bush-bashing Dixie Chicks, whose summer ticket sales have taken a licking in markets upset with their ranting.  Stop whining about your country fans and do what you did in 2004: Give in to your political outrage by following the model of groups like the Dave Matthews Band.

The Party of Retreat and Defeat  —  As the fall elections approach, the Democrats have formally unveiled their platform for the war in Iraq: snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  —  At the very moment that documents captured from the Zarqawi death site indicate that Al Qaeda feels …

'Mlle Thatcher' to run for a seat in parliament  —  Sabine Hérold, who sprang to fame when she led a protest movement against French workers' readiness to go on strike, now hopes to exploit growing disillusionment with her country's political elite by winning a seat in parliament.