Tax Day Becomes Protest Day  —  How the tea parties could change American politics.  —  Today American taxpayers in more than 300 locations in all 50 states will hold rallies — dubbed “tea parties” — to protest higher taxes and out-of-control government spending.

In Minnesota, a Battle Without End for a Senate Seat  —  ST. PAUL — Norm Coleman spends his days in the quiet living room of his small house here, thumbing through stacks of legal papers.  His United States Senate staff and offices vanished at the start of the year, as did his salary …

U.S. Planning to Reveal Data on Health of Top Banks  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is drawing up plans to disclose the conditions of the 19 biggest banks in the country, according to senior administration officials, as it tries to restore confidence in the financial system without unnerving investors.

Obama Tilts to CIA on Memos  —  Top Officials at Odds Over Whether to Withhold Some Details on Interrogation Tactics  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is leaning toward keeping secret some graphic details of tactics allowed in Central Intelligence Agency interrogations …

IRS workers see double standard on tax errors  —  The Treasury secretary, who oversees the IRS, didn't pay all his taxes.  Neither did five other top nominees for the Obama administration, or their spouses.  —  Now, as Wednesday's tax deadline looms, some Americans are wondering …

In shift, Marco Rubio is willing to battle Charlie Crist for Senate  —  TALLAHASSEE — His approval ratings may be sky high, but if Charlie Crist runs for the U.S. Senate, he still could face a serious primary challenge from former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Ron Paul's plan to fend off pirates  —  A little-known congressional power could help the federal government keep the Somali pirates in check — and possibly do it for a discount price.  —  Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and a growing number of national security experts are calling on Congress …

This Tax Is for You  —  A levy on Joe Six Pack.  —  Today is the dreaded April 15, but at least in Oregon it's even going to cost you more to drown in your tax sorrows.  In their sober unwisdom, the state's pols plan to raise taxes by 1,900% on . . . beer.  The tax would catapult to $52.21 from $2.60 a barrel.

Protest stops Tancredo's UNC speech  —  CHAPEL HILL — UNC-CH police released pepper spray and threatened to use a Taser on student protesters Tuesday evening when a crowd disrupted a speech by former Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo opposing in-state tuition benefits to unauthorized immigrants.

SEAL Sniper Details Trickle In  —  For those Buzz readers hungry for detail about the Somali pirates, my buddy Christian over at DefenseTech offers some details about the techniques behind the SEAL sniper shots.  Read on for some info about the firearms used and who probably played in this most satisfying incident at sea.

Obama Report on “Right-Wing Radicals” Timed for Tea Parties  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: I had a report, I got this at 2:30 yesterday afternoon.  I just didn't have a chance to work it in yesterday.  It's this Department of Homeland Security report, it's nine pages, I've got the PDF here …

Bernanke's PR Push Rewrites Fed Script  —  WASHINGTON — Ben Bernanke became Federal Reserve chairman intent on making the central bank less personality-driven than it was under Alan Greenspan and Paul Volcker.  But as he confronts an economic crisis that has pushed the Fed to shatter precedent …

An Impressive First Nominee  —  President Obama has done well with his first judicial nomination — David Hamilton, a well-respected federal district court judge in Indiana — for the Chicago-based United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.  After eight years of Bush nominees …

More Say Low-Income Americans Paying Fair Share of Taxes  —  No change in perceptions of taxes paid by middle-income Americans  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' perceptions of the taxes paid by those with lower incomes have shifted in the past year.  Now, 41% say lower-income people are paying their …