Justices Say E.P.A. Has Power to Act on Harmful Gases  —  In one of its most important environmental decisions in years, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobile emissions.

Reid Backs Iraq War-Funds Cutoff  —  Senate Leader Makes It Clear a Bush Veto Wouldn't End Debate on Withdrawal  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid yesterday endorsed the Senate's toughest antiwar bill yet, a bid to cut off funding within a year, sending a clear signal to President Bush …

Featured Slideshow II: Openly Gay Celebrities  —  (CBS) NEW YORK Several candidates for president are on a fast pace for fundraising.  Democrat Hillary Clinton has set a record and Republican Rudy Giuliani isn't far behind.  —  But it's what Giuliani said Monday that will likely steal the headlines.

McCain Wrong on Iraq Security, Merchants Say  —  A day after members of an American Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain pointed to their brief visit to Baghdad's central market as evidence that the new security plan for the city was working, the merchants there were incredulous about the Americans' conclusions.

How Bogus Letter Became a Case for War  —  Intelligence Failures Surrounded Inquiry on Iraq-Niger Uranium Claim  —  It was 3 a.m. in Italy on Jan. 29, 2003, when President Bush in Washington began reading his State of the Union address that included the now famous — later retracted …

CNN's Malveaux parroted White House criticism of Pelosi's Syria visit, but ignored GOP-led trip  —  During an interview with former Ambassador John Bolton on the April 2 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, guest host and CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux noted the White House's denunciations …

Romney Reaps $20 Million to Top G.O.P. Rivals  —  Mitt Romney's presidential campaign said Monday that it had raised $20 million in the first quarter, tapping two distant but rich networks — Wall Street and the Mormon Church — to easily outpace his better-known Republican primary rivals.

Conservative Voters, It's Time to Give In to Your Inner Rebel  —  In life, there are times to make a safe choice.  Should you go to the gym in the morning or pour yourself a bowl of Miller Lite Cheerios?  Should you take the car rental insurance or chance it?  Decisions, decisions.

Memo To Bush: 57 Days  —  The US News Political Bulletin reported this morning that "White House strategists are now pulling out all the stops to blame the Democratic majority in Congress for a potential delay in funding the Iraq war. ...  White House aides have adopted a new gambit …

Video: David Gregory, "dancing man"  —  President Bush zinged David Gregory as "dancing man" during today's presser.  At last week's Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner, the wooden, stilted, barely moving "dancing man" got called up on stage to join MC Rove's entourage.

Via Joan Walsh, NBC's Andrea Mitchell is confirming her scoop that (a) moderate Republican Senators don't think the "surge" will work but temporarily supported it anyway; and (b) will withdraw their support for the war if the "surge" doesn't show progress by late August.

John Kerry: McCain Approached Me About Joining Dem Ticket in 2004  —  On Monday afternoon I had the chance to speak with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic Party's nominee for President in 2004.  During the interview, which covers a range of topics and which I will be posting later …

The botched US raid that led to the hostage crisis  —  A failed American attempt to abduct two senior Iranian security officers on an official visit to northern Iraq was the starting pistol for a crisis that 10 weeks later led to Iranians seizing 15 British sailors and Marines.

Classical Music Looks Toward China With Hope  —  Yu Zhenyang, a self-assured 15-year-old violinist with a picture of Jascha Heifetz in his bedroom, glided through the Mendelssohn Concerto from memory.  His teacher bounded across the room, flailing his arms, swooning to demonstrate pathos and urging Zhenyang to play with more passion.