Concerns Raised on Wider Spying Under New Law  —  Broad new surveillance powers approved by Congress this month could allow the Bush administration to conduct spy operations that go well beyond wiretapping to include — without court approval — certain types of physical searches on American soil …

Obama: Enough with the Debates!  —  In the latest chess move of the highly competitive fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has decided to unilaterally refuse to participate in additional fall debates and forums with his rivals.

Shiite militia expands grip in Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD - The street market bustles in the early mornings and late afternoons as shoppers come out to buy fruit, bread, clothes and toys.  Late into the hot summer nights, whole families gather to eat grilled kebabs at tiny stalls, their small children shrieking as they play tag.

2 Firefighters Killed in Blaze at Ground Zero  —  Two firefighters were killed yesterday battling a blaze in the Deutsche Bank skyscraper, a vacant relic of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack that was in the process of being dismantled.  —  The firefighters were among hundreds who poured …

Nix That  —  From Team Thompson:

How to tell an expert from an "expert"  —  Matt and Gideon Rose are having a pretty interesting exchange regarding expertise and the Democratic foreign policy community.  I completely agree with Matt when he writes … It's not that the entire VSP community is bad.

Seeing Corporate Fingerprints in Wikipedia Edits  —  Last year a Wikipedia visitor edited the entry for the SeaWorld theme parks to change all mentions of "orcas" to "killer whales," insisting that this was a more accurate name for the species.  —  There was another, unexplained edit …

Climate protest 'will be contained'  —  Police were confident of being able to contain the expected climax of the climate camp at Heathrow Airport.  —  Protesters, buoyed by an influx of new arrivals, promised 24 hours of direct action, starting from midday on Sunday.

How Rove Directed Federal Assets for GOP Gains  —  Bush Adviser's Effort to Promote the President and His Allies Was Unprecedented in Its Reach  —  Thirteen months before President Bush was reelected, chief strategist Karl Rove summoned political appointees from around the government to the Old Executive Office Building.

Nobel prize winner denies discrimination  —  Our man in Cancun, Jules Siegel, follows up on yesterday's report that Guatemalan presidential candidate Rigoberta Menchu was removed from a high priced tourist hotel because she was mistaken for a common indigenous Indian.

Is Tom Friedman a Bad Person?  —  All signs point to "pretty hideous human being, one which all good people should shun."

71% Favor Requiring Foreign Visitors to Carry Universal ID Card  —  Fifty-eight percent (58%) of voters nationwide favor cutting off federal funds for "sanctuary cities" that offer protection to illegal immigrants.  A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 29% are opposed.

GIULIANI ENDORSES BUSH'S SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN  —  After Bush won a second term, he entered 2005 in a relatively strong position.  He boasted about having "political capital," his approval rating was around 50%, and he looked at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue and saw a very friendly Republican majority in both chambers.

More On Wiretapping  —  Thanks to many who responded to my request, particularly to commenter LITBMueller for this highly informed comment.  —  Starting off, Marty Lederman has explained the limitations of the six-month "sunset" clause much better than I did a few days ago:

Hundreds pose naked on shrinking Swiss glacier  —  ALETSCH GLACIER, Switzerland (Reuters) - Hundreds of people posed naked on Switzerland's shrinking Aletsch glacier on Saturday for U.S. photographer Spencer Tunick as part of a Greenpeace campaign to raise awareness of global warming.