SENATE TICK-TOCK ON THE FISA BILL  —  From NBC's Ken Strickland  —  The Senate is finally expected to wrap up the bill updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act today, which includes the controversial provision of retroactive immunity for telecom companies facing lawsuit.

Maliki's Withdrawal Card  —  A year ago, the conventional Beltway wisdom had it that Iraq was a failed state.  Today, the same wisdom holds that it is less chaotic but still fragile, dependent entirely on a U.S. presence to survive.  But judging by recent comments from Nouri al-Maliki, even this view may be out of date.

Dishonest or Stupid?  —  Via Jim Geraghty I see Obama had this to say about proponents of English-only laws: … Me: Jim has a lot more thoughts on this.  But it seems to me the central point is that this is either staggeringly dishonest or stupendously dumb.

Ventura Run Would Shake Up Minn. Senate Race  —  Listen Now  —  · In Minnesota, what's likely to be the most expensive and closely watched U.S. Senate race in the nation has lately been consumed by talk of an old Playboy article, a Capitol Hill crash pad and whether a onetime professional wrestler …