Vice President Exempts His Office from the Requirements for Protecting Classified Information  —  The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures …

Nader ponders run, calls Clinton 'coward'  —  Ralph Nader says he is seriously considering running for president in 2008 because he foresees another Tweedledum-Tweedledee election that offers little real choice to voters.  —  "You know the two parties are still converging …

Turning on al-Qaeda in Baquba  —  I helicoptered today into Baquba, the centerpiece of the current U.S. offensive in Iraq, with Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno —and then drove via Stryker brigade into the center of the fight for a briefing.  It was midday, and the sun was so hot that both sides in the battle seemed to be taking a siesta.

Pakistan scholars honour Bin Laden  —  A LEADING group of Pakistani Islamic scholars today awarded its highest honour to al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, saying it was in reaction to Britain's knighthood for Salman Rushdie.  —  Meanwhile, a Pakistani minister who caused outrage by remarking …

Romney to call for 'new course' in war on terror  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will call for a "new course" in the war on terror by proposing "a new type of Marshall plan" in a speech Thursday night.  —  According to the prepared text of of the speech …

Poll: Bush hits lowest approval rating of presidency  —  President Bush registers the lowest approval rating of his presidency—making him the least popular president since Nixon—in the new NEWSWEEK Poll.  —  Iraq isn't the only issue dragging Bush's approval ratings down

Immigration Vote Count  —  Opponents of the immigration bill recognize that the vote on cloture (maybe tomorrow, but probably early next week) will be key.  Outside groups are scoring a vote for cloture as a vote for the bill.  Cloture will succeed with 60 votes.

Senate Dems fight for energy bill amid intra-party, GOP concerns  —  Senate Democrats yesterday were scrambling to prevent the sweeping energy overhaul bill, a top domestic priority, from crumbling amid growing regional divisions within their party and Republican concerns.

List of journalists taking sides  —  And their explanations, from 'Yikes!' to 'They're all in somebody's pocket'  —  Have you captured a candidate on camera?  We want to see it.  Click here to send us your pictures and videos, and we'll post the best on MSNBC.com.

Press Briefing by Tony Snow  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MR. SNOW: Just getting organized.  Hello.  Questions.  —  Q Tony, does the executive order allow researchers to do anything they couldn't do under current guidelines?  —  MR. SNOW: Well, what it does …

Lincoln's Example for Iraq  —  In his only term in Congress, Abraham Lincoln was an ardent opponent of the Mexican War.  He introduced a series of resolutions that challenged President James Polk to show the "spot" of American soil on which Mexicans had spilled American blood …

WHERE BIAS AND CLUELESSNESS INTERSECT  —  MSNBC features a report on the campaign contributions by MSM journalists.  The report is based on the public records of the Federal Election Commission.  I doubt anyone will be surprised to learn that of the 144 journalists who made political contributions …

Top Iraqi Officials Growing Restless  —  Vice President Has Tried to Quit; Shiite Leaders in Disarray  —  Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, a senior Shiite politician often mentioned as a potential prime minister, tendered his resignation last week in a move that reflects deepening frustration inside …

Obama Announces FY08 Federal Funding Requests  —  Discloses earmarks to improve government transparency  —  WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today announced that he had requested federal funding for the following projects, in the amounts designated by his constituents …

Rep. Pelosi responds to boos on war  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) yesterday reaffirmed her commitment to end the war in Iraq, but her words were greeted with skepticism and some boos by anti-war liberal activists.  —  Addressing the liberal pressure group Campaign for America's Future …

New Photos Show Secret Pakistan Plutonium Plant; Fear of More Weapons Being Made  —  Elizabeth Sprague Reports:  —  A satellite photograph obtained by ABC News reveals Pakistan is nearing completion of a third, previously unknown plutonium production reactor, suggesting Pakistan may be planning to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal.

Americans' Confidence in Congress at All-Time Low  —  Confidence in most institutions drops  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The percentage of Americans with a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in Congress is at 14%, the lowest in Gallup's history of this measure — and the lowest …

Lott: 'I've already offended everybody'  —  Fence?  Goats?  What is Lott talking about?  —  WASHINGTON —What does a fence on the United State-Mexico border have to do with goats?  —  Sen. Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., was talking to reporters Wednesday about the immigration bill …