McCain, Cornyn Engage in Heated Exchange  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) hasn't spent much time in the Capitol this year as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.  But one of his rare appearances this week provided a pretty salty exchange with a fellow Republican.

Press Gaggle by Tony Fratto  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MR. FRATTO: Good morning, everyone.  The President had his normal briefings this morning; taped the radio address — as you can imagine, it's on comprehensive immigration reform, so look forward to that.

RESEARCH BRIEFINGS  —  The Facts About Border Security and Immigration Reform  —  Administration And Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reach Agreement On Comprehensive Immigration Reform  —  Today, Administration Officials And A Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reached Agreement On Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation.

[TS] Op-Ed Columnist: Don't Blame Bush  —  The president has done just what his party wants and expects.

Talks Between White House And Congressional Dems Breaking Down  —  The meeting between Dem Congressional leaders and the White House over how to resolve the Iraq war spending standoff has just ended, and it looks like things are at a serious impasse.  —  Dem leaders just said at their post …

President Bush to Replace Wolfowitz Quickly  —  The Bush administration promised today to find someone quickly to succeed Paul D. Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank, and bring management skills to the job of healing an institution battered by the turmoil over Mr. Wolfowitz's tenure.

Exxon Still Funding Climate Change Deniers  —  So.  The day of reckoning has come - when we get to find out just how much of the climate change denial industry ExxonMobil is still paying for.  —  This is the company which, apparently, has been "misunderstood" on global warming and has said it has dropped its funding of the deniers.

Four arrested in Iraq 'honor killing' … BAGHDAD, IRAQ (CNN) — Authorities in northern Iraq have arrested four people in connection with the "honor killing" last month of a Kurdish teen — a startling, morbid pummeling caught on a mobile phone video camera and broadcast around the world.

House Democratic Leaders Write to President Bush on  —  Troop Pay Raises, Widows' Benefits  —  May 18th, 2007 by Jesse Lee  —  As noted yesterday, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (pdf) declaring their opposition to a 3.5% pay raise for the troops …

Two hurt, two arrested in stabbing  —  Two people were injured and two others arrested in a stabbing incident last night that Pierre Police are calling gang related.  —  A 22 year old man is facing two counts of aggravated assault and is in the Hughes County Jail.

Two ABC News Journalists Killed in Iraq  —  Two Iraqi ABC News broadcast journalists were killed in Iraq, ABC News President David Westin announced this morning.  —  Cameraman Alaa Uldeen Aziz, 33, and soundman Saif Laith Yousuf, 26, were returning home from work at the ABC News Baghdad …

Center of Attention … The Gun Toting Liberal: "Bush Amnesty For Illegal Aliens Bill Passes Senate As President Lures Border Agents To Iraq With Six-Figure Salary Offers"  —  Andrew Sullivan quotes a reader who describes todays republican right-wing as being fascist.  Libby Spencer responds (and agrees with Andrew).