THE BLOGOSPHERE'S SMOKE-FILLED BACKROOM:  —  Are Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas (of the famous Daily Kos) engaged in a pay-for-play scheme in which politicians who hire Armstrong as a consultant get the support of Kos?  That's the question that's been bouncing around the blogosphere ever since …

Senate rejects bid to raise minimum wage  —  WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled Senate smothered a proposed election-year increase in the minimum wage Wednesday, rejecting Democratic claims that it was past time to boost the $5.15 hourly pay floor that has been in effect for nearly a decade.

Iran won't respond to offer 'til August  —  TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran will respond in mid-August to the package of incentives on its nuclear program offered by the West, but President Bush accused Tehran of dragging its feet.  —  "We are studying the proposals.

House Delays Renewal of Voting Rights Act  —  House GOP leaders delay renewal of Voting Rights Act under objections from Southern Republicans  —  (AP) House Republican leaders on Wednesday postponed a vote on renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act after GOP lawmakers complained it unfairly singles …

G.O.P. Senators Attack Iraq Proposal by Democrats  —  WASHINGTON, June 21 — The Senate was immersed today in an impassioned and prolonged debate over Iraq, with Republicans accusing Democrats of lacking the resolve to see the war to an honorable end and Democrats accusing Republicans of election-year politics.

Troops echo frustration over war in Iraq  —  JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - While Staff Sgt. Randy Myers was dodging roadside bombs in Iraq, his congressman was calling the war a lost cause.  —  Sixteen-term Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), a decorated Vietnam veteran and military hawk …

Some 85 Iraqi workers abducted by gunmen  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunman abducted about 85 workers Wednesday as they left an industrial plant north of Baghdad, police and a witness said.  —  The workers were thought to be mostly Shiite and the plant is located in a predominantly Sunni Arab area.

Global Warming Affecting Your Life?  E-Mail Us  —  Send Us Your Stories and Video...Extend the Reach of ABC News' Reporting by Sharing Your Observations  —  Witnessing the impact of global warming in your life?  —  ABC News wants to hear from you.  We're currently producing a report …

Did George Bush deface American flags in Vienna, Austria today?  —  UPDATE: The Associated Press caught Bush defacing American flags in 2003.  The Democrats need to offer an amendment to the "flag burning amendment" that says that writing on the flag is also illegal.

Shill Wind  —  All of Washington's political reporters read ABC's The Note.  That's why they keep missing the story.  —  In the spring of 2005, a story came along that was so important, so history-altering that it threatened to revive a killer press instinct that had been dormant for the previous four years.

Where Did Safavian Work Again?  —  You wouldn't know it from the coverage of David H. Safavian's conviction yesterday for lying and obstructing justice, but some of his criminal activity actually took place while he was working at the White House.  —  Safavian managed to avoid being frog-marched …

Cheney Stands by His 'Last Throes' Remark  —  Vice President Cheney yesterday defended his much-criticized claim a year ago that the Iraq insurgency was in its "last throes" and said he believes that Iraq "turned a corner" last year when its people held elections creating a constitution and a government.

The Democrats Reassess  —  Effort to Win Battle of Ideas Includes New Web Site and Journal  —  This is idea week for the Democratic Party.  —  On Thursday, NDN (formerly the New Democrat Network) will convene its annual conference.  NDN, founded by Simon Rosenberg, has recently …

U.S. Hybrids Get More Miles Per Congress  —  EVER since the first Prius rolled off the assembly line almost a decade ago at the Takaoka plant not far from Toyota City, hybrid cars have basically been a luxury item.  If you owned one, you could feel good about using less gasoline and being a trendsetter …

Kentucky Tech Official Responds on Blog Ban  —  Finally, we have a response from the Fletcher administration on their blog ban.  —  Mark Routledge, Deputy Commissioner of the state's Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT), which manages internet service for the state government, told me that the state had not targeted specific sites.

AT&T rewrites rules: Your data isn't yours  —  AT&T has issued an updated privacy policy that takes effect Friday.  The changes are significant because they appear to give the telecom giant more latitude when it comes to sharing customers' personal data with government officials.