In Obama's Inner Circle, Debate Over Memos' Release Was Intense  —  Some Feared That a Partisan Outcry Could Obstruct Larger Agenda  —  As President Obama met with top advisers on the evening of April 15, he faced one of the sharpest policy divides of his young administration.

Pelosi briefed on waterboarding in '02 [UPDATED]  —  Nancy Pelosi denies knowing U.S. officials used waterboarding — but GOP operatives are pointing to a 2007 Washington Post story which describes an hour-long 2002 briefing in which Pelosi was told about enhanced interrogation techniques in graphic detail.

Horror: Taliban Behead Pakistani Troops in Swat Video  —  A video which claims to show Taliban troops in Pakistan's Swat valley murdering men accused of being “spies” for the government and the U.S. has emerged.  It's really horrible and the only people who should watch it are Taliban sympathizers.

News Bulletin  —  A Corner exclusive: How many times have you read and heard in the mainstream media that terrorists were waterboarded more than 180 times?  It turns out that's not true.  What is?  According to two sources, both of them very well-informed and reliable (but preferring to remain anonymous) …

A Limited Love of Liberty  —  A former ACLU board member says that the organization has lost its way.  —  When the American Civil Liberties Union comes under attack, the salvos are often launched from the right.  The ACLU, after all, is as enthusiastic about protecting the interests of feminists …

Meghan McCain to Rove & Cheney: ‘Go Away’  —  ABC News' Rick Klein reports: Meghan McCain guest-hosted ABC's “The View” Thursday and brought some blunt advice for Karl Rove and Dick Cheney: “Go away.”  —  “It's very unprecedented for someone like Karl Rove or Dick Cheney to be criticizing the president,” McCain said.

U.S. to Tell Big Banks the Results of Stress Test  —  Wall Street is stressed out about stress tests.  —  After a two-month wait, the nation's 19 largest banks will start learning on Friday how they fared in important federal examinations — and which among them will need another bailout from the government or private investors.

Reclaiming America's Soul  —  “Nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past.”  So declared President Obama, after his commendable decision to release the legal memos that his predecessor used to justify torture.  Some people in the political and media establishments have echoed his position.

Defense Department to Release Photos Showing Detainee Treatment in Iraq, Afghanistan  —  The Department of Defense announced late Thursday that at least 44 photos depicting treatment of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan will be released.  —  FOXNews.com  —  The Department of Defense …

Obama May Sweep Aside TV Schedule  —  President Obama might take an additional $9 million to $10 million out of the purse of the broadcast TV industry when he stages another of his news conferences next week to talk about his efforts to bail out the banking and automotive industries.

Past, President and Future  —  Obama was right to resist reopening the torture debate.  —  What makes it hard at the moment to write sympathetically of Barack Obama is the loud chorus of approbation arising from his supporters in journalism as they mark the hundred days.

Two Suicide Bombers Kill at Least 40 in Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD — Twin suicide bombers struck outside the gates of the holiest Shiite site in Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 60 people and wounding scores more, according to preliminary reports from police officials.

Sources say Tedisco concession likely  —  A finish line could be in sight in the race for the 20th Congressional District.  With the numbers not looking good for Republican Jim Tedisco, sources tell Capital News 9 that Tedisco could concede to Democrat Scott Murphy as soon as Friday afternoon.

Industry Ignored Its Scientists on Climate  —  For more than a decade the Global Climate Coalition, a group representing industries with profits tied to fossil fuels, led an aggressive lobbying and public relations campaign against the idea that emissions of heat-trapping gases could lead to global warming.

Pamela Geller: Poster Girl for Eurofascists  —  Pamela Geller of “Atlas Shrugs” and Paul Belien of “Brussels Journal” have been announced as speakers at a German far right event organized by a group called “Pro Köln” — a successor to the notorious fascist group “Deutsche Liga für Volk und Heimat” …

Chris Matthews changes book title Jon Stewart mocked  —  Could the interview Chris Matthews called “the worst he's ever had” have something to do with his decision to change the title of his most recent book before its paperback edition is released?  —  In 2007, the “Hardball” host went on …

John Kerry, Catholicism and abortion: Courage of somebody else's convictions  —  The U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican position remains open, but even “pro-choice Catholic” John Kerry seems certain that a pro-life candidate is a necessity for that post.  —  From the USA Today: