Iraqi PM disputes report on withdrawal plan  —  (CNN) — A German magazine quoted Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as saying that he backed a proposal by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

Obama meets with Afghan president  —  KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) — U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday — a leader the Democratic senator has criticized for not doing enough to rebuild the war-torn nation.  —  The presumptive Democratic …

MSNBC prez on Fox News: “You can't trust a word they say”  —  MSNBC president Phil Griffin spoke with me earlier this week, a few hours after he was promoted to his new post (see my earlier story).  Because of what the techies call a “catastrophic failure” of my hard drive (a strange phrase …

Preview the Show  —  About the show  —  CNN Presents: Black in America continues with “The Black Woman & Family.”  Soledad O'Brien explores the varied experiences of black women and families and investigates the disturbing statistics of single parenthood, racial disparities between students and the devastating toll of HIV/AIDS.

It's the Economic Stupidity, Stupid  —  THE best thing to happen to John McCain was for the three network anchors to leave him in the dust this week while they chase Barack Obama on his global Lollapalooza tour.  Were voters forced to actually focus on Mr. McCain's response …

It Came From Outer Space  —  July 19, Oxford, UK-Death by asteroids, comets and gamma ray bursts was on the agenda of the conference on Global Catastrophic Risks this morning.  First up was NASA senior scientist David Morrison to talk about the Spaceguard Survey and the threat of a catastrophic asteroid strike.

Top Dem Party Officials Send Sharply-Worded Email Demanding That Hillary Donors And Supporters Get Behind Obama  —  In a sign that senior Democratic officials remain deeply concerned that post-primary bitterness could imperil Barack Obama's chances, two top Democratic officials have emailed …

Iran Nuclear Talks End in Deadlock  —  GENEVA — International talks on Iran's nuclear ambitions ended in deadlock on Saturday, despite the Bush administration's decision to reverse policy and send a senior American official to the table for the first time.  —  The presence of William J. Burns …

The Tautology of Hope  —  I'm pretty sure this is photoshopped, but either way it says volumes about Obama's vapid sloganeering:

McCain Aide Scheunemann Linked To Bush Library ‘Cash For Access’ Scandal  —  McCain Aide Scheunemann Linked To Bush Library ‘Cash For Access’ Scandal  —  Earlier this month, the Sunday Times caught longtime Bush associate Stephen Payne on tape offering access to top Bush administration officials …

Al Gore Surprise Guest At Netroots Nation  —  Al Gore surprised — and delighted — the crowd at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin, Texas today, appearing on the heels of a speech by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.  (Update: Video here.)  —  According to the various Twitter feeds …

A Perception Problem  —  What will keep The New Yorker's image from sticking?  —  When Democratic strategist Mark Siegel first saw this week's New Yorker cover with Barack Obama in Muslim garb and wife, Michelle, with a huge afro looking like '60s Black Panther activist Angela Davis …