“Tea Party” Protests Appear to Draw At Least 250,000  —  This is an update and probably the last one.  Those of you who are interested in extending the analysis (there are undoubtedly many events missing, although most of the major ones should now be covered) are encouraged to do so at Wikipedia or elsewhere.

Secret Interrogation Memos to Be Released  —  After a tense internal debate, the Obama administration this afternoon will make public a number of detailed memos describing the harsh interrogation techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency against al Qaeda suspects in secret overseas prisons.

High-Speed Rail  —  Vision of High-Speed Rail in America  —  President Obama proposes to help address the nation's transportation challenges by launching new an efficient, high-speed passenger rail network in 100-600 mile corridors that connect communities across America.

America's Bad Jeans  —  On any American street, or in any airport or mall, you see the same sad tableau: A 10-year-old boy is walking with his father, whose development was evidently arrested when he was that age, judging by his clothes.  Father and son are dressed identically — running shoes, T-shirts.

Napolitano Apologizes for Offending Veterans After DHS Eyes Them for ‘Rightwing Extremism’  —  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano apologized to veterans in a FOX News interview after a DHS report labeled returning troops at risk for embracing right-wing extremism.  —  FOXNews.com

DFH blogger speaks at Pensacola Tea Party ... and lives to tell the tale  —  If you were following my livetweeting today from the Pensacola Tea Party, then you already know: I gave a little speech.  Hey, I'm a sucker for Open Mic Night ... what can I say?  —  Seriously — I didn't realize …

Georgetown Says It Covered Over Name of Jesus to Comply With White House Request  —  (CNSNews.com) - Georgetown University says it covered over the monogram “IHS”—symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ—because it was inscribed on a pediment on the stage where President Obama spoke at the university …

CNBC SWEATS ‘OBAMA-BASHING’  —  THE top suits and some of the on-air talent at CNBC were recently ordered to a top-secret meeting with General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt and NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker to discuss whether they've turned into the President Obama-bashing network, Page Six has learned.

Obama Is Just Not Their Cup of Tea  —  As a tea party, what happened in Lafayette Square across from the White House yesterday was a washout.  —  There were no buttered scones, none of those dainty cucumber sandwiches and, as it happens, not a spot of tea.

Checking The Blogosphere  —  Only a day after a massive, sustained and widespread outcry on the bloggy right about the DHS convening a study to worry about right-wing extremism, we get news of illegal and excessive wire-tapping under Bush.  Not a single right-wing blog I can find via Memeorandum has commented.

Spanish AG says no torture probe of US officials  —  MADRID - Spanish prosecutors will recommend against opening an investigation into whether six Bush administration officials sanctioned torture against terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, the country's attorney-general said Thursday.

Texas governor says secession possible  —  (CNN) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry isn't ruling out the possibility his state may one day secede from the nation.  —  Speaking to an energetic and angry tea party crowd in Austin Wednesday evening, the Lone Star State governor suggested secession …

Gotcha TV: Crews Stalk Bill O'Reilly's Targets  —  When Bill O'Reilly's camera crew ambushed Mike Hoyt at a bus stop in Teaneck, N.J., a few months ago, the on-camera confrontation and the microphone in his face reminded him, oddly enough, of the “60 Minutes” interviewer Mike Wallace.

Elephant agonistes (cont.)  —  The proprietor of this here blog, one Ben Smith, had a smart story in early March about how the GOP was still, in market parlance, “looking for the bottom.”  —  The search continues.  —  Mark Halperin tallies up the reasons why:

1,500 farmers commit mass suicide in India  —  Over 1,500 farmers in an Indian state committed suicide after being driven to debt by crop failure, it was reported today.  —  The agricultural state of Chattisgarh was hit by falling water levels.  —  “The water level has gone down below 250 feet here.