Bush Says Report on Bank Data Was Disgraceful  —  WASHINGTON, June 26 — President Bush on Monday condemned as "disgraceful" the disclosure last week by The New York Times and other newspapers of a secret program to investigate and track terrorists that relies on a vast international database …

Limbaugh's latest drug run-in: Viagra  —  Police say commentator had drug without a prescription  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Rush Limbaugh was detained for about 3 1/2 hours at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities said they found a bottle of Viagra in his possession without a prescription.

'Breathtaking' Waste and Fraud in Hurricane Aid  —  FEMA spends $250,000 a month to store about 10,000 empty mobile homes at an airfield in Hope, Ark.  —  WASHINGTON, June 26 — Among the many superlatives associated with Hurricane Katrina can now be added this one: it produced …

Here's Your Randall v. Sorrell Roadmap  —  A splintered decision, indeed.  For those of you with busy schedules (or short attention spans) here's what you need to know about the Supreme Court's decision in Randall v. Sorrell, otherwise known at "that Vermont decision."

Steele's Donor List Stirs Racial Questions  —  The fundraiser thrown for Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele on Thursday night, while ordinary in most ways, struck some African American leaders as notable because of the host.  —  Unlike the dozens of high-dollar events across the country …

A Well-Known Political Blogger Is Hired by the Clinton Campaign  —  WASHINGTON, June 26 — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign has hired Peter Daou, one of the most prominent political bloggers in the nation, to help disseminate her message in a forum that has not always been that hospitable to her.

CU To Fire Ward Churchill  —  Professor Has Vowed To Sue If School Fired Him  —  BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado announced Monday that it will dismiss controversial professor Ward Churchill.  —  "Today, I issued to Professor Churchill a notice of intent to dismiss …

In the Senate, Covering Themselves in Old Glory  —  The Citizens Flag Alliance, a group pushing for the Senate this week to pass a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution, just reported an alarming, 33 percent increase in the number of flag-desecration incidents this year.

Taking Ramadi a Neighborhood at a Time  —  RAMADI, Iraq, June 26 — The 120-millimeter mortar shell landed with a crash in the middle of the new American-Iraqi outpost on Monday, hurling foot-long shards of metal and puncturing the chest of a young American soldier.  —  "What's the condition of the casualty?"

Can Lieberman Survive Iraq?  —  With bloggers, consituents and many party officials still angry about his support for the war, Connecticut's moderate Democratic senator is fighting for his political life  —  As Joe Lieberman was criss-crossing Connecticut last Friday, picking up endorsements …

Harry Potter may perish in last book, author hints  —  Harry Potter may perish in the final installment of the boy wizard series in which two main characters die, author J.K. Rowling hinted in a television interview.  —  Speaking on Monday evening, Joanne Kathleen Rowling, 40 …

Bush ignores laws he inks, vexing Congress  —  WASHINGTON - A bill becomes the rule of the land when Congress passes it and the president signs it into law, right?  —  Not necessarily, according to the White House.  A law is not binding when a president issues a separate statement saying …

Majority of Americans want withdrawal plan for Iraq  —  WASHINGTON — A clear majority of Americans say Congress should pass a resolution that outlines a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday.

Court Divides Sharply Over Death Penalty  —  The Supreme Court's sharp internal divisions about capital punishment were on unusually open display in today's opinion in Kansas v. Marsh.  —  Of particular interest, Justice Souter wrote a dissent joined by Ginsburg, Breyer …

Top Democrat Finds F.D.A.'s Efforts Have Plunged  —  WASHINGTON, June 26 — A 15-month inquiry by a top House Democrat has found that enforcement of the nation's food and drug laws declined sharply during the first five years of the Bush administration.  —  For instance, the investigation found …

China Weighs Fines for Reports on 'Sudden Events'  —  BEIJING, June 26 — Chinese media outlets will be fined up to $12,500 each time they report on "sudden events" without prior authorization from government officials, according to a draft law under review by the Communist Party-controlled legislature.

Is Wal-Mart Good for the American Working Class?  —  DIALOGUES  —  Although we've never met, I'm tempted to call you "Barb," the name you were given in your weeks as a Wal-Mart employee.  I myself have never worked at Wal-Mart, and I can only remember shopping there once.